Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Lae Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Lae

😐 Solo nomad: Port Moresby is 160.4% more expensive than Lae without rent, and 35.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Port Moresby is 63.3% more expensive than Lae without rent, and 134.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.53 PGK 40.98
$10.68 PGK 45.94
-10.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.36 PGK 204
$54.9 PGK 236
-13.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.11 PGK 26.26
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.25 PGK 9.67
$2.80 PGK 12.05
-19.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 PGK 3.24
$0.81 PGK 3.46
-7.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 PGK 3.66
$0.58 PGK 2.49
46.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 PGK 10.09
$3.56 PGK 15.30
-33.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 PGK 17.09
$5.79 PGK 24.90
-31.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 PGK 8.39
$2.10 PGK 9.05
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 PGK 6.91
$1.53 PGK 6.56
5.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 PGK 6.51
$1.42 PGK 6.10
6.34%
Eggs
$3.92 PGK 16.87
$4.19 PGK 18.03
-6.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 PGK 19.25
$10.23 PGK 44.00
-56.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.42 PGK 27.59
$9.92 PGK 42.67
-35.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.41 PGK 40.48
$11.34 PGK 48.78
-17.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.04 PGK 17.37
$4.84 PGK 20.80
-16.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 PGK 12.15
$3.02 PGK 12.97
-6.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.53 PGK 23.77
$6.74 PGK 29.00
-17.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.72 PGK 24.58
$1.66 PGK 7.14
244.58%
Potato (1kg)
$3.41 PGK 14.65
$3.70 PGK 15.92
-7.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 PGK 12.13
$2.46 PGK 10.57
14.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 PGK 12.83
$0.73 PGK 3.15
308.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 PGK 5.47
$0.94 PGK 4.06
35.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65 PGK 28.61
$7.17 PGK 30.83
-7.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.50 PGK 49.43
$12.71 PGK 54.6
-9.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 PGK 11.88
$2.68 PGK 11.53
2.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 PGK 16.69
$4.70 PGK 20.22
-17.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 PGK 2.02
$0.34 PGK 1.48
38.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.38 PGK 105
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.95 PGK 25.61
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.39 PGK 10.27
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 PGK 72.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 PGK 4.69
$1.13 PGK 4.86
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K PGK 98.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K PGK 104.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 PGK 459
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.20 PGK 203
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$374 PGK 1,607
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 PGK 286
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.68 PGK 88.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.69 PGK 41.65
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$635 PGK 2,732
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,048 PGK 17.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.99 PGK 138
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.46 PGK 161
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 PGK 327
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 PGK 421
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 PGK 9,530
$7,964 PGK 34.2K
-72.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$480 PGK 2,062
$763 PGK 3,279
-37.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,496 PGK 15.0K
$1,456 PGK 6,261
140.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$855 PGK 3,678
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,142 PGK 9,212
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,930 PGK 16.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Moresby
Lae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$450 PGK 1,936
$161 PGK 692
179.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.33
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Port Moresby: March 2, 2026

Last update for Lae: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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