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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,726 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,225 in Lae, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,451 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,290 in Lae, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,177 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,356 in Lae, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 41% more than Lae, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 28% above the global median, while Lae is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 PGK 41.14

$10.56 PGK 45.35

-9.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.53 PGK 208

$55.1 PGK 237

-11.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.10 PGK 26.19

Cappuccino

$2.24 PGK 9.61

$2.82 PGK 12.11

-20.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 PGK 3.27

$0.88 PGK 3.76

-13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 PGK 3.44

$0.61 PGK 2.64

31.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.51

$3.62 PGK 15.54

-32.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 PGK 17.71

$5.63 PGK 24.18

-26.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 PGK 8.61

$2.19 PGK 9.39

-8.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 PGK 6.96

$1.52 PGK 6.55

6.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 PGK 6.49

$1.42 PGK 6.09

6.34%

Eggs

$3.93 PGK 16.90

$4.14 PGK 17.78

-5.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 PGK 19.47

$10.03 PGK 43.09

-54.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 PGK 26.60

$9.86 PGK 42.35

-37.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.53 PGK 40.95

$11.54 PGK 49.58

-17.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PGK 17.85

$4.73 PGK 20.33

-12.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 PGK 12.51

$2.91 PGK 12.50

Oranges (1kg)

$5.50 PGK 23.65

$6.53 PGK 28.03

-15.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 PGK 24.26

$1.65 PGK 7.09

242.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.36 PGK 14.42

$3.62 PGK 15.53

-7.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 PGK 11.57

$2.54 PGK 10.93

5.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 PGK 12.70

$0.69 PGK 2.98

328.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PGK 5.50

$1.00 PGK 4.28

28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 PGK 29.04

$7.06 PGK 30.31

-4.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.97 PGK 51.4

$12.45 PGK 53.5

-3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 PGK 12.27

$2.79 PGK 12.00

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 PGK 16.81

$4.71 PGK 20.24

-16.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.13

$0.35 PGK 1.49

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.66 PGK 102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 PGK 25.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 PGK 10.76

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.88 PGK 72.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PGK 4.85

$1.12 PGK 4.83

0.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K PGK 95.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.6K PGK 105.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$104 PGK 448

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.34 PGK 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$382 PGK 1,641

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 PGK 282

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.26 PGK 87.0

Cinema Ticket

$9.63 PGK 41.38

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$652 PGK 2,801

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,976 PGK 17.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.89 PGK 137

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.64 PGK 162

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 PGK 329

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 PGK 428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 PGK 9,230

$7,920 PGK 34.0K

-72.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 PGK 2,042

$741 PGK 3,183

-35.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,424 PGK 14.7K

$1,439 PGK 6,183

137.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$825 PGK 3,545

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,075 PGK 8,913

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,896 PGK 16.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PGK 1,859

$160 PGK 688

170.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

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

Last update for Port Moresby: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lae: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,149 in Port Moresby versus $7,920 in Lae. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 170% higher in Port Moresby, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Port Moresby versus $55.0 in Lae. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $328 – making Port Moresby the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Port Moresby vs Lae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 41% more than Lae, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,588 per month in Port Moresby and $1,838 in Lae. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lae, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,726 in Port Moresby and $1,225 in Lae. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Port Moresby – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,726 in Port Moresby and $1,225 in Lae. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lae – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Lae. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.