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 $1,508 per month in Port Moresby vs $846 in Lae, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,365 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,533 in Lae, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,222 per month in Port Moresby vs $2,220 in Lae, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 78% more than Lae, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Port Moresby sits 9% above the global median, while Lae is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 PGK 34.89

$25.06 PGK 109

-67.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.45 PGK 193

$52.3 PGK 227

-14.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 PGK 24.33

Cappuccino

$2.48 PGK 10.75

$2.75 PGK 11.92

-9.82%

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

$0.79 PGK 3.44

$0.80 PGK 3.49

-1.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 PGK 2.85

$0.57 PGK 2.49

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 PGK 13.50

$3.40 PGK 14.75

-8.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 PGK 15.84

$5.42 PGK 23.54

-32.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 PGK 8.20

$2.00 PGK 8.67

-5.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.32

$1.43 PGK 6.21

2.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 PGK 6.23

$1.26 PGK 5.49

14.29%

Eggs

$3.59 PGK 15.59

$3.94 PGK 17.09

-8.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 PGK 38.10

$9.56 PGK 41.49

-8.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 PGK 22.48

$9.27 PGK 40.24

-44.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 PGK 38.30

$10.90 PGK 47.29

-18.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 PGK 18.12

$4.60 PGK 19.97

-9.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 PGK 13.29

$2.80 PGK 12.13

9.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.06 PGK 26.32

$6.22 PGK 26.98

-2.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 PGK 26.43

$1.61 PGK 7.00

278.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 PGK 14.49

$3.40 PGK 14.74

-1.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 PGK 11.19

$2.30 PGK 9.98

12.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 PGK 9.43

$0.65 PGK 2.84

233.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 PGK 5.43

$0.86 PGK 3.74

45.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.33 PGK 27.45

$6.67 PGK 28.94

-5.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.6

$12.59 PGK 54.6

-5.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 PGK 11.77

$2.63 PGK 11.40

3.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 PGK 14.96

$4.37 PGK 18.98

-21.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PGK 1.86

$0.35 PGK 1.53

22.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.22 PGK 96.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 PGK 24.37

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 PGK 9.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.93 PGK 69.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PGK 4.33

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

$21.3K PGK 92.3K

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

$17.6K PGK 76.5K

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

$117 PGK 509

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

$23.37 PGK 101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.9 PGK 407

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.0 PGK 269

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.65 PGK 98.3

Cinema Ticket

$8.91 PGK 38.67

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

$839 PGK 3,643

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,271 PGK 27.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.71 PGK 142

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.00 PGK 139

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 PGK 607

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 PGK 715

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 PGK 7,059

$448 PGK 1,943

263.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 PGK 2,425

$268 PGK 1,162

108.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,758 PGK 12.0K

$1,265 PGK 5,488

118.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,137 PGK 4,935

$620 PGK 2,691

83.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,098 PGK 9,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,908 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 PGK 1,857

$158 PGK 685

171.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.17

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

Last update for Port Moresby: September 5, 2026

Last update for Lae: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in Port Moresby versus $448 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 171% 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 $44.00 in Port Moresby versus $52.0 in Lae. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $310 – 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 78% more than Lae, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,262 per month in Port Moresby and $1,269 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 $1,508 in Port Moresby and $846 in Lae. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Port Moresby – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lae, where all-in costs run around $846, than in Port Moresby at $1,508. In Lae it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.