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 $1,674 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,210 in Lae, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,458 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,298 in Lae, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,243 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,386 in Lae, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 38% more than Lae, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 26% above the global median, while Lae is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 PGK 41.48

$10.62 PGK 46.82

-11.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.05 PGK 208

$54.7 PGK 241

-13.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PGK 25.97

Cappuccino

$2.31 PGK 10.18

$2.91 PGK 12.81

-20.62%

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

$0.81 PGK 3.59

$0.87 PGK 3.82

-6.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PGK 3.46

$0.62 PGK 2.73

27.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 PGK 10.46

$3.52 PGK 15.54

-32.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PGK 17.79

$5.90 PGK 26.01

-31.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 PGK 8.95

$2.14 PGK 9.45

-5.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 PGK 7.18

$1.60 PGK 7.08

1.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.57

$1.36 PGK 5.99

9.56%

Eggs

$3.92 PGK 17.29

$4.33 PGK 19.10

-9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.76

$10.15 PGK 44.78

-55.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 PGK 28.19

$9.65 PGK 42.55

-33.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 PGK 42.63

$11.42 PGK 50.4

-15.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 PGK 17.66

$4.76 PGK 20.98

-15.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.44

$2.97 PGK 13.10

-5.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 PGK 24.61

$6.65 PGK 29.33

-16.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 PGK 23.80

$1.71 PGK 7.55

215.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 PGK 14.27

$3.61 PGK 15.92

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 PGK 12.40

$2.46 PGK 10.84

14.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 PGK 13.09

$0.70 PGK 3.07

324.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 PGK 5.87

$1.00 PGK 4.41

33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.72 PGK 29.66

$7.23 PGK 31.90

-7.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 PGK 52.5

$12.25 PGK 54.0

-2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 PGK 12.26

$2.68 PGK 11.82

3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 PGK 16.63

$4.73 PGK 20.88

-20.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 PGK 2.03

$0.37 PGK 1.65

24.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.87 PGK 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 PGK 25.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 PGK 10.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.92 PGK 74.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 5.03

$1.11 PGK 4.90

2.70%

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

$22.5K PGK 99.3K

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

$24.5K PGK 107.9K

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

$104 PGK 459

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

$48.57 PGK 214

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$375 PGK 1,654

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 PGK 289

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.13 PGK 88.8

Cinema Ticket

$9.50 PGK 41.92

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

$640 PGK 2,825

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,999 PGK 17.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.08 PGK 141

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 PGK 166

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 PGK 348

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 PGK 441

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 PGK 9,678

$8,097 PGK 35.7K

-72.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 PGK 2,107

$751 PGK 3,311

-36.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,402 PGK 15.0K

$1,461 PGK 6,445

132.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 PGK 3,758

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,083 PGK 9,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,850 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 PGK 1,880

$157 PGK 691

172.22%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lae: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,194 in Port Moresby versus $8,097 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 172% 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 $47.00 in Port Moresby versus $55.0 in Lae. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 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 38% 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 $2,510 per month in Port Moresby and $1,815 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 $1,674 in Port Moresby and $1,210 in Lae. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% 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 $1,674 in Port Moresby and $1,210 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.