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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,702 per month in Port Moresby vs $531 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,442 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,183 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,834 in Madang, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 220% more than Madang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 27% above the global median, while Madang is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 PGK 41.38

$6.81 PGK 29.94

38.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.47 PGK 213

$38.42 PGK 169

26.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 PGK 25.84

$10.63 PGK 46.75

-44.78%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.09

$2.46 PGK 10.83

-6.91%

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

$0.80 PGK 3.53

$1.19 PGK 5.22

-32.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PGK 3.45

$0.76 PGK 3.33

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.76

$2.92 PGK 12.87

-16.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 PGK 18.15

$4.36 PGK 19.20

-5.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 PGK 8.51

$1.97 PGK 8.65

-2.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 PGK 7.02

$1.47 PGK 6.46

8.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.55

$1.41 PGK 6.20

5.67%

Eggs

$3.75 PGK 16.49

$3.40 PGK 14.97

10.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 PGK 19.91

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 PGK 27.35

$5.60 PGK 24.65

11.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 PGK 42.96

$8.37 PGK 36.84

16.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 PGK 17.90

$5.23 PGK 23.01

-22.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.39

$2.43 PGK 10.70

16.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 PGK 25.08

$1.00 PGK 4.39

470.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 PGK 23.81

$1.89 PGK 8.30

186.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 PGK 14.29

$4.78 PGK 21.03

-32.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 PGK 12.21

$2.94 PGK 12.95

-5.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 PGK 13.55

$5.96 PGK 26.23

-48.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PGK 5.58

$0.50 PGK 2.21

154.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.99 PGK 30.74

$5.17 PGK 22.75

35.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 PGK 52.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PGK 12.39

$2.11 PGK 9.27

33.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PGK 16.84

$2.38 PGK 10.46

60.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.88 PGK 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 PGK 26.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 PGK 10.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 PGK 75.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 5.00

$1.07 PGK 4.70

6.54%

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

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

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

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

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

$108 PGK 475

$68.4 PGK 301

57.71%

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

$47.63 PGK 210

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$377 PGK 1,657

$24.39 PGK 107

1443.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.5 PGK 293

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.71 PGK 91.1

Cinema Ticket

$9.84 PGK 43.29

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

$633 PGK 2,786

$80.1 PGK 352

690.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

$5,952 PGK 26.2K

-32.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.33 PGK 138

$19.02 PGK 83.7

64.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.00 PGK 163

$14.14 PGK 62.2

161.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 PGK 335

$67.2 PGK 296

13.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 PGK 428

$28.64 PGK 126

239.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 PGK 9,694

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 PGK 2,102

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

$942 PGK 4,146

265.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 PGK 3,694

$604 PGK 2,657

39.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 PGK 9,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$439 PGK 1,932

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 11, 2026

Last update for Madang: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Port Moresby versus $38.00 in Madang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $306 vs $226 – making Madang 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 Madang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 220% more than Madang, 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 $2,553 per month in Port Moresby and $797 in Madang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Port Moresby and $38.00 in Madang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Port Moresby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Port Moresby at $1,702. In Madang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Madang – 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 Madang. 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.