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 $1,689 per month in Port Moresby vs $526 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,472 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,166 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,255 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,805 in Madang, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 221% more than Madang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 26% above the global median, while Madang is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 PGK 42.93

$6.70 PGK 29.22

46.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.81 PGK 209

$37.78 PGK 165

26.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.92

$10.97 PGK 47.83

-45.85%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.01

$2.35 PGK 10.23

-2.55%

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

$0.75 PGK 3.29

$1.23 PGK 5.38

-39.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.63

$0.70 PGK 3.05

18.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 PGK 10.35

$2.91 PGK 12.67

-18.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 PGK 18.10

$4.39 PGK 19.15

-5.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 PGK 8.72

$1.88 PGK 8.22

6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 PGK 6.80

$1.45 PGK 6.33

7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.48

$1.41 PGK 6.14

5.67%

Eggs

$3.89 PGK 16.95

$3.34 PGK 14.55

16.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.97

$5.71 PGK 24.90

12.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 PGK 40.72

$8.14 PGK 35.49

14.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 PGK 17.34

$5.15 PGK 22.48

-22.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.89 PGK 12.62

$2.38 PGK 10.39

21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 PGK 24.34

$0.99 PGK 4.31

463.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.66 PGK 24.67

$1.97 PGK 8.61

187.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 PGK 14.81

$4.88 PGK 21.30

-30.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 PGK 11.70

$2.82 PGK 12.29

-4.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 PGK 12.89

$5.91 PGK 25.76

-49.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PGK 5.74

$0.47 PGK 2.04

180.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.67 PGK 29.09

$5.08 PGK 22.15

31.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 PGK 12.58

$2.13 PGK 9.31

35.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PGK 16.65

$2.47 PGK 10.75

54.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.77 PGK 104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 PGK 25.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 PGK 10.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 PGK 71.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 4.99

$1.11 PGK 4.82

2.70%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

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

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

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

$105 PGK 458

$67.8 PGK 296

54.68%

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

$46.75 PGK 204

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$382 PGK 1,667

$24.17 PGK 105

1481.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 PGK 293

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 PGK 89.9

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 PGK 42.44

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

$639 PGK 2,787

$78.9 PGK 344

710.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

$6,046 PGK 26.4K

-32.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.07 PGK 136

$19.45 PGK 84.8

59.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.74 PGK 160

$14.56 PGK 63.5

152.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PGK 336

$66.1 PGK 288

16.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 PGK 430

$29.07 PGK 127

239.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 PGK 9,380

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 PGK 2,096

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

$957 PGK 4,175

257.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$826 PGK 3,603

$611 PGK 2,664

35.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 PGK 9,275

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 PGK 1,945

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 1, 2026

Last update for Madang: May 31, 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: $308 vs $224 – 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 221% 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 $2,533 per month in Port Moresby and $789 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 37% 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 $526, than in Port Moresby at $1,689. 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.