Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,348 a month against $1,532 in Port Moresby, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. The total is higher in Port Moresby despite lower rent and utilities.

Port Moresby
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
$1,532
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Port Moresby and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Port Moresby and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,532 in Port Moresby versus $1,348 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Port Moresby $1,532
  • Ubud, Bali $1,348

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,418 in Port Moresby versus $2,312 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Port Moresby $2,418
  • Ubud, Bali $2,312

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,305 in Port Moresby versus $3,276 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Port Moresby $3,305
  • Ubud, Bali $3,276

Living in Port Moresby is roughly 14% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Moresby 14% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 PGK 33.98
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
133.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.89 PGK 192
$35.42 Rp 633.7K
23.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 PGK 23.58
$5.76 Rp 103.0K
-6.60%
Cappuccino
$2.44 PGK 10.69
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
-7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 PGK 3.38
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
-55.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 PGK 2.95
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
-12.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 PGK 12.74
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
7.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 PGK 15.59
$4.52 Rp 80.9K
-21.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 PGK 7.97
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
18.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 PGK 6.74
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 PGK 6.09
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
13.93%
Eggs
$3.62 PGK 15.86
$2.14 Rp 38.3K
69.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.64 PGK 37.85
$17.73 Rp 317.2K
-51.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 PGK 24.55
$3.86 Rp 69.0K
45.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 PGK 43.46
$12.03 Rp 215.2K
-17.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.21 PGK 18.45
$3.61 Rp 64.6K
16.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 PGK 13.67
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
106.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.01 PGK 30.72
$2.32 Rp 41.5K
202.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.56 PGK 28.75
$2.00 Rp 35.9K
228.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 PGK 14.92
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
87.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 PGK 12.79
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
22.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 PGK 10.20
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
135.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 PGK 5.64
$0.52 Rp 9,381
148.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 PGK 27.45
$2.18 Rp 39.1K
187.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 PGK 47.04
$22.98 Rp 411.0K
-53.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 PGK 11.11
$2.40 Rp 42.9K
5.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 PGK 15.38
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
17.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 PGK 1.86
$0.24 Rp 4,258
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.95 PGK 96.2
$6.99 Rp 125.1K
214.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 PGK 23.79
$0.44 Rp 7,882
1134.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 PGK 9.87
$0.42 Rp 7,589
435.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.47 PGK 67.8
$5.45 Rp 97.5K
183.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 PGK 4.13
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
11.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2K PGK 215.6K
$24.3K Rp 435.2M
102.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K PGK 75.6K
$31.9K Rp 570.5M
-45.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 PGK 513
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
44.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.67 PGK 99.4
$6.58 Rp 117.7K
244.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.2 PGK 399
$18.24 Rp 326.4K
399.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 PGK 264
$55.1 Rp 986.2K
9.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.04 PGK 96.6
$18.51 Rp 331.2K
19.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.74 PGK 38.31
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
106.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$836 PGK 3,665
$486 Rp 8.7M
72.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,242 PGK 27.4K
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
9.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.86 PGK 144
$45.18 Rp 808.3K
-27.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.67 PGK 139
$34.57 Rp 618.5K
-8.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 PGK 595
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
71.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 PGK 702
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
106.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 PGK 6,911
$1,127 Rp 20.2M
39.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 PGK 2,414
$674 Rp 12.1M
-18.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,049 PGK 13.4K
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
-15.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 PGK 4,945
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
-34.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,035 PGK 8,917
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
-28.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,755 PGK 16.5K
$2,307 Rp 41.3M
62.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Moresby
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$429 PGK 1,881
$166 Rp 3.0M
159.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.17
13.78
-11.68%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: October 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Port Moresby
$551
Ubud, Bali
$674 22.4% $123
Groceries & Markets
Port Moresby
$320
Ubud, Bali
$290 9.3% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Moresby
$231
Ubud, Bali
$106 54.3% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Port Moresby
$162
Ubud, Bali
$106 34.4% $56
Eating Out
Port Moresby
$135
Ubud, Bali
$108 19.9% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Port Moresby
$78
Ubud, Bali
$64 18.1% $14
Getting Around
Port Moresby
$40
Ubud, Bali
$11 74% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,577 in Port Moresby and $1,127 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Moresby pays 159% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $44.00 in Port Moresby vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $290 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇬 Port Moresby
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
11:13 11:13 AM
09:13 9:13 AM
2 h behind Port Moresby
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
364,145 Capital
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to PGK – Papua New Guinean Kina Converter

Papua New Guinean Kina exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.38 PGK (1 PGK = 0.228 USD). 1 EUR = 4.91 PGK (1 PGK = 0.203 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,890 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,065 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Moresby Ubud, Bali 3,500 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Moresby
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port Moresby or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Port Moresby. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Port Moresby or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 159% higher in Port Moresby, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Port Moresby compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,577 in Port Moresby versus $1,127 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Port Moresby or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Port Moresby. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Port Moresby and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $44.00 in Port Moresby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Port Moresby or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,532 in Port Moresby, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Port Moresby. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Port Moresby or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,348 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Port Moresby compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Port Moresby and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Port Moresby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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