Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Papua New Guinea Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Papua New Guinea

Name: Papua New Guinea
Address: PG

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $682 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $984 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $1,286 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

United States costs about 288% more than Papua New Guinea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Papua New Guinea is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$7.87 PGK 34.33

154.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$47.75 PGK 208

59.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$5.90 PGK 25.72

93.56%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$2.31 PGK 10.08

133.33%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.89 PGK 3.90

186.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.75 PGK 3.26

172.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.84 PGK 12.40

116.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$4.44 PGK 19.38

61.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.97 PGK 8.61

-47.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.58 PGK 6.88

131.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.48 PGK 6.44

219.59%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$3.89 PGK 16.95

12.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$6.00 PGK 26.16

112.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$6.63 PGK 28.92

87.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$9.04 PGK 39.43

81.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.07 PGK 17.75

33.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.74 PGK 11.97

-39.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.91 PGK 21.42

-6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.00 PGK 17.46

22.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.44 PGK 14.99

-15.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.49 PGK 10.86

25.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.88 PGK 12.55

-21.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.05 PGK 4.59

119.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$6.54 PGK 28.52

51.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$11.23 PGK 48.97

34.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.52 PGK 10.98

-24.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.53 PGK 15.40

3.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.50 PGK 2.20

396.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$27.86 PGK 122

132.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$5.28 PGK 23.04

-27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.48 PGK 10.84

-29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$16.94 PGK 73.9

80.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.11 PGK 4.84

-13.51%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$24.0K PGK 104.7K

26.98%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$31.3K PGK 136.3K

-15.61%

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

$204 $204

$102 PGK 447

99.38%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$48.00 PGK 209

19.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$213 PGK 928

-66.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$62.0 PGK 270

-24.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$12.34 PGK 53.8

79.25%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$9.78 PGK 42.65

41.51%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$434 PGK 1,893

218.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$4,128 PGK 18.0K

450.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$35.81 PGK 156

47.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$35.50 PGK 155

21.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$68.5 PGK 299

32.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$66.6 PGK 291

71.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$3,043 PGK 13.3K

-41.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$473 PGK 2,062

208.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$3,230 PGK 14.1K

-12.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$731 PGK 3,189

229.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$2,143 PGK 9,348

53.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$3,963 PGK 17.3K

-33.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$427 PGK 1,864

924.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

12.75

-48.94%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Papua New Guinea: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $1,958 in Papua New Guinea. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $2,151 in Port Moresby.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $325 in Papua New Guinea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 20% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 143% more in United States.

Public transport is 213% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1285% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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

United States vs Papua New Guinea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Papua New Guinea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 280% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the overall 280% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Papua New Guinea, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Papua New Guinea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.