Last update: Oct 2026 8.9M

Cost of Living in Papua New Guinea

Name: Papua New Guinea
Address: PG

Across Papua New Guinea, living costs for one person average $1,391 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $26 a day.

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🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Papua New Guinea

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

A single person spends around $1,391 per month with rent on average in Papua New Guinea.

$1,391 /mo

A couple spends around $2,213 per month with rent on average in Papua New Guinea.

$2,213 /mo

A family of three spends around $3,035 per month with rent on average in Papua New Guinea.

$3,035 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.17 PGK 31.38

$2.64 PGK 11.57

$22.05 PGK 96.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.04 PGK 193

$33.04 PGK 145

$132 PGK 578

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PGK 23.94

$6.56 PGK 28.73

Cappuccino

$2.45 PGK 10.71

$1.14 PGK 5.00

$4.11 PGK 17.98

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

$0.79 PGK 3.46

$0.70 PGK 3.05

$2.33 PGK 10.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 PGK 2.74

$0.43 PGK 1.90

$1.08 PGK 4.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 PGK 11.57

$1.66 PGK 7.26

$3.98 PGK 17.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 PGK 18.01

$2.29 PGK 10.01

$5.71 PGK 24.98

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 PGK 8.28

$1.58 PGK 6.92

$2.25 PGK 9.87

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 PGK 6.44

$1.11 PGK 4.84

$1.99 PGK 8.69

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 PGK 6.04

$1.23 PGK 5.38

$1.58 PGK 6.92

Eggs

$3.67 PGK 16.05

$2.61 PGK 11.44

$4.45 PGK 19.47

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 28.04

$2.90 PGK 12.69

$37.65 PGK 165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 PGK 26.86

$3.41 PGK 14.95

$10.25 PGK 44.88

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.03 PGK 39.52

$6.44 PGK 28.20

$13.10 PGK 57.3

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PGK 17.65

$1.74 PGK 7.61

$5.65 PGK 24.71

Banana (1kg)

$3.40 PGK 14.89

$1.33 PGK 5.80

$6.64 PGK 29.05

Oranges (1kg)

$6.22 PGK 27.22

$1.61 PGK 7.03

$14.87 PGK 65.1

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 PGK 22.75

$1.54 PGK 6.74

$7.68 PGK 33.61

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 PGK 14.65

$1.13 PGK 4.93

$5.62 PGK 24.60

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 PGK 11.98

$1.55 PGK 6.79

$4.41 PGK 19.33

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 PGK 8.70

$0.66 PGK 2.90

$3.31 PGK 14.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PGK 5.25

$0.46 PGK 2.00

$2.04 PGK 8.95

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.42 PGK 28.09

$4.77 PGK 20.90

$6.72 PGK 29.43

Wine (Bottle)

$10.81 PGK 47.30

$8.91 PGK 39.02

$17.82 PGK 78.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.44

$1.30 PGK 5.71

$3.26 PGK 14.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 PGK 15.96

$2.21 PGK 9.69

$5.30 PGK 23.22

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

$0.23 PGK 1.00

$0.47 PGK 2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.65 PGK 117

$2.28 PGK 9.99

$43.73 PGK 191

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 PGK 22.10

$4.49 PGK 19.64

$6.74 PGK 29.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 PGK 9.92

$1.13 PGK 4.96

$2.27 PGK 9.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.47 PGK 54.6

$7.94 PGK 34.74

$15.87 PGK 69.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PGK 4.40

$0.82 PGK 3.58

$1.10 PGK 4.84

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

$29.2K PGK 127.6K

$22.4K PGK 98.2K

$35.9K PGK 157.1K

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

$23.3K PGK 101.8K

$21.1K PGK 92.2K

$34.0K PGK 148.7K

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

$93.6 PGK 410

$62.1 PGK 272

$155 PGK 679

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

$25.43 PGK 111

$13.57 PGK 59.4

$45.22 PGK 198

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$106 PGK 466

$22.39 PGK 98.0

$224 PGK 981

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 PGK 280

$23.87 PGK 105

$132 PGK 579

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.51 PGK 107

$13.58 PGK 59.4

$24.51 PGK 107

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 PGK 38.82

$6.65 PGK 29.10

$11.72 PGK 51.3

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

$528 PGK 2,313

$340 PGK 1,487

$1,586 PGK 6,941

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,534 PGK 24.2K

$1,337 PGK 5,855

$8,461 PGK 37.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.76 PGK 165

$20.18 PGK 88.3

$47.63 PGK 209

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.00 PGK 144

$26.70 PGK 117

$44.50 PGK 195

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 PGK 280

$33.33 PGK 146

$333 PGK 1,459

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PGK 387

$27.09 PGK 119

$339 PGK 1,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 PGK 5,979

$443 PGK 1,940

$2,852 PGK 12.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 PGK 2,219

$266 PGK 1,166

$666 PGK 2,916

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,755 PGK 12.1K

$1,127 PGK 4,932

$4,732 PGK 20.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 PGK 4,822

$678 PGK 2,968

$1,426 PGK 6,243

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,050 PGK 8,974

$887 PGK 3,884

$4,153 PGK 18.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,771 PGK 16.5K

$665 PGK 2,913

$7,763 PGK 34.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 PGK 1,846

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.67

6.5

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

Last update: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Papua New Guinea $1,391

Accommodation & Living

$507 36.5%

Groceries & Markets

$301 21.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$225 16.2%

Eating Out

$130 9.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$100 7.2%

Sport & Entertainment

$82 5.9%

Getting Around

$45 3.2%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Papua New Guinea is $314 – below average monthly costs of $1,391. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $120 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $19.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,391) is 3% above the global median of $1,350.

Average rent ($753) is 15% above the global median of $652.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($19.00) is 60% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($8.00) is 76% below the global median of $34.00.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

21:32 9:32 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,935,000

💱 Currency

Papua New Guinean Kina PGK K

📈 Exchange rate

1 PGK = 0.228 USD

1 PGK = 0.203 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in Papua New Guinea

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Alotau	47367						105.62	55.51
2	Boroko	-	43	$601	$892	$1,408	$1,694	114.83	9.64
3	Bulolo	16042						-	-
4	Lae	250948		$572	$840	$1,546	$2,166	214.97	15.85
5	Lihir Island	-						109.02	23.22
6	Madang	75589						112.05	20.3
7	Port Moresby	364145	71	$787	$1,469	$1,862	$3,161	112.38	9.64

Papua New Guinea Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Papua New Guinea - Frequently Asked Questions

Papua New Guinea offers a compelling blend of value and adventure for travelers, expats, and digital nomads who can adapt to a different pace and simpler comforts. Outside the main cities, daily goods and local services often come at lower relative costs, while imported items and certain amenities stay pricier. The Cost of Living in Papua New Guinea varies with location, access to infrastructure, and seasonality, but you can stretch a budget by using local markets, choosing homestays or serviced apartments, and prioritizing in-country experiences. The key is flexibility and longer stays to negotiate better terms. Tip: Focus on neighborhoods that balance access to markets with decent internet and safety.

Housing search often yields a mix: modest apartments, guesthouses, or shared homes in urban and peri-urban areas. Longer leases can reduce monthly costs and simplify arrangements. Food options range from vibrant local markets with produce and seafood to affordable family-run eateries. For transport, use public buses or boats where available, and reserve private options for reliability. Co-working spaces exist in urban centers with decent internet and meeting rooms, or you can work from quiet cafés with a reliable connection. Papua New Guinea living cost varies by location; test a few areas during your first weeks. Tip: Start with a short-term stay to compare neighborhoods and routines.

Quality of life hinges on reliable basics and pace that suits you. Adopt a simple budgeting framework such as allocating funds for housing, utilities, groceries, transport, and personal projects, plus a safety and contingency buffer. Seasonality matters: the dry and wet seasons influence travel, logistics, and prices in rural areas, so expect shifts in availability more than fixed price changes. When judging neighborhoods, prioritize proximity to markets, healthcare access, and internet reliability, then test a few areas through a short stay or work rotation. Tip: guard against power outages by choosing accommodations with backup options and a flexible work setup.

Papua New Guinea is affordable by global standards, though costs vary a lot by region. Smaller cities and rural areas are genuinely cheap, while capitals and tourist spots are pricier – but still below international averages for similar quality.

Rent in Papua New Guinea varies a lot – Port Moresby has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across Papua New Guinea, $1,000 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.