Cost of Living in Papua New Guinea - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Papua New Guinea
Address: PG

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $904 (excluding rent), and $1,522 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,018 (excluding rent), and $2,784 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.63 PGK 32.56

$2.82 PGK 12.02

$23.46 PGK 100

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 PGK 207

$36.36 PGK 155

$145 PGK 621

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.38

$10.70 PGK 45.68

Cappuccino

$2.30 PGK 9.81

$1.17 PGK 4.99

$2.80 PGK 11.98

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

$0.87 PGK 3.71

$0.71 PGK 3.03

$1.42 PGK 6.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 PGK 3.42

$0.75 PGK 3.19

$1.25 PGK 5.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PGK 12.39

$1.45 PGK 6.20

$7.25 PGK 30.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 PGK 19.30

$2.38 PGK 10.16

$5.95 PGK 25.39

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 PGK 8.28

$1.66 PGK 7.10

$2.38 PGK 10.14

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 PGK 6.55

$1.18 PGK 5.04

$2.59 PGK 11.08

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 PGK 6.29

$1.19 PGK 5.06

$1.66 PGK 7.09

Eggs

$3.72 PGK 15.88

$2.83 PGK 12.07

$4.81 PGK 20.53

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.26 PGK 26.71

$3.17 PGK 13.55

$12.21 PGK 52.1

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 PGK 27.74

$3.81 PGK 16.26

$10.00 PGK 42.68

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.94 PGK 38.15

$5.94 PGK 25.35

$14.25 PGK 60.8

Apples (1kg)

$4.15 PGK 17.74

$1.96 PGK 8.35

$6.11 PGK 26.09

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.04

$1.21 PGK 5.18

$4.85 PGK 20.72

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 PGK 20.31

$0.96 PGK 4.08

$11.47 PGK 48.96

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 PGK 16.54

$1.13 PGK 4.84

$8.28 PGK 35.36

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 PGK 13.92

$1.40 PGK 5.99

$5.84 PGK 24.94

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 PGK 10.71

$0.98 PGK 4.18

$3.67 PGK 15.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 PGK 12.44

$0.71 PGK 3.05

$5.94 PGK 25.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PGK 4.36

$0.47 PGK 2.01

$1.88 PGK 8.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.29 PGK 26.86

$5.03 PGK 21.47

$10.95 PGK 46.76

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 PGK 49.38

$9.44 PGK 40.30

$17.70 PGK 75.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 PGK 10.79

$1.65 PGK 7.02

$3.53 PGK 15.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 PGK 14.74

$2.39 PGK 10.20

$5.73 PGK 24.47

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 PGK 1.96

$0.34 PGK 1.47

$0.46 PGK 1.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.52 PGK 122

$2.44 PGK 10.41

$46.79 PGK 200

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 PGK 23.58

$4.91 PGK 20.96

$7.36 PGK 31.44

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 PGK 10.26

$1.45 PGK 6.17

$2.40 PGK 10.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.98 PGK 72.5

$12.13 PGK 51.8

$24.26 PGK 104

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PGK 4.76

$0.90 PGK 3.85

$1.22 PGK 5.20

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

$24.2K PGK 103.4K

$21.5K PGK 92.0K

$29.0K PGK 124.0K

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

$31.6K PGK 134.7K

$22.4K PGK 95.6K

$36.1K PGK 154.3K

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

$104 PGK 445

$68.2 PGK 291

$146 PGK 624

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

$48.66 PGK 208

$23.95 PGK 102

$56.3 PGK 240

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 PGK 904

$24.05 PGK 103

$721 PGK 3,080

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.2 PGK 274

$17.08 PGK 72.9

$146 PGK 625

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 PGK 51.7

$9.44 PGK 40.33

$15.35 PGK 65.5

Cinema Ticket

$9.65 PGK 41.22

$7.24 PGK 30.92

$12.07 PGK 51.5

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

$434 PGK 1,855

$194 PGK 828

$712 PGK 3,042

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,013 PGK 17.1K

$1,416 PGK 6,047

$7,081 PGK 30.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.16 PGK 150

$11.96 PGK 51.1

$50.2 PGK 215

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.04 PGK 150

$14.17 PGK 60.5

$47.25 PGK 202

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 PGK 289

$47.66 PGK 204

$83.4 PGK 356

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 PGK 284

$28.95 PGK 124

$145 PGK 618

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,067 PGK 13.1K

$1,550 PGK 6,616

$4,966 PGK 21.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 PGK 2,088

$245 PGK 1,044

$734 PGK 3,132

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,133 PGK 13.4K

$1,061 PGK 4,531

$5,423 PGK 23.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 PGK 3,049

$357 PGK 1,525

$952 PGK 4,066

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,710 PGK 11.6K

$1,178 PGK 5,032

$4,414 PGK 18.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,020 PGK 17.2K

$709 PGK 3,029

$8,275 PGK 35.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$404 PGK 1,725

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.75

6.5

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

Last update: January 12, 2026

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						93.58	68.82
2	Boroko	-	56	$820	$1,125	$1,748	$1,955	260.4	44.59
3	Bulolo	-						-	-
4	Lae	250948		$456	$1,216	$1,453	$1,344	207.38	47.58
5	Lihir Island	-		$244	$246	$619	$646	294.67	23.78
6	Madang	75589		$493	$549	$1,125	$1,884	30.54	68.08
7	Port Moresby	364145	86	$1,104	$1,691	$2,273	$3,249	180.95	44.59

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.