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

Name: Papua New Guinea
Address: PG

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $905 (excluding rent), and $1,493 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,992 (excluding rent), and $2,754 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.68 PGK 33.39

$2.83 PGK 12.33

$23.62 PGK 103

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.05 PGK 209

$36.04 PGK 157

$144 PGK 627

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PGK 26.15

$10.82 PGK 47.07

Cappuccino

$2.39 PGK 10.39

$1.21 PGK 5.28

$2.92 PGK 12.68

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

$0.86 PGK 3.74

$0.70 PGK 3.06

$1.41 PGK 6.13

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 PGK 3.25

$0.70 PGK 3.04

$1.17 PGK 5.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PGK 12.84

$1.48 PGK 6.42

$7.38 PGK 32.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 PGK 19.99

$2.42 PGK 10.52

$6.05 PGK 26.30

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 PGK 8.28

$1.63 PGK 7.09

$2.33 PGK 10.13

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 PGK 6.70

$1.18 PGK 5.15

$2.61 PGK 11.34

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PGK 6.43

$1.19 PGK 5.18

$1.67 PGK 7.25

Eggs

$3.87 PGK 16.83

$2.94 PGK 12.79

$5.00 PGK 21.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PGK 26.55

$3.10 PGK 13.47

$11.91 PGK 51.8

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 PGK 29.04

$3.91 PGK 17.03

$10.27 PGK 44.69

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.12 PGK 39.66

$6.06 PGK 26.35

$14.54 PGK 63.3

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 PGK 17.66

$1.91 PGK 8.31

$5.97 PGK 25.98

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 PGK 12.20

$1.21 PGK 5.25

$4.83 PGK 21.00

Oranges (1kg)

$4.66 PGK 20.25

$0.94 PGK 4.07

$11.22 PGK 48.81

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 PGK 16.95

$1.14 PGK 4.96

$8.33 PGK 36.22

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 PGK 14.18

$1.40 PGK 6.10

$5.84 PGK 25.40

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 PGK 10.91

$0.98 PGK 4.26

$3.67 PGK 15.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 PGK 12.44

$0.70 PGK 3.05

$5.84 PGK 25.39

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PGK 4.61

$0.49 PGK 2.13

$1.96 PGK 8.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 PGK 28.60

$5.26 PGK 22.87

$11.45 PGK 49.79

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 PGK 50.3

$9.44 PGK 41.06

$17.69 PGK 76.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 PGK 11.45

$1.71 PGK 7.46

$3.67 PGK 15.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 PGK 15.51

$2.47 PGK 10.73

$5.92 PGK 25.74

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 PGK 1.99

$0.34 PGK 1.49

$0.46 PGK 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.19 PGK 123

$2.41 PGK 10.48

$46.25 PGK 201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 PGK 23.36

$4.77 PGK 20.77

$7.16 PGK 31.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 PGK 10.84

$1.50 PGK 6.52

$2.49 PGK 10.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 PGK 74.3

$12.20 PGK 53.1

$24.41 PGK 106

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 PGK 4.72

$0.88 PGK 3.82

$1.18 PGK 5.14

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

$24.3K PGK 105.6K

$21.6K PGK 94.0K

$29.1K PGK 126.8K

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

$31.3K PGK 136.1K

$22.2K PGK 96.6K

$35.8K PGK 155.9K

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

$101 PGK 440

$66.2 PGK 288

$142 PGK 617

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

$49.31 PGK 214

$24.27 PGK 106

$57.0 PGK 248

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 PGK 920

$24.04 PGK 105

$721 PGK 3,138

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 PGK 278

$17.00 PGK 74.0

$146 PGK 634

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.20 PGK 53.1

$9.52 PGK 41.42

$15.47 PGK 67.3

Cinema Ticket

$9.87 PGK 42.93

$7.40 PGK 32.20

$12.34 PGK 53.7

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

$441 PGK 1,917

$197 PGK 856

$723 PGK 3,144

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,036 PGK 17.6K

$1,425 PGK 6,197

$7,123 PGK 31.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.90 PGK 156

$12.21 PGK 53.1

$51.3 PGK 223

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.17 PGK 157

$14.63 PGK 63.6

$48.76 PGK 212

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 PGK 291

$47.07 PGK 205

$82.4 PGK 358

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.0 PGK 287

$28.71 PGK 125

$144 PGK 624

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,146 PGK 13.7K

$1,589 PGK 6,914

$5,094 PGK 22.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 PGK 2,048

$235 PGK 1,024

$706 PGK 3,073

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,173 PGK 13.8K

$1,075 PGK 4,676

$5,494 PGK 23.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 PGK 3,147

$362 PGK 1,574

$965 PGK 4,196

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,645 PGK 11.5K

$1,150 PGK 5,004

$4,309 PGK 18.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,986 PGK 17.3K

$703 PGK 3,060

$8,206 PGK 35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$402 PGK 1,750

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: March 3, 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	$821	$1,107	$1,718	$1,969	260.4	44.59
3	Bulolo	-						-	-
4	Lae	250948		$430	$1,252	$1,367	$1,364	207.38	47.58
5	Lihir Island	-		$253	$248	$715	$668	294.67	23.78
6	Madang	75589		$422	$548	$1,030	$1,849	30.54	68.08
7	Port Moresby	364145	86	$1,119	$1,701	$2,232	$3,203	180.95	44.59

Papua New Guinea Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 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.