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

Name: Papua New Guinea
Address: PG

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $900 (excluding rent), and $1,479 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,993 (excluding rent), and $2,781 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 PGK 34.03

$2.94 PGK 12.56

$24.52 PGK 105

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 PGK 202

$35.46 PGK 151

$142 PGK 606

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.90 PGK 25.18

$10.62 PGK 45.33

Cappuccino

$2.34 PGK 9.99

$1.19 PGK 5.08

$2.86 PGK 12.19

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

$0.85 PGK 3.64

$0.70 PGK 2.98

$1.40 PGK 5.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 PGK 3.45

$0.76 PGK 3.22

$1.26 PGK 5.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 PGK 12.19

$1.43 PGK 6.10

$7.14 PGK 30.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 PGK 19.04

$2.35 PGK 10.02

$5.87 PGK 25.05

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 PGK 8.23

$1.65 PGK 7.05

$2.36 PGK 10.07

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 PGK 6.59

$1.19 PGK 5.07

$2.61 PGK 11.15

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 PGK 6.52

$1.23 PGK 5.25

$1.72 PGK 7.35

Eggs

$3.88 PGK 16.56

$2.95 PGK 12.58

$5.01 PGK 21.41

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.97 PGK 25.50

$3.03 PGK 12.94

$11.65 PGK 49.76

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.62 PGK 28.25

$3.88 PGK 16.56

$10.18 PGK 43.48

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.95 PGK 38.21

$5.95 PGK 25.39

$14.27 PGK 60.9

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 PGK 17.30

$1.91 PGK 8.14

$5.96 PGK 25.44

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 PGK 12.18

$1.23 PGK 5.24

$4.91 PGK 20.95

Oranges (1kg)

$4.66 PGK 19.91

$0.94 PGK 4.00

$11.24 PGK 47.98

Tomato (1kg)

$3.89 PGK 16.62

$1.14 PGK 4.86

$8.32 PGK 35.52

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 PGK 14.49

$1.46 PGK 6.23

$6.08 PGK 25.95

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 PGK 10.58

$0.97 PGK 4.13

$3.63 PGK 15.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 PGK 12.77

$0.73 PGK 3.13

$6.10 PGK 26.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 PGK 4.39

$0.47 PGK 2.02

$1.90 PGK 8.10

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 PGK 26.97

$5.05 PGK 21.56

$10.99 PGK 46.94

Wine (Bottle)

$11.26 PGK 48.06

$9.20 PGK 39.27

$17.24 PGK 73.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 PGK 11.16

$1.70 PGK 7.27

$3.65 PGK 15.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 PGK 14.76

$2.39 PGK 10.21

$5.74 PGK 24.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.00

$0.35 PGK 1.50

$0.47 PGK 2.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.97 PGK 119

$2.39 PGK 10.21

$45.90 PGK 196

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 PGK 22.81

$4.75 PGK 20.28

$7.12 PGK 30.42

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 PGK 10.39

$1.46 PGK 6.25

$2.43 PGK 10.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 PGK 70.4

$11.78 PGK 50.3

$23.56 PGK 101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 PGK 4.60

$0.87 PGK 3.72

$1.18 PGK 5.02

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

$24.4K PGK 104.1K

$21.7K PGK 92.6K

$29.2K PGK 124.9K

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

$31.2K PGK 133.4K

$22.2K PGK 94.7K

$35.8K PGK 152.7K

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

$102 PGK 434

$66.5 PGK 284

$142 PGK 608

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

$48.17 PGK 206

$23.72 PGK 101

$55.7 PGK 238

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$210 PGK 898

$23.90 PGK 102

$717 PGK 3,061

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 PGK 271

$16.88 PGK 72.1

$145 PGK 618

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.33 PGK 52.6

$9.62 PGK 41.09

$15.64 PGK 66.8

Cinema Ticket

$9.54 PGK 40.75

$7.16 PGK 30.56

$11.93 PGK 50.9

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

$431 PGK 1,840

$192 PGK 821

$707 PGK 3,017

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,041 PGK 17.3K

$1,426 PGK 6,089

$7,131 PGK 30.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.93 PGK 149

$11.88 PGK 50.7

$49.91 PGK 213

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.92 PGK 149

$14.12 PGK 60.3

$47.08 PGK 201

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.8 PGK 289

$47.72 PGK 204

$83.5 PGK 357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.0 PGK 282

$28.70 PGK 123

$144 PGK 613

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,114 PGK 13.3K

$1,573 PGK 6,717

$5,042 PGK 21.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 PGK 2,081

$244 PGK 1,040

$731 PGK 3,121

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,220 PGK 13.8K

$1,091 PGK 4,657

$5,575 PGK 23.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 PGK 3,066

$359 PGK 1,533

$957 PGK 4,088

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,706 PGK 11.6K

$1,177 PGK 5,025

$4,408 PGK 18.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,050 PGK 17.3K

$715 PGK 3,052

$8,338 PGK 35.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 PGK 1,766

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 18, 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	$773	$1,128	$1,654	$2,001	260.4	44.59
3	Bulolo	-						-	-
4	Lae	250948		$549	$1,222	$1,204	$1,370	207.38	47.58
5	Lihir Island	-		$267	$243	$621	$646	294.67	23.78
6	Madang	75589		$414	$534	$1,348	$1,877	30.54	68.08
7	Port Moresby	364145	86	$1,129	$1,691	$2,260	$3,137	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.