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

Name: Papua New Guinea
Address: PG

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $688 per month with rent on average in Papua New Guinea.

A couple spends around $995 per month with rent on average in Papua New Guinea.

A family of three spends around $1,301 per month with rent on average in Papua New Guinea.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 PGK 33.49

$2.83 PGK 12.37

$23.59 PGK 103

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.73 PGK 213

$36.55 PGK 160

$146 PGK 639

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 PGK 26.86

$11.07 PGK 48.34

Cappuccino

$2.41 PGK 10.54

$1.23 PGK 5.36

$2.95 PGK 12.87

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

$0.90 PGK 3.95

$0.74 PGK 3.23

$1.48 PGK 6.47

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PGK 3.47

$0.74 PGK 3.25

$1.24 PGK 5.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PGK 12.87

$1.47 PGK 6.43

$7.36 PGK 32.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 PGK 19.34

$2.33 PGK 10.18

$5.83 PGK 25.45

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 PGK 8.65

$1.70 PGK 7.41

$2.42 PGK 10.59

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 PGK 6.62

$1.17 PGK 5.09

$2.56 PGK 11.20

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PGK 6.45

$1.19 PGK 5.19

$1.66 PGK 7.27

Eggs

$3.86 PGK 16.88

$2.94 PGK 12.82

$5.00 PGK 21.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.00 PGK 26.21

$3.04 PGK 13.30

$11.71 PGK 51.1

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 PGK 28.41

$3.81 PGK 16.65

$10.01 PGK 43.72

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 PGK 39.79

$6.05 PGK 26.44

$14.53 PGK 63.5

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 PGK 18.06

$1.95 PGK 8.50

$6.08 PGK 26.56

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 PGK 12.06

$1.19 PGK 5.19

$4.75 PGK 20.75

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 PGK 20.48

$0.94 PGK 4.11

$11.30 PGK 49.36

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 PGK 17.51

$1.17 PGK 5.13

$8.57 PGK 37.44

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 PGK 14.54

$1.43 PGK 6.25

$5.96 PGK 26.05

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 PGK 10.58

$0.95 PGK 4.13

$3.55 PGK 15.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 PGK 12.71

$0.71 PGK 3.11

$5.94 PGK 25.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 PGK 4.60

$0.49 PGK 2.12

$1.94 PGK 8.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.31 PGK 27.55

$5.04 PGK 22.02

$10.98 PGK 47.96

Wine (Bottle)

$11.05 PGK 48.27

$9.02 PGK 39.41

$18.04 PGK 78.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 PGK 11.41

$1.70 PGK 7.43

$3.64 PGK 15.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 PGK 15.51

$2.46 PGK 10.73

$5.89 PGK 25.74

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.16

$0.37 PGK 1.62

$0.50 PGK 2.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.28 PGK 124

$2.42 PGK 10.56

$46.40 PGK 203

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 PGK 23.31

$4.74 PGK 20.72

$7.12 PGK 31.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 PGK 10.94

$1.51 PGK 6.58

$2.50 PGK 10.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.83 PGK 73.5

$12.02 PGK 52.5

$24.04 PGK 105

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 PGK 4.74

$0.88 PGK 3.84

$1.18 PGK 5.18

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

$24.0K PGK 104.7K

$21.3K PGK 93.2K

$28.8K PGK 125.6K

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

$31.1K PGK 136.1K

$22.1K PGK 96.6K

$35.7K PGK 155.8K

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

$103 PGK 452

$67.6 PGK 295

$145 PGK 633

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

$49.10 PGK 214

$24.17 PGK 106

$56.8 PGK 248

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$210 PGK 918

$23.87 PGK 104

$716 PGK 3,128

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.2 PGK 272

$16.56 PGK 72.3

$142 PGK 620

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.19 PGK 53.3

$9.52 PGK 41.57

$15.46 PGK 67.5

Cinema Ticket

$9.44 PGK 41.23

$7.08 PGK 30.92

$11.80 PGK 51.5

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

$435 PGK 1,899

$194 PGK 848

$713 PGK 3,114

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,059 PGK 17.7K

$1,433 PGK 6,258

$7,163 PGK 31.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.87 PGK 152

$11.86 PGK 51.8

$49.81 PGK 218

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.66 PGK 156

$14.42 PGK 63.0

$48.08 PGK 210

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.1 PGK 297

$47.95 PGK 209

$83.9 PGK 367

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 PGK 294

$29.25 PGK 128

$146 PGK 639

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,121 PGK 13.6K

$1,577 PGK 6,888

$5,054 PGK 22.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 PGK 2,100

$240 PGK 1,050

$721 PGK 3,150

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,227 PGK 14.1K

$1,093 PGK 4,774

$5,586 PGK 24.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 PGK 3,141

$360 PGK 1,571

$959 PGK 4,189

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,125 PGK 9,281

$920 PGK 4,017

$4,305 PGK 18.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,838 PGK 16.8K

$677 PGK 2,958

$7,900 PGK 34.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$434 PGK 1,896

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: June 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Papua New Guinea is $321 – below average monthly costs of $688. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $171 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $30.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($688) is 49% below the global median of $1,339.

Average rent ($1,976) is 215% above the global median of $628.

Dining out ($30.00) is 39% below the global median of $49.00.

Public transport ($8.00) is 76% below the global median of $33.00.

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	-	56	$842	$1,127	$1,655	$2,024	114.83	9.64
3	Bulolo	-						-	-
4	Lae	250948		$452	$1,234	$1,188	$1,362	214.97	15.85
5	Lihir Island	-		$199	$224	$655	$637	109.02	23.22
6	Madang	75589		$494	$514	$1,279	$1,852	112.05	20.3
7	Port Moresby	364145	86	$1,042	$1,714	$2,255	$3,235	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.