Capital city in National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
Cost of living in Port Moresby
How much a month costs in Port Moresby
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $2,230–3,580 (K10,000–16,000).
Prices in Port Moresby
Typical 2026 ranges in PGK, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | PGK | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | K4,000–9,000 | $894–2,010 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | K2,500–5,000 | $559–1,120 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | K400–800 | $89–179 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | K10–25 | $2.2–5.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | K60–120 | $13–27 |
| Cappuccino | K8–15 | $1.8–3.4 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | K8–15 | $1.8–3.4 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | K2–4 | $0.45–0.89 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | K25–60 | $5.6–13.4 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | K250–500 | $56–112 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | K50–150 | $11–34 |
Value for money: 4/100
A value score of 4/100 means Port Moresby gives more quality of life per dollar than 3% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 45/100.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cheaper alternatives to Port Moresby
Similar safety, lower cost, in Oceania.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Rotorua | New Zealand | $1,960–2,690 |
| Taupo | New Zealand | $1,960–2,690 |
| Bay of Islands | New Zealand | $2,020–2,810 |
| Nadi | Fiji | $1,430–2,010 |
| Rarotonga | Cook Islands | $1,960–2,810 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Port Moresby?
About $1,120–1,790 on a lean budget, $2,230–3,580 for a comfortable month and $4,470–7,820 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Port Moresby?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs K4,000–9,000 ($894–2,010) a month in the center and K2,500–5,000 ($559–1,120) outside it.
How much does food cost in Port Moresby?
A local meal is K10–25 ($2.2–5.6); a mid-range restaurant is K60–120 ($13–27) per person.
Is Papua New Guinea expensive?
Prices in Papua New Guinea are about 58% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Port Moresby
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority
- Air Niugini
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.