Travel budget and cost of living in Papua New Guinea how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to Papua New Guinea and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in Papua New Guinea. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your Papua New Guinea travel budget.
Travel budget in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: calculate your travel budget
Papua New Guinea: sample budgets by traveller type
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Papua New Guinea for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 39 for 2 ppl.
- $ 14 per person
- $ 2.4 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 993* (3444 PGK)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 133 for 2 ppl.
- $ 29 per person
- $ 22 per person
- $ 10.2 per person
Total budget:
$ 3540* (12236 PGK)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 171 for 2 ppl.
- $ 49 per person
- $ 58 per person
- $ 21 per person
Total budget:
$ 5909* (20426 PGK)
* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).
Cost of living in Papua New Guinea in 2021
Cost of living: Papua New Guinea VS United States
On average, the cost of living in Papua New Guinea in 2021 is essentially the same as in the United States (USA)
The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
Cost of living in Papua New Guinea by city
See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Papua New Guinea compared to the national average.
| Cities | /Papua New Guinea | View Details |
|---|---|---|
| Port Moresby | 13% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Port Moresby |
| Kerema | 10% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Kerema |
| Lae | 21% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Lae |
Local prices in Papua New Guinea by expense type
Papua New Guinea: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Papua New Guinea costs 20% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 8.6/person
($ 4.3 to $ 15)
($ 4.3 to $ 15)
43% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163 course dinner
$ 30/person
($ 15 to $ 59)
($ 15 to $ 59)
7% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32McDonald's meal
$ 8.6/person
($ 5.7 to $ 10.2)
($ 5.7 to $ 10.2)
7% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.1Local beer
$ 2.9 for 500ml
($ 1.8 to $ 3.5)
($ 1.8 to $ 3.5)
43% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Imported beer
$ 3.8 for 330ml
($ 2.9 to $ 4.7)
($ 2.9 to $ 4.7)
32% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9Cappuccino
$ 2.9/cup
($ 0.8 to $ 4.3)
($ 0.8 to $ 4.3)
33% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4Fizzy drink
$ 1.1/can
($ 0.8 to $ 2)
($ 0.8 to $ 2)
42% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9Water bottle
$ 1/bottle
($ 0.8 to $ 2)
($ 0.8 to $ 2)
36% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6Papua New Guinea: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Papua New Guinea costs 21% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 39/night
( $ 39)
( $ 39)
64% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1092-star hotel
$ 122/night
($ 101 to $ 143)
($ 101 to $ 143)
2% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1263-star hotel
$ 150/night
($ 134 to $ 164)
($ 134 to $ 164)
16% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1804-star hotel
$ 193/night
($ 164 to $ 226)
($ 164 to $ 226)
26% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2625-star hotel
$ 228/night
($ 202 to $ 257)
($ 202 to $ 257)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510Room with kitchen
$ 150/month
($ 127 to $ 175)
($ 127 to $ 175)
11% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169Hotel with swimming pool
$ 163/month
($ 139 to $ 186)
($ 139 to $ 186)
1% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165Cottage or guest house
$ 88/month
($ 88 to $ 88)
($ 88 to $ 88)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223Family room
$ 263/month
($ 219 to $ 328)
($ 219 to $ 328)
51% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175Papua New Guinea: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in Papua New Guinea costs 8% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2)
($ 1.4 to $ 2)
88% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9Bread
$ 1.7/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)
40% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Rice
$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 1.8)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.8)
66% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4Eggs
$ 3.7/12 eggs
($ 1.4 to $ 4.2)
($ 1.4 to $ 4.2)
57% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3Chicken
$ 5.3/kg
($ 4.3 to $ 6.1)
($ 4.3 to $ 6.1)
43% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.3Apples
$ 3/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.7)
($ 1.4 to $ 4.7)
34% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6Tomatoes
$ 2.9/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 5.7)
($ 1.2 to $ 5.7)
35% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3Potatoes
$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.5)
($ 1.2 to $ 3.5)
7% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6Water bottle
$ 2
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)
10% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8Papua New Guinea: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in Papua New Guinea is 35% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 0.6/ticket
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)
74% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2Taxi (per km)
$ 3.6/km
( $ 3.6)
( $ 3.6)
118% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6Petrol
$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.3)
63% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 4.3
($ 1.4 to $ 5.7)
($ 1.4 to $ 5.7)
32% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.3Papua New Guinea: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in Papua New Guinea is 22% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 10.2/ticket
($ 8.6 to $ 15)
($ 8.6 to $ 15)
16% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Tennis
$ 27/hr
($ 16 to $ 30)
($ 16 to $ 30)
61% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16Papua New Guinea: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in Papua New Guinea costs 10% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 6.9/pack
($ 5.7 to $ 7.8)
($ 5.7 to $ 7.8)
14% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.1Levi's jeans
$ 38
($ 15 to $ 88)
($ 15 to $ 88)
19% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46Summer dress
$ 39
($ 5.7 to $ 59)
($ 5.7 to $ 59)
4% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38Plane ticket budget
Sydney → Port Moresby
$ 607
(fair price: $ 542)
(fair price: $ 542)
London → Port Moresby
$ 1739
(fair price: $ 1413)
(fair price: $ 1413)
Melbourne → Port Moresby
$ 634
(fair price: $ 547)
(fair price: $ 547)
Los Angeles → Port Moresby
$ 1921
(fair price: $ 1681)
(fair price: $ 1681)
New York City → Port Moresby
$ 2132
(fair price: $ 1945)
(fair price: $ 1945)
Auckland → Port Moresby
$ 832
(fair price: $ 670)
(fair price: $ 670)
About the information on the cost of living in Papua New Guinea
The information about the cost of living in Papua New Guinea shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in Papua New Guinea updated on 16-07-2021.