Living in Port Moresby
What it really costs to live in Port Moresby, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Papua New Guinea, updated 2026. Port Moresby lies in Melanesia. The main languages are English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu. Papua New Guinea borders Indonesia.
Cost of Living in Port Moresby
Full Monthly Breakdown for Port Moresby
What You Can Earn in Papua New Guinea
Typical gross annual salaries in Papua New Guinea by sector (entry · median · senior). Port Moresby pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €12 500 | €18 000 | €25 000 |
| retail | €4 500 | €6 500 | €9 000 |
| finance | €10 500 | €15 000 | €21 000 |
| education | €6 500 | €9 000 | €12 500 |
| healthcare | €8 500 | €12 000 | €17 000 |
| engineering | €11 500 | €16 500 | €23 000 |
| hospitality | €5 000 | €7 500 | €10 500 |
| construction | €7 500 | €11 000 | €15 500 |
Living in Port Moresby: Safety, Health & Climate
Port Moresby shares Papua New Guinea's wider quality-of-life profile. Port Moresby has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Papua New Guinea
Affording Port Moresby is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Papua New Guinea. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
Taxes in Papua New Guinea
Top marginal rate 30%, VAT 10%.
Settling into Port Moresby
- Budget around €3 800 for first-month setup in Port Moresby.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering.
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Personalised visa options, costs and a 90-day plan for Papua New Guinea.
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How much does it cost to live in Port Moresby?
A single person in central Port Moresby should budget about €1 680/month, roughly €1 480 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €3 800/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Papua New Guinea?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Papua New Guinea visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Papua New Guinea Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries