Papua New Guinea is a land of extraordinary cultural diversity and pristine natural beauty in the Pacific. From the vibrant traditions of over 800 indigenous cultures to world-class diving sites and the legendary Kokoda Track, PNG offers adventurers an unparalleled experience in one of the world's last frontiers.
Local currency: Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Papua New Guinea.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- Not applicable - hostels are rare in PNG
- Budget
- $50-90 (guesthouse or basic hotel with security)
- Midrange
- $120-200 (mid-range hotel with pool and restaurant)
- Luxury
- $280-650+ (Airways Hotel, Loloata Island, Ambua Lodge, Tufi Resort)
Food
- Street
- $2-5 (market food, sago pancakes, tropical fruit)
- Local
- $10-20 (casual restaurant, cafe meal)
- Midrange
- $30-60 (hotel restaurant, mid-range dining)
- Fine
- $80-150+ (Bacchus at Airways, Rapala at Grand Papua)
Transport
- Pmv
- Not recommended for tourists
- Taxi
- $15-25 (pre-booked hotel taxi, city trip)
- Airport
- $25-40 (hotel taxi from Jacksons Airport)
- Daytrip
- $100-200 (private driver for day, essential for safety)
- Domestic Flight
- $180-400 (Port Moresby to Madang, Mt Hagen or Rabaul)
Activities
- Nature Park
- $8.50 (Port Moresby Nature Park adult)
- Museum
- $2.50 (National Museum adult)
- Diving
- $80-150 (single dive with equipment at Loloata or Madang)
- Cultural Tour
- $50-150 (guided cultural village visit)
- Kokoda
- $2500-4000 (full track guided package)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Papua New Guinea costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$600-900/week (basic guesthouses, market meals, shared transport, limited activities)
Midrange traveller
$1400-2000/week (mid-range hotels, hotel restaurant meals, private driver, some paid activities)
Luxury traveller
$3500-7000+/week (luxury lodges, fine dining, private charter, guided experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Domestic flights are the biggest budget item - book Air Niugini or PNG Air tickets well in advance as last-minute fares can double in price
Stay at hotel properties that include breakfast - meals in PNG are expensive and hotel breakfast packages offer genuine value
Use hotel-arranged private drivers rather than solo taxis - slightly more expensive but the safety advantage is worth every kina
The cheapest meal option in Port Moresby is the Vision City Mall food court - Asian and local dishes from $10-15 in a safe, air-conditioned environment
Negotiate package deals directly with dive resorts - all-inclusive packages at Loloata, Tufi, and Madang Resort often include discounts not available through booking platforms
Visit cultural shows at the Goroka and Mt Hagen Shows - entry is $25 and provides extraordinary value compared to arranging private village cultural visits
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Bomana War Cemetery
Deeply moving Commonwealth war cemetery with over 3,800 WWII graves maintained immaculately by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Free entry and one of PNG's most significant sites.
Ela Beach Promenade Walk
Port Moresby's revitalised beachfront promenade with paved walkways, seating, and Coral Sea views. Best visited in daylight hours as a safe walking and jogging destination.
Parliament House Exterior
The architecturally magnificent Parliament House in Waigani, designed in traditional Haus Tambaran style, is freely viewable from the road and surrounding grounds.
Madang Waterfront
Madang's beautiful palm-lined harbour waterfront is one of PNG's most pleasant free experiences - stroll the promenade and watch fishing boats and traditional canoes on the water.
Rabaul Harbor Views
The dramatic volcanic scenery of Simpson Harbour with Tavurvur steaming in the background can be enjoyed for free from the Kokopo waterfront and surrounding viewpoints.