Papua New Guinea Budget Travel
Papua New Guinea is the kind of destination travelers dream of, but for many, it seems like a difficult and expensive destination to travel to. If you do not do your research this can definitely be true. With almost non-existent tourism and a major lack of infrastructure, traveling Papua New Guinea can be a very expensive ordeal. Luckily, the island nation is opening up to more budget travelers who brave to come here. Those who do venture here can expect to be met with exotic tribes, lush rainforests, empty beaches, and incredibly hospitable people. After traveling Papua New Guinea for over a month I’ve created this budget guide to traveling Papua New Guinea. Get here before the crowds do, because Papua is a traveler’s paradise!
Cheap Flights in Papua New Guinea
Flight prices vary considerably in Papua New Guinea. The first rule of thumb is always put your web browser into the incognito mode when you begin to search for flights. If you want to take this a step further, I’ll give you a bonus tip which you may have never heard before. If you use a VPN service to change your virtual location you can get very cheap deals that are exclusive to certain locations around the world. This is because companies can, and often will, price discriminate based on your location (I’ve heard that Argentina works as a cheap location to book flights from). VPN’s can be purchased online on a monthly basis and can also be used when booking things such as hotels, rental cars, etc. to ensure that you get the best price possible. If you are interested I recommend checking out something like NordVPN as they are reviewed quite favorably and have great prices.
Secondly, if you book far in advance with Papua New Guineas two national airlines, Air Niugini and PNG Air you can get seat deals. Last minute tickets in PNG can also be heavily discounted, but you run the risk of not getting a flight. PNG Air tends to give better discounts than Air Niugini.

International flights into Papua New Guinea are always very expensive. You can follow my Uncharted Backpacker Guide to Cheap Flights, but most likely you will pay a lot, and have to get a second flight as the only international airport is in Port Moresby which has no roads to anywhere else in the nation.
Crossing from Indonesia to Papua New Guinea
My biggest tip to get to Papua New Guinea on the Cheap is to fly to Jayapura in Indonesia’s Irian Jaya. This is the western side of the Papua Island, from here you can easily cross into Vanimo and then take a cheap flight or boat onward into Papua New Guinea. It’s a rougher route, but hey that’s why we travel to Papua New Guinea isn’t it?

Doing this will save you majorly on the international flight and the flight from Port Moresby. The crossing is also a synch. If you do not have a visa already just come to the embassy in Jayapura with two passport photographs and to be safe a 100 USD. The process takes about three days in which you can explore Jayapura’s beautiful coastline.
Taking Public Transport in Papua New Guinea
Other than flying, there is very little information on public transport in Papua New Guinea. This is because PNG has no government-run buses or transport companies. Instead, you have make-shift bus stations in every town where, if you own any form of transport, you can become the public transit. From the larger centers, there are scheduled buses for example from Goroka to Lae. There are never really any scheduled times, but show up in the morning and you will most likely get on something.
Wait times can be very frustrating, and prices are not listed so make sure you shop around. The quality of the transport also varies, and this comes with how long the journey will be. Some buses are barely roadworthy, for your safety you should defiantly check them out beforehand.

PMV Travel in Papua New Guinea
PMV or Personal Motor Vehicle is the main form of transport in Papua. They range from a beat-up old bus to a newish 4×4. The better quality the vehicle, the higher the price. Locals tend to cram as many people possible into the old ramshackle buses that blast black smoke from the back. If possible avoid these buses, mainly for your sanity.
Many journeys on PMV can be very delightful in Papua New Guinea. You will meet plenty of locals this way, many of whom will offer you accommodation at their house for a very cheap price, sometimes even free!
To find the PMV ask anyone in town. Towns in PNG are not big so the location can change. Once you know where just show up early in the morning and get on the best valued PMV you can find!

Boat Travel in Papua
When it comes to boat travel in PNG they tend to be slower than the PMV, but in many regions like the Sepik for example, boat travel is the only form of transportation. Another example is getting from Vanimo the Indonesian Border to Wewak requires a mix of PMV and Boat.
Boats can be hazardous so its best to check them out before accepting any journey. The smaller banana boats are crammed pack full of people and supplies and go very slow. If you get lucky some of the fishermen will be offering transport, their prices are much higher, but they go very fast and are much more skilled drivers.

Hitchhiking in PNG
This option I would not recommend as Papua New Guinea does have some security issues. It’s not uncommon here for banditry, but travel in Papua New Guinea is unique and you are not always left with many options.
If you do have to hitchhike don’t expect the ride to be free. Many locals hitch, but always pay, and as a foreigner, you will most definitely be asked for money. Agree to a price beforehand, and if it seems sketchy, back out of it!
The Ultimate Guide To Diving In Papua New Guinea
Renting a vehicle
This was an exhilarating experience for me. For about 50 USD per day, I rented a truck and explored the entire Upper Sepik region around Maprik. The roads were quite rough, however, and if you break down there is no help for miles.
Ask at the guest houses and hotels about renting a vehicle as there isn’t much for companies outside Port Moresby that rent cars.

Finding Cheap Accommodation in Papua New Guinea
This can be the biggest drawback to the budget travel in PNG. Papua New Guinea does have hotels, but they are VERY expensive. Most starting at 150 USD per night for a single. Luckily there are more and more options popping up all the time. Many locals have taken advantage of this new wave of budget travelers as well by opening up their homes to guests.
Sleeping in a Village Home
For the most part, homestays are not listed anywhere. If you are lucky the owners will meet you at the bus stop, but most likely you will have to ask around. Like most small communities, in Papua New Guinea, everyone knows everyone, so this is not as hard as you think.
When staying with locals keep in mind that the quality of accommodation is not always great. Sometimes you will just get a blanket on the floor. Be sure to bring small gifts as well, the kids love them!

Church Guest Houses in PNG
This is where I stayed most of my trip while in Papua New Guinea. From Madang to Vanimo and the highlands, every community has a church, and more than often a church guesthouse. Unfortunately, they are not the cheapest. They range from 25 – 50 USD per night. Vanimo was the most expensive, but they often fed me at night.
Most of the church guest houses gave me a shared twin room. There was never anyone else in the room, however. A few times the church guest house was simply just a hardwood floor… not comfy, but it was the cheaper option.
Eating Cheap in Papua New Guinea
Ok, I am a very optimistic person, but when it comes to food in Papua New Guinea get ready for a culinary disaster. Any decent food here is not cheap. So prepare yourself mentally before you get here, if you are on a budget you will be eating a lot of Maggi Noodles, and canned Tuna. Restaurants are left off the list as I didn’t find a single restaurant to be cheap. Most restaurants you will spend an easy 10 USD for a small meal.
Supermarkets in PNG
Ah yes, the Super Markets in Papua New Guinea. These cram packed facilities have plenty of mismatched overpriced food articles (often outdated) but are cheaper than restaurants in PNG. Cans of Tuna, fake brand Oreo Cookies and Maggi Noodles are affordable and stop starvation, as for nutrition, head to the Public Markets.
Public Markets
Public Markets are your best bet for cheap food. Many of the guest houses and church guest houses provide cooking gear so picking up vegetables and meat at the Public Markets like the locals do is not only cheap but fun! Be sure to bargain hard as when the Papuans see a foreigner they tend to raise the prices.
The biggest problem with public markets is they either don’t run every day, or they only run at certain times of the day. So be sure to ask around when the best stuff is at the market.
Street Food in Papua New Guinea
I warned you in the previous section that food in Papua New Guinea is not great. The street food is also categorized as “not great”. Majority of the hole in the wall vendors, and food shacks serve fried chicken, fried fish, and if your lucky French fries.
The street vendors do serve a Papuan specialty that will most likely become your friend. This is the fluorescent red fried street sausage. I do not know whether it was me getting used to the flavors of Papua, but this little greasy sausage kept me sane. One sausage was 1 USD and kept me happy through the roughest of times. The number one PNG food tip is, eat the red street sausage!
Getting Cheap Beer in Papua New Guinea
What pairs best with a strange fried red tube of meat, Papua’s ubiquitous SP beer. SP beer can be found everywhere! And I mean everywhere, even the smallest of towns usually have an SP dispensary.
Locals pay about 2 USD per SP beer, this price is hard to come by as a foreigner. In restaurants, they can be up to 8 USD per SP. The best place to get SP beer is either from the sketchy alcohol dispensaries in the center of town or the random houses that sell it. For the alcohol dispensaries just approach the window during the day (not at night, for your safety), and expect to pay 2-5 USD per SP.

Visiting Tribes in Papua New Guinea on the Cheap
If you want the cheapest you must ask around town. Many locals sell SP beer from their houses at rock bottom prices. You can spot these places by the heaps of SP beer bottles piled beside the house. Otherwise just ask around town.
This is definitely the highlight of anyone’s trip coming to Papua New Guinea. Tribes, however, are very remote, and not the most welcoming at times. Often to visit you must first negotiate how much you will pay with the village tribe chief. Bargain hard as they start VERY high!

The best ways to visit a tribe on the cheap is to go with a local guide or an organized tour. Many guides will approach you in town and will offer their services. It’s best to go have an SP with them before you agree to anything. More than often they are from the specific tribe you want to visit and know all about budget travelers.

Dropping by a tour company you can often join another group which is going to cut costs or negotiate something else. Tour companies are not used to foreigners showing up and rather the norm is online booking so this gives you an advantage.

You the best bro
Stephen Gollan, thank you ever so for you post.Much thanks again.
You’re very welcome! Thanks for leaving a comment, I appreciate it 🙂
Hi i traveled alone in PNG in 2008 and all you write is true except world cheap ! But despite i travelled by PMV and sleep sometimes in Church Guest Houses ( expensive for what is it) at the end of the day you spend lot of money ! and for lot of places you need to take expensive flights! And i take a small boat between 2 islands : a miracle you arrive alive in these big waves with no save jackets.
So PNG is in top 5 most expensive countries to visit in world (not island) and please dont write cheap for this country ! Turkménistan ( i mean no transit visa) Bouthan North Korea PNG Angola TOP 5 and Ouganda .
Only tourist in this country are wealth australian or US who go diving in luxury boat or resort.
ALL the best and this is the best adventure blog
Hey Stephen!
Can you recommend any tour operator as well ?
I mostly just arranged to visit tribes an hikes through local tour operators when I arrived to each town.
What’s the hikes you have done? It is complicate to do some? Expensive for guides? Thank you.
Thanks so much! Do you think its safe for solo female too?
What Islands do you recommend? Shall i organize the visit to the tribes in port morseby ?
Yes as a female its safe! Just always be smart though as there are obvious dangers here like anywhere. To visit tribes you can arrange it in the towns they reside and as for island I think New Ireland is the most incredible, but expensive as well!
I’m so excited to see your comment about it being safe for solo female travellers!
I’m looking to fly out to PNG in August and hitchhike/meander my way around for about 6 weeks. Do you think that it’s feasible to see what the country has to offer without relying too heavily on tours? I’m fine paying a cheeky bribe to get around but would much prefer to not have heaps booked in advance. Thanks!
I second this comment! 🙂
I loved your first tip! I never thought about this trick before. I am already a NordVPN customer, but somehow I missed this idea, by the way if someone wants to save a little bit of money I can share the discount code that I found for travellers nordvpn.org/1yoffer. I am a bit surprised about food, I thought that is should be very exotic. Anyway, I wanted to ask what time of the year you would recommend visiting PNG?
Great info and post! Could you please tell me what´s the average for the tours you did visiting tribes? It´s just to have a general idea of the cost!
Thanks for all the experiences you share with us! Very helpful and interesting 🙂
Hey! its super hard to price point it as you must negotiate with them directly. On average it is quite expensive, but if you get a group together you can share costs
hello Stephen,
thank you for your detailing information for traveling cheap in PNG! its very useful!
im a photographer, i plan to Visit Mudmen, Skeleton and Huli tribes. i already got the quotation from tour agency based in Goroka, but its so expensive. (yes i knew it already)
(7500K from 3 whole days and accommodation)
but i saw you mentioned that when u get to the town, there are freelance guides will approach you for providing service, which gave me the hope.
how do u think about visiting tribes with these guides? where can i find them mostly?
do they have much experience? i knew you didnt hire them in the end, but i think you somehow got the feeling about how it gonna be of working with them.
the main reason i dont want to use travel agency is, so i can stay in a real budget accommodation, eat the very cheap food(Maggi 3 times a day , for a week i think.) and i can take PMV for saving money.
what would you suggest?
and btw, i would like to contact “Goroka trek and tours” which based in Bird of Paradise hotel, but looks like their web doesnt work anymore, do you have any information about this?
thank you, Stephen!
Ed
Hi Stephen, great article. I’m thinking to cross from Japapura to Vanimo at the beginning of August and make my way overland to the Mt Hagen festival on 17/18. How much time do you think I would need for this journey and any suggestions on best route?
Great article although it leaves out a few details. For starters the article describes the mainland Papua New Guinea and not the islands, if your traveller going to Papua New Guinea I suggest you visit east new britain its totally safe and has a much better PMV system. the places that paint a bad picture of the country are the highlands region. Apart from ENB try new Ireland white sandy beaches with good surf at namatanai and a river with the temperature of your freezer. Any way just good advice from an ACTUAL Papua New Guinean
great advice! id love to visit the island next time, flights were to pricey while i was there
Hi Stephen
I love your article about PNG and I also love backpacking hiking and camping. I have one question did you encounter any big or dangerous spiders? I know it sounds silly but I am terrified of spiders.
Also ,do you think that it is safe to travel the world as a solo female ?or where can I find someone else who would travel with me ? Thank you
Hey, yes I do recomend it, but you must take care cause there are much bigger dangers than scary spiders :P. I sw big scary spiders, but not in my room just in the jungles.
Wow. If its so ecpensive, how do the locals live?
It’s awesome to pay a quick visit this website and reading the views of all colleagues on the topic of this paragraph, while I am also eager of getting experience.Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed the post and liked the website.
Responding to comments really gives the sense of community to readers, it really shows them that you care about your readers and that your not some robot behind a keyboard. I think it is my favorite tip on this list. Good work!
Thank you so much , it’s really excellent trip advises
will approach you in town and will offer their services. It’s best to go have an SP with them before you agree to anything. More than often they are from the specific tribe you want to visit and know all about budget travelers.