Papua New Guinea Currency Guide
The currency of Papua New Guinea and how to prepare for payments — all on one page.
Currency
Papua New Guinean Kina
PGK
Checking rates
Check with your bank app or card issuer before you go
The rate and fees you actually pay differ by bank and card issuer.
Payment Tips to Remember
Always pay in the local currency
If a terminal asks whether to charge in your home currency, always choose the local currency. Choosing your home currency triggers DCC (dynamic currency conversion), which adds a hidden markup.
Set up a travel card before you fly
Prepaid multi-currency travel cards let you convert money in the app beforehand and pay like a debit card locally. Fees are usually lower than cash exchange counters, and you can freeze the card instantly from the app if lost.
Airport exchange counters: last resort
Airport counters are convenient but tend to offer some of the worst rates. If you need cash, exchange via your bank's app before departure or consider withdrawing from a local ATM.
Check ATM fees on screen
Local ATMs may add their own operator fee. Check the fee shown on the confirmation screen before proceeding. If the ATM offers conversion to your home currency (DCC), choosing the local currency is usually better.
Keep some small cash
Every country has places that don't take cards — markets, tips, small transport. Carrying a small amount of cash in separate places keeps you covered.
Cards for Abroad
Explore the Wise multi-currency card
One account holding 40+ currencies, converting and paying at mid-market based rates. Handy for multi-country trips — no need to exchange for each currency separately.
Learn more
Local data
Get an eSIM for Papua New Guinea before you go
Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.
Airalo
Yesim
Saily
Drimsim
Check prices and availability on the booking sites.
City Guides in Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby
Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea and a populous major city. It makes a good starting point for exploring the country.
Lae
Lae is Papua New Guinea's second-largest city, located at the mouth of the Markham River on the Huon Gulf. It's an industrial city with the country's largest port, and also the starting point of the road leading into the highlands.
Rabaul
Rabaul is a town in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain Province, located on the eastern Gazelle Peninsula facing Simpson Harbour. Traces of the 1994 volcanic eruption remain, offering a vivid sense of nature's power.
Goroka
Goroka is a city in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, connected to other highland towns via the Highlands Highway. It makes a good base for exploring the highland region.
Daru
Daru is the main city of Papua New Guinea's Western Province, located near the Torres Strait. Situated on Daru Island near the mouth of the Fly River, it offers views where river meets sea.