Moving to Papua New Guinea from Ecuador

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ecuador to Papua New Guinea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ecuador to Papua New Guinea, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 71°F in Quito, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ecuador to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

EC
27.0
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

EC
23.4
PG
14.9

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

EC
$1,238
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

EC
23.1
PG
0.6

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

EC
23.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EC
2.6t
PG
0.5t

Ecuador generally does better on environment, though Papua New Guinea leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

EC
15.0
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EC
6.8%
PG
0.1%

Ecuador generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

EC
3.4%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

EC
$14,300
PG
$4,200

Ecuador generally does better on employment & economy, though Papua New Guinea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

EC
77.5 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EC
18.1
PG
33.6

Ecuador performs better than Papua New Guinea across all family life metrics.

Data: Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Quito Rain: 43.2 in/yr (1098 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Moresby Rain: 35.4 in/yr (899 mm)
88° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Quito Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/49°F (22°/9°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/49°F (21°/10°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Quito Port Moresby
Jan 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ecuador and Papua New Guinea. To live, work, or study long-term in Papua New Guinea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Papua New Guinea's immigration authority.

Ecuador passport

Ecuador passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Ecuador passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Ecuador

Visa Free
Papua New Guinea passport holders can enter Ecuador without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Papua New Guinea?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Papua New Guinea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Papua New Guinea safe for expats?

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Papua New Guinea is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 27.0 in Ecuador.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Ecuador?

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 23.1 in Ecuador. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ecuador: 77).

What's the weather like in Papua New Guinea compared to Ecuador?

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 71°F in Quito. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Quito gets 43.2 in.

What language do they speak in Papua New Guinea?

The official languages in Papua New Guinea are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. In Ecuador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

EC PG
Population 17,289,554 9,593,498
Currency United States Dollar ($) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Spanish English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +593 +675
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 911 000