Moving to Papua New Guinea from North Carolina

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What to Expect

Considering a move from North Carolina to Papua New Guinea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from North Carolina to Papua New Guinea. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 67°F in Asheville, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from North Carolina to Papua New Guinea.

Living there in 2020
733

people born in United States live in Papua New Guinea · UN DESA

Who's moving to Papua New Guinea?

Top countries of origin for Papua New Guinea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Papua New Guinea compared to North Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NC
33.6%
PG
21.3%

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NC
88.7%
PG
32.0%

North Carolina performs better than Papua New Guinea across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NC
3.4%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NC
$59,308
PG
$4,200

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NC
76.1 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs

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

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Asheville Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
67° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Asheville Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Asheville Port Moresby
Jan 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States 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 United States

Visa Required
Papua New Guinea passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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?

From major Papua New Guinea cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Carolina and Papua New Guinea are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to North Carolina?

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 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 North Carolina, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PG
Population 9,535,483 9,593,498
Currency United States Dollar ($) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages English English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +675
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 000