Moving to Papua New Guinea from Virginia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Virginia 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 70°F in Richmond, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Virginia to Papua New Guinea, based on official data.

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

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

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

VA
35.3%
PG
21.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

VA
90.1%
PG
32.0%

Virginia 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

VA
$69,111
PG
$4,200

Virginia 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

VA
77.6 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs

Virginia 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.

Richmond Rain: 43.6 in/yr (1108 mm)
70° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Richmond Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 53°/32°F (12°/0°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/19°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Richmond Port Moresby
Jan 47°/28°F (8.6°/-2.1°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 51°/31°F (10.7°/-0.8°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.6°/2.8°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (21.3°/7.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.5°/12.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.1°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.1°/20.5°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.7°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 81°/60°F (27.3°/15.6°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 71°/48°F (21.7°/9.1°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 61°/39°F (16.3°/4.1°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 51°/31°F (10.4°/-0.3°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?

Usually fine from major cities in Papua New Guinea. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Virginia?

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

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 70°F in Richmond. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Richmond gets 43.6 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 Virginia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PG
Population 8,001,024 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