Anyone been too/live in Port Moresby?

Is it really as dangerous as people say? Going by my countrys travel warnings website I should take an aromerd car from the airport to my hotel and nail the door shut. Also, how developed is it? And how expensive is it to live there?

I doubt you can find an armored car at the airport (or anywhere in Moresby, except for the money-trucks). Hotels might be able to pick you up from the airport. I took a taxi and didn't have any problems. I haven't heard of any foreigners being robbed by a taxi driver in Port Moresby. Hotels are generally well guarded.

When I was in Moresby in 2003, I walked around and travelled by bus during daytime without problems - both in town and around Gordons. Just don't take your valuables (except 20 kina or so, to please any potential raskols).

Compared to other parts of PNG, you might call Moresby developed.

Cool, thanks. I was kinda joking about the armord cars. How expensive is everyday things there? Like food, cheap hotels etc? Even rooms to rent permently would be great. Thanks.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if NZ travel warnings said that about armored cars...

I'm not too sure about prices anymore. Accomodation was more expensive than other parts of PNG. I don't know about rents. I have only been in Moresby for three days.

So you also consider to live in Fiji? I find Suva one of the nicest cities in the world: better climate, safer, cheaper, more developed than Port Moresby.

Wouter

Now I have it down too Moresby Suva or somewhere in Indonesia. Will be about a year before I can take off though so I have plenty of time to research. Fiji seems a bit expensive for me though. Will do more research though. Need to find out local prices, perment living costs etc... Thank you for your advice so far.

Fiji is cheaper than PNG, and Suva is certainly cheaper than Port Moresby - I'd say prices can be kind of halved.

But of course Indonesia is MUCH cheaper than either of those - so if you are offered a job with the same pay in any of the three, Indo is the one to go for.

port moresby is perfectly safe. the people are friendly as anything too.

right up until a gang of raskols spots you and attacks you with machetes.

the fact is, it regularly rates at or near to the most violent city in the world. i found people there very friendly and peaceful in the short period i visited, but i'm not native enough to pretend that means its safe.

getting into random taxis is widely considered unnecessarily risky.

naive, not native

Hi, I am an Australian expat living and working in Port Moresby (POM). I have been here 15 months.

My take on the situation in PNG and POM in particular is that the security issues are not nearly as bad as reported in the media in Australia or given in security briefings when new expats arrive.

Don't be mistaken, there certainly is a security issue, but by taking a few simple precatuations I lead a very full and enjoyable life here.

Basically, I don't take any risks. I don't walk any where in the dark. (There is not anywhere to walk to anyway.) I always make sure I know where I am going, so that I don't get lost or give the appearance that I am lost. If in doubt I always take someone with me.

I don't drive out of town on my own - I always have at least one passanger with me. And don't stop if people try and wave you down. Yes, they might genuinely need help, but they might also be planning to hijack your vehicle. If they are genuine there will be a vehicle of PNG people coming after you who will stop and give assistance.

Having said that, I walk (for exercise) most days around the Ela Beach or the hills in 'Town'. I go out to nightclubs and go shopping all with no hassles. I never feel unsafe, but I am cautious and aware of who is around. I have witnessed an attempted car jacking and heard stories of robberies, but, hey, these things happen in Australia.

I have travelled quite a bit around PNG - search on my username to see my trip reports. So if you like outdoor activities, then PNG is a wonderland waiting to be discovered.

Some find POM a bit boring, but if you take the effort to get out and about there is plenty to do.

If you have any specific queries then send me a PM.

POM can be a challenge, but give it a go. It's a great adventure.

I have lived in Port Moresby. Port Moresby is dangerous.

You cannot walk around Port Moresby at night. You cannot visit settlements or villages like Hanubada or Koki without placing yourself in danger.

You can visit nightclubs at night, if you park your car in a secure compound.
,
I too have witnessed a raskol attack at 11 am on the main highway to Boroko - five raskols with bush knives attacking a lone driver.

I found prices to be about 30% more expensive than North Queensland