I stayed at one very nice hotel in the town of Goroka, or with missionary acquaintances in Port Moresby and Lae. I was frequently offered food as well, both in the evening and early the next morning, as part of the hospitality. The commercial hotel cost was similar to American budget motels, and the missionary guest houses were even more affordable. The meals in both hotels and missionary guest houses were modest in cost, comparable to USA coffee shop prices. Out of the bush I generally ate where I was staying, either at the hotel or with the missionaries.
Western groceries are available in the towns, but with high prices and irregular availability.
Most store food is from Australia, but some is from the USA, and some is local. I found the trails much steeper, muddier, and more difficult than I had anticipated or ever encountered before. Much of the time I was on all fours struggling up 45 degree slopes, or sitting and sliding down them. Every hour or two there was a water crossing, sometimes just stepping on rocks over a four-foot wide stream, other times fording up to my waist across 50 foot wide swift rivers. In the more remote areas I sometimes hired a guide, and when my knees were hurting a lot I hired a porter to carry some of my gear.