Cost of Living Comparison Between Benares and Moka Cost of Living Comparison Between Benares and Moka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $987 per month in Benares vs $931 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Benares vs $1,586 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,212 per month in Benares vs $2,242 in Moka, rent included.

Benares costs about 6% more than Moka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Benares and Moka are more affordable than the global median – Benares 26% lower, Moka 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.64 MUR 312

$6.46 MUR 304

2.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.59 MUR 2,095

$44.21 MUR 2,077

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 MUR 306

$6.74 MUR 317

-3.41%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MUR 126

$2.65 MUR 124

1.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 MUR 47.27

$1.03 MUR 48.40

-1.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MUR 26.71

$0.60 MUR 28.35

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 MUR 98.5

$2.16 MUR 101

-2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 MUR 130

$2.70 MUR 127

2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 MUR 70.1

$1.40 MUR 65.9

6.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MUR 33.14

$0.70 MUR 32.66

1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MUR 61.7

$1.29 MUR 60.6

1.55%

Eggs

$2.23 MUR 105

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.11 MUR 475

$10.13 MUR 476

-0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 MUR 290

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 MUR 497

$10.64 MUR 500

-0.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 MUR 97.0

$1.98 MUR 92.9

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 MUR 92.8

$1.96 MUR 92.2

0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 MUR 67.3

$1.44 MUR 67.7

-0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 MUR 122

$2.73 MUR 128

-4.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 MUR 45.64

$1.02 MUR 48.05

-4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 MUR 46.18

$0.99 MUR 46.74

-1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 MUR 39.18

$0.84 MUR 39.59

-1.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MUR 26.51

$0.47 MUR 22.01

19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 MUR 279

$5.87 MUR 276

1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 MUR 405

$10.20 MUR 479

-15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MUR 80.6

$1.78 MUR 83.4

-3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 MUR 98.6

$1.67 MUR 78.5

25.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 MUR 47.27

$1.05 MUR 49.26

-3.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 MUR 610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 MUR 212

$2.68 MUR 126

68.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.72 MUR 128

$2.64 MUR 124

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.70 MUR 737

$15.55 MUR 731

0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 MUR 65.7

$1.38 MUR 64.9

1.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.2K MUR 1.7M

$36.0K MUR 1.7M

-2.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.0K MUR 1.4M

$28.3K MUR 1.3M

2.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$49.88 MUR 2,343

$49.81 MUR 2,340

0.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.53 MUR 871

$18.48 MUR 868

0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.73 MUR 1,538

$26.86 MUR 1,262

21.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.90 MUR 1,780

$24.58 MUR 1,155

54.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.11 MUR 287

$5.99 MUR 281

2.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$155 MUR 7,283

$154 MUR 7,218

0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,916 MUR 184.0K

$4,002 MUR 188.0K

-2.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 MUR 2,348

$74.9 MUR 3,517

-33.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MUR 2,042

$36.58 MUR 1,718

18.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 MUR 3,946

$93.8 MUR 4,406

-10.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 MUR 3,677

$56.0 MUR 2,629

39.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 MUR 23.9K

$524 MUR 24.6K

-2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 MUR 16.8K

$329 MUR 15.5K

8.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$934 MUR 43.9K

$936 MUR 44.0K

-0.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 MUR 33.8K

$703 MUR 33.1K

2.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MUR 31.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Benares: July 11, 2026

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Benares versus $524 in Moka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Benares versus $44.00 in Moka. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Benares vs $216 in Moka – so Benares wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Benares vs Moka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $987 in Benares, $931 in Moka – roughly 6% apart. Benares costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,480 per month in Benares and $1,396 in Moka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Moka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Benares and $44.00 in Moka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Benares – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Benares at $987. In Moka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Benares it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Benares has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $931 in Moka to $987 in Benares. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Moka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Benares makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.