🙂A single person spends $970 per month in Benares vs $1,069 in Port Louis, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,570 per month in Benares vs $1,712 in Port Louis, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,171 per month in Benares vs $2,356 in Port Louis, rent included.
🙂Benares is about 9% cheaper than Port Louis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Benares and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median – Benares28% lower, Port Louis20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69MUR 316
$6.59MUR 311
1.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19MUR 2,041
$44.79MUR 2,116
-3.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.40MUR 303
$7.16MUR 338
-10.61%
Cappuccino
$2.64MUR 125
$2.56MUR 121
3.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MUR 47.64
$1.00MUR 47.36
1.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.90
$0.56MUR 26.38
1.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.06MUR 97.5
$2.25MUR 106
-8.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75MUR 130
$3.24MUR 153
-15.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52MUR 71.9
$1.63MUR 76.9
-6.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.75
$0.65MUR 30.62
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33MUR 62.9
$1.32MUR 62.4
0.76%
Eggs
$2.36MUR 111
$2.22MUR 105
6.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.68MUR 457
$11.98MUR 566
-19.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22MUR 294
$6.06MUR 286
2.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.48MUR 495
$12.85MUR 607
-18.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MUR 98.0
$2.03MUR 96.0
1.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99MUR 94.0
$2.00MUR 94.3
-0.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 68.5
$1.44MUR 68.2
0.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62MUR 124
$2.66MUR 126
-1.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MUR 48.42
$1.02MUR 48.28
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.88
$1.01MUR 47.69
-5.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MUR 37.74
$0.81MUR 38.11
-1.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 27.09
$0.80MUR 37.85
-28.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.20MUR 293
$6.68MUR 316
-7.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29MUR 392
$8.63MUR 408
-3.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79MUR 84.7
$1.80MUR 85.2
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10MUR 99.3
$2.25MUR 106
-6.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04MUR 49.23
$1.03MUR 48.62
0.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.00MUR 1,040
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.33MUR 205
$4.37MUR 207
-0.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69MUR 127
$2.74MUR 130
-1.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.33MUR 724
$19.46MUR 920
-21.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MUR 65.8
$1.44MUR 68.1
-3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
$36.5KMUR 1.7M
-2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KMUR 1.4M
$29.0KMUR 1.4M
-0.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.3MUR 2,376
$48.79MUR 2,305
3.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.59MUR 878
$18.55MUR 876
0.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.34MUR 1,528
$33.17MUR 1,567
-2.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.89MUR 1,790
$24.33MUR 1,149
55.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$4.09MUR 193
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.08MUR 287
$5.92MUR 280
2.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151MUR 7,149
$152MUR 7,202
-0.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,885MUR 183.6K
$3,933MUR 185.8K
-1.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1MUR 2,413
$86.3MUR 4,080
-40.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.42MUR 2,052
$80.4MUR 3,797
-45.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5MUR 3,946
$132MUR 6,226
-36.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8MUR 3,675
$96.4MUR 4,553
-19.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$504MUR 23.8K
$463MUR 21.9K
8.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354MUR 16.7K
$349MUR 16.5K
1.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$931MUR 44.0K
$781MUR 36.9K
19.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$718MUR 33.9K
$614MUR 29.0K
16.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,106MUR 194.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,078MUR 50.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MUR 32.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.25
6.67
-6.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benares: June 2, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $504 in Benares versus $463 in Port Louis. 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 $43.00 in Benares versus $45.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $232 – making Benares the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benares and Port Louis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $970 in Benares, $1,069 in Port Louis – roughly 10% apart. Port Louis costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benares compared to Port Louis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,454 per month in Benares and $1,603 in Port Louis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Benares and Port Louis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Benares, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Benares and $45.00 in Port Louis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Port Louis, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Benares, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Port Louis at $1,069. In Benares it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Louis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Benares and Port Louis?
It depends on your priorities. Benares has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $970 in Benares to $1,069 in Port Louis. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Benares or Port Louis safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Benares and Port Louis?
If budget matters most, go with Benares. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Louis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.