😐A single person spends $1,037 per month in Benares vs $946 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,710 per month in Benares vs $1,560 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,383 per month in Benares vs $2,174 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐Benares costs about 10% more than Port Louis, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Benares and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median – Benares25% lower, Port Louis31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.40MUR 301
$5.79MUR 272
10.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.01MUR 1,553
$38.47MUR 1,810
-14.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28MUR 390
$7.53MUR 354
9.96%
Cappuccino
$3.00MUR 141
$2.68MUR 126
11.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MUR 54.0
$1.13MUR 53.0
1.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MUR 30.69
$0.63MUR 29.64
3.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45MUR 115
$2.71MUR 127
-9.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34MUR 157
$4.81MUR 226
-30.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37MUR 64.4
$1.55MUR 72.8
-11.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MUR 37.04
$0.78MUR 36.83
1.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.29
$1.15MUR 54.3
-10.43%
Eggs
$2.09MUR 98.5
$2.58MUR 121
-18.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.68MUR 267
$5.41MUR 254
4.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.81MUR 274
$6.40MUR 301
-9.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.66MUR 549
$11.20MUR 527
4.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93MUR 90.8
$2.83MUR 133
-31.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64MUR 124
$2.62MUR 123
0.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24MUR 58.5
$1.40MUR 66.0
-11.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13MUR 147
$3.05MUR 143
2.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84MUR 39.41
$0.99MUR 46.79
-15.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.41
$0.93MUR 43.89
6.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MUR 38.31
$0.75MUR 35.13
8.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89MUR 41.68
$0.84MUR 39.41
5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14MUR 289
$6.55MUR 308
-6.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.21MUR 433
$8.62MUR 405
6.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MUR 74.4
$1.69MUR 79.7
-6.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12MUR 99.5
$2.32MUR 109
-8.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.99MUR 46.60
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$32.44MUR 1,526
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35MUR 205
$4.31MUR 203
0.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.17MUR 149
$3.21MUR 151
-1.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.47MUR 869
$21.36MUR 1,005
-13.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MUR 62.2
$1.34MUR 62.9
-1.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5KMUR 1.4M
$36.3KMUR 1.7M
-18.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KMUR 1.3M
$30.8KMUR 1.4M
-8.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.40MUR 1,807
$44.96MUR 2,115
-14.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23MUR 481
$10.48MUR 493
-2.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.76MUR 1,353
$28.81MUR 1,356
-0.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.31MUR 1,614
$26.73MUR 1,258
28.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.85MUR 181
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.69MUR 268
$6.31MUR 297
-9.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$136MUR 6,383
$130MUR 6,099
4.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,220MUR 339.7K
$7,821MUR 368.0K
-7.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2MUR 2,833
$78.0MUR 3,670
-22.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.6MUR 2,805
$73.7MUR 3,468
-19.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MUR 5,447
$122MUR 5,727
-4.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2MUR 3,161
$78.6MUR 3,698
-14.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607MUR 28.6K
$489MUR 23.0K
24.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395MUR 18.6K
$274MUR 12.9K
43.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,158MUR 54.5K
$777MUR 36.6K
48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$972MUR 45.7K
$597MUR 28.1K
62.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,098MUR 192.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,055MUR 49.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$682MUR 32.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
6.67
-4.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benares: August 31, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Benares versus $489 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 $33.00 in Benares versus $38.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $219 – 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 in Port Louis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,037 in Benares, $946 in Port Louis – roughly 10% apart. Benares costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benares compared to Port Louis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,555 per month in Benares and $1,419 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 Port Louis, 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 $33.00 in Benares and $38.00 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Benares – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $946, than in Benares at $1,037. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Benares 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 $946 in Port Louis to $1,037 in Benares. 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 Port Louis. 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.