🙂A single person spends $987 per month in Benares vs $1,066 in Port Louis, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Benares vs $1,713 in Port Louis, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,212 per month in Benares vs $2,359 in Port Louis, rent included.
🙂Benares is about 7% cheaper than Port Louis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Benares and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median – Benares26% lower, Port Louis20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.64MUR 312
$6.73MUR 316
-1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.59MUR 2,096
$43.60MUR 2,049
2.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.51MUR 306
$7.11MUR 334
-8.44%
Cappuccino
$2.68MUR 126
$2.55MUR 120
5.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MUR 47.29
$0.95MUR 44.79
6.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.72
$0.59MUR 27.88
-3.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.10MUR 98.5
$2.19MUR 103
-4.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78MUR 131
$3.20MUR 151
-13.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49MUR 70.1
$1.69MUR 79.6
-11.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MUR 33.15
$0.70MUR 32.85
1.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31MUR 61.7
$1.28MUR 60.0
2.34%
Eggs
$2.23MUR 105
$2.25MUR 106
-0.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.11MUR 475
$11.87MUR 558
-14.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.17MUR 290
$6.22MUR 293
-0.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.58MUR 497
$12.47MUR 586
-15.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06MUR 97.0
$2.00MUR 94.1
3.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97MUR 92.8
$2.02MUR 94.7
-2.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MUR 67.4
$1.50MUR 70.7
-4.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61MUR 122
$2.62MUR 123
-0.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MUR 45.66
$1.03MUR 48.48
-5.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98MUR 46.20
$0.93MUR 43.64
5.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MUR 39.20
$0.84MUR 39.54
-1.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MUR 26.52
$0.74MUR 34.83
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94MUR 279
$6.55MUR 308
-9.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.62MUR 405
$8.35MUR 392
3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 80.6
$1.73MUR 81.5
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10MUR 98.6
$2.16MUR 101
-2.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01MUR 47.29
$1.01MUR 47.59
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.36MUR 1,051
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51MUR 212
$4.51MUR 212
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.72MUR 128
$2.71MUR 127
0.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.70MUR 738
$19.86MUR 934
-20.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 65.7
$1.44MUR 67.8
-2.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KMUR 1.7M
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
-0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMUR 1.4M
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
-0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.88MUR 2,344
$48.83MUR 2,295
2.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.53MUR 871
$18.07MUR 849
2.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.73MUR 1,538
$33.95MUR 1,596
-3.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.90MUR 1,781
$24.52MUR 1,153
54.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.93MUR 185
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.11MUR 287
$6.12MUR 288
-0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155MUR 7,286
$152MUR 7,139
2.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,916MUR 184.1K
$3,892MUR 182.9K
0.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98MUR 2,349
$86.8MUR 4,080
-42.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MUR 2,042
$80.8MUR 3,798
-46.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.0MUR 3,948
$130MUR 6,092
-35.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3MUR 3,679
$95.7MUR 4,498
-18.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509MUR 23.9K
$473MUR 22.2K
7.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357MUR 16.8K
$347MUR 16.3K
2.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$934MUR 43.9K
$779MUR 36.6K
19.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$720MUR 33.8K
$614MUR 28.9K
17.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,136MUR 194.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,064MUR 50.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benares
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$688MUR 32.3K
-
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Benares versus $473 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 $45.00 in Benares versus $44.00 in Port Louis. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Benares vs $230 in Port Louis – 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 Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benares and in Port Louis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $987 in Benares, $1,066 in Port Louis – roughly 8% 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 $1,480 per month in Benares and $1,599 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 $45.00 in Benares and $44.00 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 7% 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 $987, than in Port Louis at $1,066. 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 $987 in Benares to $1,066 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.