πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,070 in Port Louis, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,680 in Port Louis, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,290 in Port Louis, rent included.
πMedellin is about 3% cheaper than Port Louis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Port Louis20% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$6.55MURΒ 306
-9.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$44.85MURΒ 2,099
-26.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$7.04MURΒ 329
2.27%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$2.59MURΒ 121
-34.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$1.02MURΒ 47.83
7.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.55MURΒ 25.82
30.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$2.17MURΒ 101
-23.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$3.27MURΒ 153
-5.20%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.68MURΒ 78.8
-36.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.66MURΒ 30.91
89.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.27MURΒ 59.5
9.45%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.23MURΒ 104
1.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$12.02MURΒ 563
-63.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$6.26MURΒ 293
-6.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$12.72MURΒ 595
-30.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$2.00MURΒ 93.7
12.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$2.00MURΒ 93.4
-46.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.44MURΒ 67.4
6.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$2.64MURΒ 123
-48.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.99MURΒ 46.42
14.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.99MURΒ 46.19
13.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$0.86MURΒ 40.15
-1.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.77MURΒ 35.93
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$6.54MURΒ 306
-64.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$8.49MURΒ 397
31.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$1.78MURΒ 83.1
-33.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.23MURΒ 104
6.28%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$1.02MURΒ 47.65
-22.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$22.48MURΒ 1,052
82.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$4.37MURΒ 204
-67.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$2.74MURΒ 128
-30.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$20.17MURΒ 944
-60.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.40MURΒ 65.4
-32.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$35.3KMURΒ 1.7M
-49.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$28.5KMURΒ 1.3M
-6.11%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$48.88MURΒ 2,287
71.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$18.03MURΒ 843
-46.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$33.09MURΒ 1,548
-26.99%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$23.89MURΒ 1,118
8.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$4.00MURΒ 187
376.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$5.88MURΒ 275
-33.33%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$156MURΒ 7,301
96.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$3,900MURΒ 182.5K
51.75%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$85.0MURΒ 3,976
-31.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$78.9MURΒ 3,693
-59.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$134MURΒ 6,256
-25.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$93.2MURΒ 4,360
14.97%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$465MURΒ 21.7K
4.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$357MURΒ 16.7K
3.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$783MURΒ 36.6K
5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$627MURΒ 29.4K
14.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$4,163MURΒ 194.8K
-29.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$1,086MURΒ 50.8K
29.53%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$648MURΒ 30.3K
-15.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $465 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.
π°Salaries run about 19% higher in Port Louis, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $232 β making Medellin 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
Medellin vs Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Louis cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Port Louis is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,605 in Port Louis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Port Louis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,070 in Port Louis. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Port Louis?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Port Louis at $1,070. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Louis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Port Louis more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Port Louis?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. 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.