Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Louis Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Louis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,070 in Port Louis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,680 in Port Louis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,290 in Port Louis, rent included.

Medellin is about 3% cheaper than Port Louis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Port Louis 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COPΒ 21.4K
$6.55 MURΒ 306
-9.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COPΒ 118.2K
$44.85 MURΒ 2,099
-26.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COPΒ 26.0K
$7.04 MURΒ 329
2.27%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COPΒ 6,140
$2.59 MURΒ 121
-34.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,966
$1.02 MURΒ 47.83
7.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COPΒ 2,605
$0.55 MURΒ 25.82
30.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COPΒ 6,022
$2.17 MURΒ 101
-23.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COPΒ 11.2K
$3.27 MURΒ 153
-5.20%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,809
$1.68 MURΒ 78.8
-36.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COPΒ 4,497
$0.66 MURΒ 30.91
89.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COPΒ 5,022
$1.27 MURΒ 59.5
9.45%
Eggs
$2.26 COPΒ 8,168
$2.23 MURΒ 104
1.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COPΒ 15.6K
$12.02 MURΒ 563
-63.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COPΒ 21.1K
$6.26 MURΒ 293
-6.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COPΒ 31.9K
$12.72 MURΒ 595
-30.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COPΒ 8,099
$2.00 MURΒ 93.7
12.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COPΒ 3,882
$2.00 MURΒ 93.4
-46.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COPΒ 5,522
$1.44 MURΒ 67.4
6.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COPΒ 4,950
$2.64 MURΒ 123
-48.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COPΒ 4,078
$0.99 MURΒ 46.42
14.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COPΒ 4,036
$0.99 MURΒ 46.19
13.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COPΒ 3,057
$0.86 MURΒ 40.15
-1.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COPΒ 3,281
$0.77 MURΒ 35.93
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COPΒ 8,414
$6.54 MURΒ 306
-64.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COPΒ 40.2K
$8.49 MURΒ 397
31.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COPΒ 4,309
$1.78 MURΒ 83.1
-33.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COPΒ 8,553
$2.23 MURΒ 104
6.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COPΒ 2,838
$1.02 MURΒ 47.65
-22.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COPΒ 148.5K
$22.48 MURΒ 1,052
82.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COPΒ 5,184
$4.37 MURΒ 204
-67.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COPΒ 6,901
$2.74 MURΒ 128
-30.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COPΒ 28.9K
$20.17 MURΒ 944
-60.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COPΒ 3,385
$1.40 MURΒ 65.4
-32.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COPΒ 64.7M
$35.3K MURΒ 1.7M
-49.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COPΒ 96.7M
$28.5K MURΒ 1.3M
-6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COPΒ 303.1K
$48.88 MURΒ 2,287
71.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COPΒ 34.7K
$18.03 MURΒ 843
-46.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COPΒ 87.2K
$33.09 MURΒ 1,548
-26.99%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COPΒ 93.4K
$23.89 MURΒ 1,118
8.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COPΒ 68.7K
$4.00 MURΒ 187
376.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COPΒ 14.1K
$5.88 MURΒ 275
-33.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COPΒ 1.1M
$156 MURΒ 7,301
96.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COPΒ 21.4M
$3,900 MURΒ 182.5K
51.75%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COPΒ 209.1K
$85.0 MURΒ 3,976
-31.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COPΒ 114.9K
$78.9 MURΒ 3,693
-59.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COPΒ 360.6K
$134 MURΒ 6,256
-25.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COPΒ 386.8K
$93.2 MURΒ 4,360
14.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COPΒ 1.8M
$465 MURΒ 21.7K
4.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COPΒ 1.3M
$357 MURΒ 16.7K
3.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COPΒ 3.0M
$783 MURΒ 36.6K
5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COPΒ 2.6M
$627 MURΒ 29.4K
14.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COPΒ 10.6M
$4,163 MURΒ 194.8K
-29.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COPΒ 5.1M
$1,086 MURΒ 50.8K
29.53%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COPΒ 2.0M
$648 MURΒ 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 – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Port Louis: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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.

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.

A 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 – 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 – 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 – 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Port Louis?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $45.00 in Port Louis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the 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 – 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 – 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 – 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities