😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $976 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,611 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,245 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 73% more than Port Louis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Port Louis is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$6.55MUR 304
20.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$38.03MUR 1,768
17.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$7.65MUR 356
21.44%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.63MUR 122
10.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.07MUR 49.78
69.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.55MUR 25.35
181.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$3.27MUR 152
-0.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$4.75MUR 221
23.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.63MUR 75.9
-15.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.79MUR 36.74
210.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.16MUR 54.1
30.17%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.67MUR 124
4.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$5.37MUR 250
68.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$6.34MUR 295
67.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$11.54MUR 537
26.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.84MUR 132
39.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.73MUR 127
-49.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.45MUR 67.6
58.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$3.05MUR 142
-33.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.96MUR 44.71
117.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.94MUR 43.89
73.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.76MUR 35.14
42.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.86MUR 40.15
45.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$6.34MUR 295
-36.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$8.43MUR 392
59.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.63MUR 75.7
-1.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.37MUR 110
26.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.03MUR 47.79
14.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$32.33MUR 1,503
147.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$4.32MUR 201
-62.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$3.15MUR 146
-32.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$20.96MUR 975
-59.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.40MUR 65.0
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$36.1KMUR 1.7M
-21.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$30.8KMUR 1.4M
16.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$45.41MUR 2,111
233.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$10.63MUR 494
23.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$29.65MUR 1,379
8.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$26.07MUR 1,212
77.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$3.81MUR 177
353.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$6.22MUR 289
3.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$127MUR 5,896
558.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$7,703MUR 358.1K
15.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$78.5MUR 3,650
13.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$75.7MUR 3,519
-26.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$122MUR 5,659
12.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$79.2MUR 3,682
38.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$491MUR 22.8K
93.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$278MUR 12.9K
140.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$768MUR 35.7K
163.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$609MUR 28.3K
88.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$4,075MUR 189.5K
-9.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,058MUR 49.2K
49.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$680MUR 31.6K
-8.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
6.67
56.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $491 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 9% higher in Port Louis, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $222 – making Port Louis 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,464 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 Port Louis, 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 in Port Louis?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Port Louis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Port Louis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $976 in Port Louis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Port Louis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $976, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Port Louis more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Louis – 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 Port Louis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.