😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $954 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,597 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,239 in Port Louis.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 74% more expensive than in Port Louis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Port Louis is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$5.70MUR 269
109.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$38.50MUR 1,815
34.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$7.38MUR 348
54.61%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$2.71MUR 128
47.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$1.13MUR 53.3
46.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.67MUR 31.50
98.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$2.69MUR 127
29.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$4.90MUR 231
20.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.61MUR 76.0
16.77%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$0.80MUR 37.47
306.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$1.14MUR 53.9
89.47%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$2.60MUR 122
11.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$5.45MUR 257
135.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$6.18MUR 291
62.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$11.40MUR 537
39.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$2.79MUR 132
17.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$2.61MUR 123
-22.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.41MUR 66.3
56.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$2.94MUR 139
-19.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.93MUR 43.94
120.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$1.02MUR 48.00
86.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.70MUR 32.85
130.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.87MUR 40.87
60.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$6.31MUR 297
-13.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$8.33MUR 393
111.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.70MUR 80.2
21.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$2.32MUR 109
101.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$0.99MUR 46.43
-65.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$31.47MUR 1,483
-33.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$4.14MUR 195
-49.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$3.27MUR 154
-82.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$20.87MUR 983
-72.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.38MUR 65.2
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$37.2KMUR 1.8M
-38.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$31.0KMUR 1.5M
-13.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$44.26MUR 2,086
47.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$10.82MUR 510
178.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$29.56MUR 1,393
25.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$26.71MUR 1,259
123.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$3.84MUR 181
591.41%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$6.34MUR 299
11.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$126MUR 5,952
267.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$7,825MUR 368.8K
69.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$77.5MUR 3,654
-2.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$72.9MUR 3,434
-23.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$122MUR 5,727
-7.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$77.2MUR 3,637
56.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$488MUR 23.0K
126.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$278MUR 13.1K
159.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$760MUR 35.8K
232.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$611MUR 28.8K
111.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$4,110MUR 193.7K
-2.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,079MUR 50.9K
93.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$702MUR 33.1K
47.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.67
69.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $488 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 48% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $39.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $218 per month, with Port Louis cheaper across the board.
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
Mexico City vs Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Port Louis?
Mexico City and Port Louis differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $954 including rent). Port Louis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Port Louis?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Port Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $488 in Port Louis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Port Louis?
A monthly transit pass in Port Louis runs roughly 51% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Port Louis?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $126 in Port Louis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $954 in Port Louis versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Louis but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Port Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Port Louis?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Port Louis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Port Louis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Port Louis?
Expats usually find Port Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared