Cost of Living Comparison Between Moka and Benares Cost of Living Comparison Between Moka and Benares

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Moka vs $987 in Benares, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Moka vs $1,599 in Benares, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,242 per month in Moka vs $2,212 in Benares, rent included.

Moka is about 6% cheaper than Benares, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Moka and Benares are more affordable than the global median – Moka 30% lower, Benares 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 MUR 304

$6.64 MUR 312

-2.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.21 MUR 2,077

$44.59 MUR 2,095

-0.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 MUR 317

$6.51 MUR 306

3.53%

Cappuccino

$2.65 MUR 124

$2.68 MUR 126

-1.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 MUR 48.39

$1.01 MUR 47.26

1.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MUR 28.35

$0.57 MUR 26.70

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 MUR 101

$2.10 MUR 98.5

2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 MUR 127

$2.78 MUR 130

-2.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MUR 65.9

$1.49 MUR 70.0

-6.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MUR 32.65

$0.71 MUR 33.13

-1.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MUR 60.5

$1.31 MUR 61.7

-1.53%

Eggs

$2.23 MUR 105

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 MUR 476

$10.11 MUR 475

0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 MUR 290

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.64 MUR 500

$10.58 MUR 497

0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 MUR 92.8

$2.06 MUR 96.9

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 MUR 92.2

$1.97 MUR 92.8

-0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 MUR 67.7

$1.43 MUR 67.3

0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 MUR 128

$2.61 MUR 122

4.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 MUR 48.04

$0.97 MUR 45.63

5.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MUR 46.73

$0.98 MUR 46.17

1.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 MUR 39.58

$0.83 MUR 39.17

1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MUR 22.01

$0.56 MUR 26.50

-16.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 MUR 276

$5.94 MUR 279

-1.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MUR 479

$8.62 MUR 405

18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 MUR 83.4

$1.72 MUR 80.6

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 MUR 78.5

$2.10 MUR 98.6

-20.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 MUR 49.25

$1.01 MUR 47.26

3.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 MUR 610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 MUR 126

$4.51 MUR 212

-40.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 MUR 124

$2.72 MUR 128

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.55 MUR 731

$15.70 MUR 737

-0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MUR 64.9

$1.40 MUR 65.7

-1.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K MUR 1.7M

$35.2K MUR 1.7M

2.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K MUR 1.3M

$29.0K MUR 1.4M

-2.12%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$49.81 MUR 2,340

$49.88 MUR 2,343

-0.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.48 MUR 868

$18.53 MUR 871

-0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.86 MUR 1,262

$32.73 MUR 1,537

-17.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.58 MUR 1,155

$37.90 MUR 1,780

-35.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 MUR 281

$6.11 MUR 287

-1.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$154 MUR 7,217

$155 MUR 7,282

-0.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,002 MUR 188.0K

$3,916 MUR 183.9K

2.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 MUR 3,516

$49.98 MUR 2,348

49.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.58 MUR 1,718

$43.45 MUR 2,041

-15.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.8 MUR 4,405

$84.0 MUR 3,945

11.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 MUR 2,628

$78.3 MUR 3,676

-28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$524 MUR 24.6K

$509 MUR 23.9K

3.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 MUR 15.5K

$357 MUR 16.7K

-7.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 MUR 44.0K

$934 MUR 43.9K

0.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 MUR 33.0K

$720 MUR 33.8K

-2.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MUR 31.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Benares: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Moka versus $509 in Benares. 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 $44.00 in Moka versus $45.00 in Benares. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Moka vs $215 in Benares – 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

Moka vs Benares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $931 in Moka, $987 in Benares – roughly 6% apart. Benares costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Moka and $1,480 in Benares. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Moka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Moka and $45.00 in Benares. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Benares – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Benares at $987. In Moka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Benares it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Benares has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $931 in Moka to $987 in Benares. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Moka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Benares makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.