😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,080 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,699 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,319 in Port Louis.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 17% more expensive than Port Louis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Port Louis20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$6.53MUR 308
-30.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$43.69MUR 2,057
6.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$6.98MUR 329
21.35%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.56MUR 121
18.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.02MUR 48.19
-32.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.60MUR 28.37
-38.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.26MUR 107
10.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.33MUR 157
9.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.69MUR 79.5
28.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.67MUR 31.37
183.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.32MUR 62.4
66.67%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$2.33MUR 110
-4.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$12.10MUR 570
65.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$6.13MUR 289
-40.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$12.72MUR 599
4.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.98MUR 93.1
63.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.96MUR 92.4
-13.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.49MUR 70.3
60.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$2.74MUR 129
-24.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.02MUR 48.27
55.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.94MUR 44.46
57.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.81MUR 38.06
27.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.76MUR 35.75
-31.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$6.41MUR 302
-33.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$8.58MUR 404
119.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.73MUR 81.7
1.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.26MUR 106
22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$1.05MUR 49.57
29.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$22.34MUR 1,052
-49.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$4.28MUR 202
-26.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$2.61MUR 123
-60.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$19.86MUR 935
-30.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.47MUR 69.3
-8.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$36.3KMUR 1.7M
-23.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
18.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$48.79MUR 2,297
153.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$18.23MUR 858
-25.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$33.17MUR 1,562
-43.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$23.97MUR 1,129
157.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$4.01MUR 189
330.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$6.03MUR 284
51.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$157MUR 7,384
348.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$3,956MUR 186.3K
301.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$85.7MUR 4,033
-30.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$79.2MUR 3,729
-55.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$132MUR 6,213
-12.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$92.8MUR 4,371
-9.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$472MUR 22.2K
31.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$353MUR 16.6K
22.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$777MUR 36.6K
165.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$630MUR 29.7K
139.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$4,057MUR 191.1K
-10.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$1,045MUR 49.2K
151.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$671MUR 31.6K
-24.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $472 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Louis pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $232 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
Phuket vs Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Louis cheaper than Phuket?
Port Louis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Port Louis?
On paper, Port Louis earns 32% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Port Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $472 in Port Louis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $157 in Port Louis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Port Louis?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Port Louis?
At $1,080 in Port Louis versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Louis but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Port Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Port Louis more family-friendly?
For families, Port Louis is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Port Louis?
Safety-wise, Phuket 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Port Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.