πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,085 in Port Louis versus $976 in Bambous.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,703 in Port Louis versus $1,610 in Bambous.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,321 in Port Louis versus $2,244 in Bambous.
πLiving in Port Louis is roughly 11% more expensive than Bambous, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Port Louis19% lower, Bambous27% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.44MURΒ 303
$4.48MURΒ 211
43.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.49MURΒ 2,047
$43.39MURΒ 2,043
0.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12MURΒ 335
$4.39MURΒ 207
62.19%
Cappuccino
$2.56MURΒ 121
$2.16MURΒ 102
18.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MURΒ 47.70
$0.96MURΒ 45.13
5.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MURΒ 26.76
$0.45MURΒ 21.22
26.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26MURΒ 106
$2.14MURΒ 101
5.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28MURΒ 154
$1.68MURΒ 78.9
95.24%
π Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MURΒ 76.3
$1.17MURΒ 55.3
38.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70MURΒ 33.09
$0.65MURΒ 30.75
7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MURΒ 61.9
$1.09MURΒ 51.3
21.10%
Eggs
$2.23MURΒ 105
$2.30MURΒ 108
-3.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.86MURΒ 558
$11.67MURΒ 550
1.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.28MURΒ 296
$3.20MURΒ 151
96.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.58MURΒ 592
$4.29MURΒ 202
193.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00MURΒ 94.1
$2.07MURΒ 97.5
-3.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02MURΒ 95.1
$2.02MURΒ 94.9
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MURΒ 67.5
$1.46MURΒ 68.7
-2.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66MURΒ 125
$2.66MURΒ 125
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MURΒ 48.69
$0.99MURΒ 46.71
4.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MURΒ 46.76
$0.96MURΒ 45.01
3.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MURΒ 39.40
$0.80MURΒ 37.61
5.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MURΒ 34.93
$0.81MURΒ 38.31
-8.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66MURΒ 314
$6.47MURΒ 305
2.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.39MURΒ 395
$8.30MURΒ 391
1.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81MURΒ 85.3
$1.78MURΒ 83.7
1.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15MURΒ 101
$2.22MURΒ 105
-3.15%
π Getting Around
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06MURΒ 49.83
$1.04MURΒ 49.17
1.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.18MURΒ 1,044
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MURΒ 206
$4.38MURΒ 206
-0.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62MURΒ 123
$2.72MURΒ 128
-3.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.59MURΒ 923
$19.64MURΒ 925
-0.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MURΒ 65.6
$1.45MURΒ 68.4
-4.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2KMURΒ 1.7M
$36.4KMURΒ 1.7M
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMURΒ 1.3M
$28.7KMURΒ 1.3M
-1.28%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.14MURΒ 2,314
$48.53MURΒ 2,285
1.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67MURΒ 879
$18.35MURΒ 864
1.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50MURΒ 1,577
$33.36MURΒ 1,571
0.42%
π Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.79MURΒ 1,120
$38.21MURΒ 1,799
-37.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.13MURΒ 194
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01MURΒ 283
$6.02MURΒ 283
-0.17%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153MURΒ 7,184
$154MURΒ 7,270
-1.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,910MURΒ 184.1K
$3,975MURΒ 187.2K
-1.65%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6MURΒ 4,030
$83.6MURΒ 3,937
2.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.0MURΒ 3,718
$78.7MURΒ 3,705
0.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133MURΒ 6,285
$134MURΒ 6,315
-0.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.3MURΒ 4,484
$95.0MURΒ 4,470
0.32%
π Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463MURΒ 21.8K
$512MURΒ 24.1K
-9.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$352MURΒ 16.6K
$348MURΒ 16.4K
1.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790MURΒ 37.2K
$966MURΒ 45.5K
-18.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636MURΒ 29.9K
$736MURΒ 34.6K
-13.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,197MURΒ 197.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,055MURΒ 49.7K
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Bambous
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$688MURΒ 32.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.67
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Louis: June 16, 2026
Last update for Bambous: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Port Louis and $512 in Bambous. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $43.00 in Port Louis vs $43.00 in Bambous. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $185, with Bambous cheaper for home cooking.
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
Port Louis vs Bambous: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Port Louis and Bambous?
Port Louis and Bambous differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($1,085 vs $976 including rent). Bambous is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Port Louis compared to Bambous?
You'd need roughly $1,627 in Port Louis and $1,465 in Bambous to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Port Louis and Bambous?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Port Louis versus $512 in Bambous. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Port Louis and Bambous?
Childcare runs $153 in Port Louis versus $154 in Bambous. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bambous β a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $43.00 in Port Louis. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $976 in Bambous versus $1,085 in Port Louis, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bambous but tight or insufficient in Port Louis. The gap between the two cities makes Bambous the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Port Louis and Bambous?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Port Louis or Bambous safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Port Louis and Bambous 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: Port Louis or Bambous?
Expats usually find Bambous gentler on the wallet β expenses run 11% less than in Port Louis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared