πA single person spends $1,069 per month in Port Louis vs $970 in Benares, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,712 per month in Port Louis vs $1,570 in Benares, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,356 per month in Port Louis vs $2,171 in Benares, rent included.
πPort Louis costs about 10% more than Benares, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Port Louis and Benares are more affordable than the global median β Port Louis20% lower, Benares28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.59MURΒ 311
$6.69MURΒ 316
-1.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.79MURΒ 2,116
$43.19MURΒ 2,041
3.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16MURΒ 338
$6.40MURΒ 303
11.87%
Cappuccino
$2.56MURΒ 121
$2.64MURΒ 125
-3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MURΒ 47.36
$1.01MURΒ 47.64
-0.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MURΒ 26.38
$0.57MURΒ 26.90
-1.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$2.06MURΒ 97.5
9.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MURΒ 153
$2.75MURΒ 130
17.82%
π Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MURΒ 76.9
$1.52MURΒ 71.9
7.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MURΒ 30.62
$0.65MURΒ 30.75
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MURΒ 62.4
$1.33MURΒ 62.9
-0.75%
Eggs
$2.22MURΒ 105
$2.36MURΒ 111
-5.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.98MURΒ 566
$9.68MURΒ 457
23.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06MURΒ 286
$6.22MURΒ 294
-2.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.85MURΒ 607
$10.48MURΒ 495
22.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03MURΒ 96.0
$2.07MURΒ 98.0
-1.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00MURΒ 94.3
$1.99MURΒ 94.0
0.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MURΒ 68.2
$1.45MURΒ 68.5
-0.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66MURΒ 126
$2.62MURΒ 124
1.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MURΒ 48.28
$1.02MURΒ 48.42
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MURΒ 47.69
$0.95MURΒ 44.88
6.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MURΒ 38.11
$0.80MURΒ 37.74
1.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80MURΒ 37.85
$0.57MURΒ 27.09
40.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68MURΒ 316
$6.20MURΒ 293
7.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.63MURΒ 408
$8.29MURΒ 392
4.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80MURΒ 85.2
$1.79MURΒ 84.7
0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$2.10MURΒ 99.3
7.14%
π Getting Around
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MURΒ 48.62
$1.04MURΒ 49.23
-0.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.00MURΒ 1,040
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MURΒ 207
$4.33MURΒ 205
0.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MURΒ 130
$2.69MURΒ 127
1.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.46MURΒ 920
$15.33MURΒ 724
26.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MURΒ 68.1
$1.39MURΒ 65.8
3.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KMURΒ 1.7M
$35.5KMURΒ 1.7M
2.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMURΒ 1.4M
$28.9KMURΒ 1.4M
0.28%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.79MURΒ 2,305
$50.3MURΒ 2,376
-2.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.55MURΒ 876
$18.59MURΒ 878
-0.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17MURΒ 1,567
$32.34MURΒ 1,528
2.57%
π Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.33MURΒ 1,149
$37.89MURΒ 1,790
-35.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.09MURΒ 193
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MURΒ 280
$6.08MURΒ 287
-2.63%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MURΒ 7,202
$151MURΒ 7,149
0.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,933MURΒ 185.8K
$3,885MURΒ 183.6K
1.23%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3MURΒ 4,080
$51.1MURΒ 2,413
69.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4MURΒ 3,797
$43.42MURΒ 2,052
85.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132MURΒ 6,226
$83.5MURΒ 3,946
57.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MURΒ 4,553
$77.8MURΒ 3,675
23.90%
π Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463MURΒ 21.9K
$504MURΒ 23.8K
-8.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349MURΒ 16.5K
$354MURΒ 16.7K
-1.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781MURΒ 36.9K
$931MURΒ 44.0K
-16.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614MURΒ 29.0K
$718MURΒ 33.9K
-14.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,106MURΒ 194.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,078MURΒ 50.9K
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MURΒ 32.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.25
6.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Louis: June 2, 2026
Last update for Benares: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Port Louis versus $504 in Benares. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Port Louis versus $43.00 in Benares. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $214 β making Benares 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
Port Louis vs Benares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Port Louis and Benares compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,069 in Port Louis, $970 in Benares β roughly 10% apart. Port Louis costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Port Louis compared to Benares?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,603 per month in Port Louis and $1,454 in Benares. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Port Louis and Benares?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Benares, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Groceries cost about 8% more in Port Louis, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Benares, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Port Louis at $1,069. In Benares it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Louis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Port Louis and Benares?
It depends on your priorities. Port Louis has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $970 in Benares to $1,069 in Port Louis. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Port Louis or Benares safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Port Louis and Benares?
If budget matters most, go with Benares. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Louis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Port Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared