😐A single person spends $1,066 per month in Port Louis vs $987 in Benares, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,713 per month in Port Louis vs $1,599 in Benares, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,359 per month in Port Louis vs $2,212 in Benares, rent included.
😐Port Louis costs about 8% more than Benares, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Port Louis and Benares are more affordable than the global median – Port Louis20% lower, Benares26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73MUR 316
$6.64MUR 312
1.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.60MUR 2,048
$44.59MUR 2,095
-2.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.11MUR 334
$6.51MUR 306
9.22%
Cappuccino
$2.55MUR 120
$2.68MUR 126
-4.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MUR 44.77
$1.01MUR 47.27
-5.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.87
$0.57MUR 26.71
3.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19MUR 103
$2.10MUR 98.5
4.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20MUR 150
$2.78MUR 130
15.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69MUR 79.6
$1.49MUR 70.1
13.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70MUR 32.83
$0.71MUR 33.14
-1.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MUR 59.9
$1.31MUR 61.7
-2.29%
Eggs
$2.25MUR 106
$2.23MUR 105
0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.87MUR 558
$10.11MUR 475
17.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22MUR 292
$6.17MUR 290
0.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.47MUR 586
$10.58MUR 497
17.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00MUR 94.1
$2.06MUR 97.0
-2.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02MUR 94.7
$1.97MUR 92.8
2.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MUR 70.6
$1.43MUR 67.3
4.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62MUR 123
$2.61MUR 122
0.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.46
$0.97MUR 45.64
6.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MUR 43.62
$0.98MUR 46.18
-5.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MUR 39.53
$0.83MUR 39.18
1.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MUR 34.82
$0.56MUR 26.51
32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55MUR 308
$5.94MUR 279
10.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.35MUR 392
$8.62MUR 405
-3.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MUR 81.4
$1.72MUR 80.6
0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16MUR 101
$2.10MUR 98.6
2.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01MUR 47.57
$1.01MUR 47.27
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.36MUR 1,050
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51MUR 212
$4.51MUR 212
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71MUR 127
$2.72MUR 128
-0.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.86MUR 933
$15.70MUR 737
26.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MUR 67.8
$1.40MUR 65.7
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
$35.2KMUR 1.7M
0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
$29.0KMUR 1.4M
0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.83MUR 2,294
$49.88MUR 2,343
-2.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.07MUR 849
$18.53MUR 871
-2.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.95MUR 1,595
$32.73MUR 1,538
3.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.52MUR 1,152
$37.90MUR 1,780
-35.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.93MUR 185
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.12MUR 287
$6.11MUR 287
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MUR 7,136
$155MUR 7,283
-2.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,892MUR 182.8K
$3,916MUR 184.0K
-0.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.8MUR 4,078
$49.98MUR 2,348
73.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.8MUR 3,797
$43.45MUR 2,042
85.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130MUR 6,089
$84.0MUR 3,946
54.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7MUR 4,496
$78.3MUR 3,677
22.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473MUR 22.2K
$509MUR 23.9K
-7.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MUR 16.3K
$357MUR 16.8K
-2.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$779MUR 36.6K
$934MUR 43.9K
-16.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614MUR 28.9K
$720MUR 33.8K
-14.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,136MUR 194.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,064MUR 50.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Benares
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$688MUR 32.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.25
6.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Louis: July 11, 2026
Last update for Benares: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Port Louis 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 Port Louis versus $45.00 in Benares. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Port Louis 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
Port Louis vs Benares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Port Louis and in Benares compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,066 in Port Louis, $987 in Benares – roughly 8% 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 $1,599 per month in Port Louis and $1,480 in Benares. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Port Louis and $45.00 in Benares. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 $987, than in Port Louis at $1,066. 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 $987 in Benares to $1,066 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 – 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