πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,069 in Port Louis versus $971 in Lalmatie.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,712 in Port Louis versus $1,594 in Lalmatie.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,356 in Port Louis versus $2,217 in Lalmatie.
πLiving in Port Louis is roughly 10% more expensive than Lalmatie, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Port Louis20% lower, Lalmatie28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.59MURΒ 311
$6.75MURΒ 319
-2.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.79MURΒ 2,116
$44.02MURΒ 2,080
1.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16MURΒ 338
$7.00MURΒ 331
2.29%
Cappuccino
$2.56MURΒ 121
$2.66MURΒ 126
-3.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MURΒ 47.36
$0.96MURΒ 45.18
4.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MURΒ 26.38
$0.49MURΒ 23.25
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$1.87MURΒ 88.2
20.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MURΒ 153
$2.16MURΒ 102
50.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MURΒ 76.9
$1.70MURΒ 80.2
-4.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MURΒ 30.62
$0.17MURΒ 7.93
282.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MURΒ 62.4
$1.29MURΒ 60.8
2.33%
Eggs
$2.22MURΒ 105
$2.35MURΒ 111
-5.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.98MURΒ 566
$12.57MURΒ 594
-4.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06MURΒ 286
$6.35MURΒ 300
-4.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.85MURΒ 607
$12.78MURΒ 604
0.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03MURΒ 96.0
$1.99MURΒ 94.0
2.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00MURΒ 94.3
$1.96MURΒ 92.7
2.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MURΒ 68.2
$1.48MURΒ 70.1
-2.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66MURΒ 126
$2.08MURΒ 98.2
27.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MURΒ 48.28
$1.00MURΒ 47.09
2.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MURΒ 47.69
$0.93MURΒ 44.07
8.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MURΒ 38.11
$0.74MURΒ 34.90
9.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80MURΒ 37.85
$0.80MURΒ 37.86
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68MURΒ 316
$6.77MURΒ 320
-1.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.63MURΒ 408
$7.44MURΒ 351
15.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80MURΒ 85.2
$1.78MURΒ 84.3
1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$2.26MURΒ 107
-0.44%
π Getting Around
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MURΒ 48.62
$1.04MURΒ 48.99
-0.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.00MURΒ 1,040
$54.8MURΒ 2,591
-59.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MURΒ 207
$4.42MURΒ 209
-1.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MURΒ 130
$1.22MURΒ 57.6
124.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.46MURΒ 920
$20.11MURΒ 950
-3.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MURΒ 68.1
$1.40MURΒ 66.1
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KMURΒ 1.7M
$35.5KMURΒ 1.7M
2.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMURΒ 1.4M
$28.3KMURΒ 1.3M
2.47%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.79MURΒ 2,305
$46.78MURΒ 2,210
4.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.55MURΒ 876
$12.77MURΒ 603
45.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17MURΒ 1,567
$33.13MURΒ 1,565
0.12%
π Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.33MURΒ 1,149
$37.92MURΒ 1,792
-35.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.09MURΒ 193
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MURΒ 280
$5.93MURΒ 280
-0.17%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MURΒ 7,202
$100MURΒ 4,734
52.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,933MURΒ 185.8K
$3,982MURΒ 188.1K
-1.22%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3MURΒ 4,080
$12.67MURΒ 598
581.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4MURΒ 3,797
$25.17MURΒ 1,189
219.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132MURΒ 6,226
$50.8MURΒ 2,398
159.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MURΒ 4,553
$38.15MURΒ 1,803
152.58%
π Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Lalmatie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463MURΒ 21.9K
$517MURΒ 24.4K
-10.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349MURΒ 16.5K
$356MURΒ 16.8K
-1.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781MURΒ 36.9K
$964MURΒ 45.6K
-19.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614MURΒ 29.0K
$729MURΒ 34.5K
-15.83%
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
Lalmatie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MURΒ 32.0K
$624MURΒ 29.5K
8.63%
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 2, 2026
Last update for Lalmatie: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Port Louis and $517 in Lalmatie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Port Louis pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $45.00 in Port Louis vs $44.00 in Lalmatie for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $225 per month, with Lalmatie 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
Port Louis vs Lalmatie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lalmatie cheaper than Port Louis?
Lalmatie is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Port Louis or Lalmatie?
Port Louis pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Port Louis and Lalmatie?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Port Louis versus $517 in Lalmatie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lalmatie runs roughly 149% less than in Port Louis. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $152 in Port Louis versus $100 in Lalmatie. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Port Louis or Lalmatie?
At $971 in Lalmatie versus $1,069 in Port Louis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lalmatie but tight or insufficient in Port Louis. The gap between the two cities makes Lalmatie the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Port Louis or Lalmatie more family-friendly?
For families, Lalmatie is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Port Louis, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Port Louis or Lalmatie?
Safety-wise, Port Louis and Lalmatie 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 Lalmatie gentler on the wallet β expenses run 10% 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