🙂A single person spends $976 per month in Port Louis vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Port Louis vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,245 per month in Port Louis vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Port Louis is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Port Louis sits 29% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.55MUR 304
$7.89COP 24.2K
-16.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.03MUR 1,768
$44.53COP 136.5K
-14.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65MUR 356
$9.29COP 28.5K
-17.65%
Cappuccino
$2.63MUR 122
$2.90COP 8,874
-9.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07MUR 49.78
$1.81COP 5,541
-40.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MUR 25.35
$1.55COP 4,741
-64.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.27MUR 152
$3.25COP 9,962
0.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MUR 221
$5.88COP 18.0K
-19.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MUR 75.9
$1.38COP 4,230
18.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MUR 36.74
$2.45COP 7,517
-67.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16MUR 54.1
$1.51COP 4,617
-23.18%
Eggs
$2.67MUR 124
$2.78COP 8,516
-3.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.37MUR 250
$9.05COP 27.7K
-40.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.34MUR 295
$10.65COP 32.6K
-40.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.54MUR 537
$14.63COP 44.8K
-21.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84MUR 132
$3.97COP 12.2K
-28.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.73MUR 127
$1.38COP 4,219
97.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 67.6
$2.30COP 7,056
-36.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.05MUR 142
$2.02COP 6,185
50.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96MUR 44.71
$2.09COP 6,390
-54.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MUR 43.89
$1.63COP 4,996
-42.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76MUR 35.14
$1.08COP 3,313
-29.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86MUR 40.15
$1.25COP 3,843
-31.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34MUR 295
$4.03COP 12.4K
57.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.43MUR 392
$13.47COP 41.3K
-37.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63MUR 75.7
$1.60COP 4,904
1.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37MUR 110
$3.00COP 9,189
-21.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MUR 47.79
$1.18COP 3,611
-12.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.33MUR 1,503
$79.9COP 244.9K
-59.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.32MUR 201
$1.61COP 4,920
168.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.15MUR 146
$2.13COP 6,533
47.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.96MUR 975
$8.52COP 26.1K
146.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 65.0
$1.35COP 4,142
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KMUR 1.7M
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
27.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8KMUR 1.4M
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-13.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.41MUR 2,111
$151COP 463.8K
-70.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.63MUR 494
$13.10COP 40.1K
-18.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MUR 1,379
$32.30COP 99.0K
-8.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.07MUR 1,212
$46.33COP 141.9K
-43.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.81MUR 177
$17.26COP 52.9K
-77.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22MUR 289
$6.43COP 19.7K
-3.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MUR 5,896
$835COP 2.6M
-84.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,703MUR 358.1K
$8,887COP 27.2M
-13.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5MUR 3,650
$89.3COP 273.7K
-12.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.7MUR 3,519
$55.3COP 169.5K
36.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122MUR 5,659
$137COP 418.5K
-10.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.2MUR 3,682
$109COP 335.1K
-27.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491MUR 22.8K
$952COP 2.9M
-48.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$278MUR 12.9K
$668COP 2.0M
-58.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$768MUR 35.7K
$2,020COP 6.2M
-61.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$609MUR 28.3K
$1,148COP 3.5M
-46.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,075MUR 189.5K
$3,696COP 11.3M
10.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,058MUR 49.2K
$1,586COP 4.9M
-33.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$680MUR 31.6K
$625COP 1.9M
8.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
10.43
-36.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Louis: August 17, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Port Louis versus $952 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 9% higher in Port Louis, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Port Louis versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $297 – making Port Louis 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Port Louis?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,464 per month in Port Louis and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Louis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Port Louis or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Port Louis and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Port Louis and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $976 in Port Louis and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Port Louis or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $976, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Louis or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Louis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Port Louis or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Port Louis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Port Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared