Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Louis and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Louis and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,052 per month in Port Louis vs $1,294 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Port Louis vs $2,025 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,284 per month in Port Louis vs $2,756 in Santiago, rent included.

Port Louis is about 19% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Port Louis and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Port Louis 21% lower, Santiago 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.76 MUR 318
$10.84 CLP 10.2K
-37.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.63 MUR 2,056
$54.5 CLP 51.1K
-19.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 MUR 333
$8.65 CLP 8,111
-18.27%
Cappuccino
$2.65 MUR 125
$3.24 CLP 3,039
-18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MUR 44.51
$1.79 CLP 1,678
-47.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MUR 28.62
$1.25 CLP 1,174
-51.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 MUR 103
$3.24 CLP 3,039
-32.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 MUR 151
$4.26 CLP 3,997
-24.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 MUR 79.6
$1.18 CLP 1,110
43.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MUR 30.95
$1.51 CLP 1,411
-56.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 MUR 59.8
$2.20 CLP 2,061
-42.27%
Eggs
$2.27 MUR 107
$4.21 CLP 3,945
-46.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.66 MUR 549
$10.32 CLP 9,671
12.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.23 MUR 293
$6.63 CLP 6,216
-6.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.63 MUR 595
$10.97 CLP 10.3K
15.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 MUR 93.2
$2.03 CLP 1,906
-2.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MUR 95.0
$1.62 CLP 1,516
24.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 MUR 69.8
$2.12 CLP 1,990
-30.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 MUR 123
$1.88 CLP 1,758
38.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 MUR 48.50
$1.88 CLP 1,759
-45.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 MUR 44.18
$1.69 CLP 1,581
-44.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 MUR 39.25
$1.28 CLP 1,202
-35.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MUR 35.71
$1.19 CLP 1,112
-36.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 MUR 309
$5.56 CLP 5,209
17.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.24 MUR 388
$6.44 CLP 6,036
27.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MUR 80.5
$1.60 CLP 1,496
6.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 MUR 102
$2.55 CLP 2,388
-15.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 MUR 48.00
$0.91 CLP 848
12.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.90 MUR 1,032
$43.03 CLP 40.3K
-49.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 MUR 211
$0.48 CLP 447
831.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 MUR 123
$1.41 CLP 1,325
85.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.10 MUR 947
$11.49 CLP 10.8K
74.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MUR 65.5
$1.36 CLP 1,275
2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K MUR 1.7M
$19.3K CLP 18.1M
83.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K MUR 1.3M
$23.0K CLP 21.6M
24.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.3 MUR 2,370
$132 CLP 123.6K
-61.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.27 MUR 861
$13.39 CLP 12.6K
36.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.22 MUR 1,613
$22.14 CLP 20.8K
54.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.24 MUR 1,142
$34.48 CLP 32.3K
-29.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.96 MUR 187
$21.20 CLP 19.9K
-81.32%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 MUR 279
$6.63 CLP 6,216
-10.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$155 MUR 7,301
$431 CLP 403.5K
-64.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,940 MUR 185.7K
$8,563 CLP 8.0M
-54.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.4 MUR 3,977
$55.3 CLP 51.9K
52.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.1 MUR 3,730
$33.49 CLP 31.4K
136.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 MUR 6,192
$77.6 CLP 72.8K
69.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4 MUR 4,545
$84.3 CLP 79.0K
14.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 MUR 21.6K
$520 CLP 487.2K
-11.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 MUR 16.6K
$452 CLP 424.0K
-22.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$785 MUR 37.0K
$1,002 CLP 938.9K
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 MUR 29.0K
$909 CLP 852.1K
-32.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,113 MUR 193.8K
$2,838 CLP 2.7M
44.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,073 MUR 50.6K
$2,742 CLP 2.6M
-60.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$698 MUR 32.9K
$799 CLP 749.0K
-12.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.18
28.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Port Louis: July 21, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Port Louis versus $520 in Santiago. 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 14% higher in Santiago, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Port Louis versus $54.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $242 – 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 Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port Louis or Santiago?
Santiago costs about 23% more than Port Louis, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Port Louis and in Santiago?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,578 per month in Port Louis and $1,941 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Port Louis or Santiago?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Port Louis compared to Santiago?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,052 in Port Louis and $1,294 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Port Louis compared to Santiago?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Port Louis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Port Louis or in Santiago?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $1,052, than in Santiago at $1,294. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Port Louis or Santiago?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Louis costs $1,052 versus $1,294 in Santiago. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Port Louis compared to Santiago?
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.
Should I move to Port Louis or to Santiago?
If budget matters most, go with Port Louis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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