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 $946 per month in Port Louis vs $1,233 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,560 per month in Port Louis vs $1,947 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,174 per month in Port Louis vs $2,660 in Santiago, rent included.

Port Louis is about 23% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Port Louis and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Port Louis 31% lower, Santiago 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.79 MUR 269

$10.81 CLP 10.1K

-46.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 MUR 1,791

$52.9 CLP 49.4K

-27.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 MUR 351

$9.15 CLP 8,546

-17.70%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MUR 125

$3.38 CLP 3,160

-20.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MUR 52.5

$1.74 CLP 1,624

-35.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 MUR 29.33

$1.31 CLP 1,225

-51.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 MUR 126

$4.30 CLP 4,019

-36.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 MUR 224

$4.94 CLP 4,614

-2.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 MUR 72.0

$1.37 CLP 1,277

13.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 MUR 36.45

$1.86 CLP 1,733

-58.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MUR 53.7

$1.69 CLP 1,577

-31.95%

Eggs

$2.58 MUR 120

$4.14 CLP 3,862

-37.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.41 MUR 252

$11.39 CLP 10.6K

-52.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 MUR 298

$6.78 CLP 6,334

-5.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.20 MUR 521

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

-1.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MUR 132

$2.01 CLP 1,875

40.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 MUR 122

$1.65 CLP 1,539

58.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 MUR 65.3

$1.75 CLP 1,629

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 MUR 142

$1.78 CLP 1,666

71.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 MUR 46.30

$1.12 CLP 1,044

-11.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 MUR 43.44

$1.61 CLP 1,504

-42.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 MUR 34.76

$1.32 CLP 1,233

-43.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MUR 39.00

$1.12 CLP 1,050

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 MUR 305

$5.61 CLP 5,242

16.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 MUR 401

$6.27 CLP 5,853

37.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MUR 78.9

$1.60 CLP 1,493

5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 MUR 108

$2.51 CLP 2,343

-7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 MUR 46.11

$0.83 CLP 780

19.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.44 MUR 1,510

$42.10 CLP 39.3K

-22.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 MUR 201

$0.41 CLP 386

951.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 MUR 149

$0.89 CLP 831

260.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.36 MUR 994

$12.16 CLP 11.3K

75.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MUR 62.2

$1.59 CLP 1,483

-15.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.3K MUR 1.7M

$18.3K CLP 17.1M

98.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.8K MUR 1.4M

$22.5K CLP 21.0M

36.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.96 MUR 2,093

$155 CLP 144.6K

-70.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.48 MUR 488

$13.12 CLP 12.3K

-20.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.81 MUR 1,342

$20.80 CLP 19.4K

38.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.73 MUR 1,245

$34.92 CLP 32.6K

-23.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.85 MUR 179

$12.43 CLP 11.6K

-69.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 MUR 294

$7.69 CLP 7,176

-17.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$130 MUR 6,035

$456 CLP 425.4K

-71.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,821 MUR 364.1K

$11.4K CLP 10.6M

-31.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.0 MUR 3,631

$53.2 CLP 49.7K

46.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.7 MUR 3,431

$30.18 CLP 28.2K

144.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 MUR 5,667

$70.1 CLP 65.4K

73.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 MUR 3,659

$85.3 CLP 79.7K

-7.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 MUR 22.8K

$555 CLP 518.6K

-12.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 MUR 12.8K

$389 CLP 362.9K

-29.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$777 MUR 36.2K

$1,084 CLP 1.0M

-28.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 MUR 27.8K

$818 CLP 763.5K

-26.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,098 MUR 190.8K

$2,686 CLP 2.5M

52.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,055 MUR 49.1K

$2,689 CLP 2.5M

-60.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 MUR 31.8K

$836 CLP 780.6K

-18.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

5.39

23.75%

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

Last update for Port Louis: August 30, 2026

Last update for Santiago: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Port Louis versus $555 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 23% 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 $38.00 in Port Louis versus $53.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $244 – 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

Santiago costs about 30% more than Port Louis, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,419 per month in Port Louis and $1,849 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $946 in Port Louis and $1,233 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% less in Port Louis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $946, than in Santiago at $1,233. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Louis costs $946 versus $1,233 in Santiago. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.