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 $1,069 per month in Port Louis vs $1,270 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,712 per month in Port Louis vs $2,013 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,356 per month in Port Louis vs $2,756 in Santiago, rent included.

Port Louis is about 16% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Port Louis and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Port Louis 20% lower, Santiago 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.59 MUR 312

$10.93 CLP 9,974

-39.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.79 MUR 2,124

$53.1 CLP 48.4K

-15.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.16 MUR 339

$8.30 CLP 7,576

-13.73%

Cappuccino

$2.56 MUR 121

$3.11 CLP 2,840

-17.68%

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

$1.00 MUR 47.52

$1.79 CLP 1,632

-44.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MUR 26.47

$1.29 CLP 1,176

-56.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 MUR 106

$3.19 CLP 2,909

-29.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 MUR 154

$4.39 CLP 4,007

-26.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 MUR 77.2

$1.20 CLP 1,091

35.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 MUR 30.72

$1.59 CLP 1,449

-59.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 MUR 62.6

$2.18 CLP 1,986

-39.45%

Eggs

$2.22 MUR 105

$4.14 CLP 3,775

-46.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 MUR 568

$10.66 CLP 9,725

12.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 MUR 287

$6.48 CLP 5,911

-6.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.85 MUR 609

$10.79 CLP 9,851

19.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 MUR 96.3

$2.00 CLP 1,829

1.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 MUR 94.6

$1.63 CLP 1,491

22.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 MUR 68.4

$2.13 CLP 1,945

-32.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MUR 126

$1.84 CLP 1,676

44.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 MUR 48.44

$1.95 CLP 1,783

-47.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MUR 47.85

$1.68 CLP 1,529

-39.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 MUR 38.24

$1.29 CLP 1,180

-37.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MUR 37.98

$1.19 CLP 1,084

-32.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.68 MUR 317

$5.56 CLP 5,075

20.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.63 MUR 409

$6.77 CLP 6,181

27.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 MUR 85.5

$1.54 CLP 1,404

16.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 MUR 107

$2.47 CLP 2,258

-8.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 MUR 48.79

$0.85 CLP 775

21.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.00 MUR 1,043

$42.05 CLP 38.4K

-47.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.37 MUR 207

$0.50 CLP 457

774.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.74 MUR 130

$1.43 CLP 1,304

91.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.46 MUR 923

$11.70 CLP 10.7K

66.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MUR 68.3

$1.37 CLP 1,250

5.11%

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

$36.5K MUR 1.7M

$19.6K CLP 17.9M

85.67%

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

$29.0K MUR 1.4M

$22.6K CLP 20.6M

28.45%

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

$48.79 MUR 2,313

$133 CLP 121.8K

-63.43%

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

$18.55 MUR 879

$13.65 CLP 12.5K

35.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.17 MUR 1,573

$21.85 CLP 19.9K

51.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.33 MUR 1,153

$33.74 CLP 30.8K

-27.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.09 MUR 194

$20.94 CLP 19.1K

-80.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 MUR 281

$6.55 CLP 5,982

-9.62%

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

$152 MUR 7,227

$436 CLP 398.1K

-65.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,933 MUR 186.5K

$8,621 CLP 7.9M

-54.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.3 MUR 4,093

$55.0 CLP 50.2K

56.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.4 MUR 3,810

$32.75 CLP 29.9K

145.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 MUR 6,247

$76.0 CLP 69.4K

73.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 MUR 4,569

$83.5 CLP 76.2K

15.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 MUR 21.9K

$519 CLP 473.7K

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 MUR 16.5K

$468 CLP 427.3K

-25.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$781 MUR 37.0K

$1,012 CLP 923.3K

-22.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$614 MUR 29.1K

$888 CLP 810.1K

-30.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,106 MUR 194.7K

$2,891 CLP 2.6M

42.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 MUR 51.1K

$2,897 CLP 2.6M

-62.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MUR 32.1K

$884 CLP 806.8K

-23.36%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Santiago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Port Louis versus $519 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 30% 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 $45.00 in Port Louis versus $53.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 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

Santiago costs about 19% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,603 per month in Port Louis and $1,905 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 $1,069 in Port Louis and $1,270 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 91% 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 $1,069, than in Santiago at $1,270. 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 $1,069 versus $1,270 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.