🙂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 Louis21% lower, Santiago3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.76MUR 318
$10.84CLP 10.2K
-37.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.63MUR 2,056
$54.5CLP 51.1K
-19.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.07MUR 333
$8.65CLP 8,111
-18.27%
Cappuccino
$2.65MUR 125
$3.24CLP 3,039
-18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MUR 44.51
$1.79CLP 1,678
-47.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MUR 28.62
$1.25CLP 1,174
-51.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19MUR 103
$3.24CLP 3,039
-32.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20MUR 151
$4.26CLP 3,997
-24.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69MUR 79.6
$1.18CLP 1,110
43.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 30.95
$1.51CLP 1,411
-56.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27MUR 59.8
$2.20CLP 2,061
-42.27%
Eggs
$2.27MUR 107
$4.21CLP 3,945
-46.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.66MUR 549
$10.32CLP 9,671
12.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.23MUR 293
$6.63CLP 6,216
-6.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.63MUR 595
$10.97CLP 10.3K
15.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98MUR 93.2
$2.03CLP 1,906
-2.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MUR 95.0
$1.62CLP 1,516
24.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48MUR 69.8
$2.12CLP 1,990
-30.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61MUR 123
$1.88CLP 1,758
38.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.50
$1.88CLP 1,759
-45.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MUR 44.18
$1.69CLP 1,581
-44.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MUR 39.25
$1.28CLP 1,202
-35.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76MUR 35.71
$1.19CLP 1,112
-36.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56MUR 309
$5.56CLP 5,209
17.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.24MUR 388
$6.44CLP 6,036
27.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MUR 80.5
$1.60CLP 1,496
6.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16MUR 102
$2.55CLP 2,388
-15.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02MUR 48.00
$0.91CLP 848
12.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.90MUR 1,032
$43.03CLP 40.3K
-49.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.47MUR 211
$0.48CLP 447
831.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62MUR 123
$1.41CLP 1,325
85.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.10MUR 947
$11.49CLP 10.8K
74.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MUR 65.5
$1.36CLP 1,275
2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
$19.3KCLP 18.1M
83.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KMUR 1.3M
$23.0KCLP 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)
$50.3MUR 2,370
$132CLP 123.6K
-61.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.27MUR 861
$13.39CLP 12.6K
36.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.22MUR 1,613
$22.14CLP 20.8K
54.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.24MUR 1,142
$34.48CLP 32.3K
-29.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.96MUR 187
$21.20CLP 19.9K
-81.32%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MUR 279
$6.63CLP 6,216
-10.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155MUR 7,301
$431CLP 403.5K
-64.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,940MUR 185.7K
$8,563CLP 8.0M
-54.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.4MUR 3,977
$55.3CLP 51.9K
52.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.1MUR 3,730
$33.49CLP 31.4K
136.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131MUR 6,192
$77.6CLP 72.8K
69.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MUR 4,545
$84.3CLP 79.0K
14.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458MUR 21.6K
$520CLP 487.2K
-11.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$352MUR 16.6K
$452CLP 424.0K
-22.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$785MUR 37.0K
$1,002CLP 938.9K
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$616MUR 29.0K
$909CLP 852.1K
-32.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,113MUR 193.8K
$2,838CLP 2.7M
44.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,073MUR 50.6K
$2,742CLP 2.6M
-60.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$698MUR 32.9K
$799CLP 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.
Port Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared