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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,233 per month in Santiago vs $946 in Port Louis, rent included.

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

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

Santiago costs about 30% more than Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.81 CLP 10.1K
$5.79 MUR 269
86.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9 CLP 49.4K
$38.47 MUR 1,791
37.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.15 CLP 8,546
$7.53 MUR 351
21.51%
Cappuccino
$3.38 CLP 3,160
$2.68 MUR 125
26.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CLP 1,624
$1.13 MUR 52.5
53.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 CLP 1,225
$0.63 MUR 29.33
107.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.30 CLP 4,019
$2.71 MUR 126
58.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 CLP 4,614
$4.81 MUR 224
2.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 CLP 1,277
$1.55 MUR 72.0
-11.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 CLP 1,733
$0.78 MUR 36.45
138.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 CLP 1,577
$1.15 MUR 53.7
46.96%
Eggs
$4.14 CLP 3,862
$2.58 MUR 120
60.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.39 CLP 10.6K
$5.41 MUR 252
110.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 CLP 6,334
$6.40 MUR 298
5.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.35 CLP 10.6K
$11.20 MUR 521
1.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 CLP 1,875
$2.83 MUR 132
-28.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 CLP 1,539
$2.62 MUR 122
-37.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 CLP 1,629
$1.40 MUR 65.3
25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 CLP 1,666
$3.05 MUR 142
-41.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 CLP 1,044
$0.99 MUR 46.30
13.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 CLP 1,504
$0.93 MUR 43.44
73.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 CLP 1,233
$0.75 MUR 34.76
76.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 CLP 1,050
$0.84 MUR 39.00
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.61 CLP 5,242
$6.55 MUR 305
-14.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.27 CLP 5,853
$8.62 MUR 401
-27.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 CLP 1,493
$1.69 MUR 78.9
-5.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 CLP 2,343
$2.32 MUR 108
8.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 780
$0.99 MUR 46.11
-16.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.10 CLP 39.3K
$32.44 MUR 1,510
29.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 CLP 386
$4.31 MUR 201
-90.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 CLP 831
$3.21 MUR 149
-72.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.16 CLP 11.3K
$21.36 MUR 994
-43.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 CLP 1,483
$1.34 MUR 62.2
18.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K CLP 17.1M
$36.3K MUR 1.7M
-49.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K CLP 21.0M
$30.8K MUR 1.4M
-27.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 CLP 144.6K
$44.96 MUR 2,093
244.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 CLP 12.3K
$10.48 MUR 488
25.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.80 CLP 19.4K
$28.81 MUR 1,342
-27.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.92 CLP 32.6K
$26.73 MUR 1,245
30.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.43 CLP 11.6K
$3.85 MUR 179
222.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 CLP 7,176
$6.31 MUR 294
21.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 CLP 425.4K
$130 MUR 6,035
251.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K CLP 10.6M
$7,821 MUR 364.1K
45.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 CLP 49.7K
$78.0 MUR 3,631
-31.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.18 CLP 28.2K
$73.7 MUR 3,431
-59.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.1 CLP 65.4K
$122 MUR 5,667
-42.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.3 CLP 79.7K
$78.6 MUR 3,659
8.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$555 CLP 518.6K
$489 MUR 22.8K
13.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 CLP 362.9K
$274 MUR 12.8K
41.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 CLP 1.0M
$777 MUR 36.2K
39.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$818 CLP 763.5K
$597 MUR 27.8K
36.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,686 CLP 2.5M
$4,098 MUR 190.8K
-34.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,689 CLP 2.5M
$1,055 MUR 49.1K
154.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$836 CLP 780.6K
$682 MUR 31.8K
22.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
6.67
-19.19%

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

Last update for Santiago: August 30, 2026

Last update for Port Louis: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $555 in Santiago versus $489 in Port Louis. 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 $53.0 in Santiago versus $38.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $219 – 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
Santiago vs Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santiago or Port Louis?
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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Santiago and in Port Louis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Santiago and $1,419 in Port Louis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Santiago or Port Louis?
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 Santiago compared to Port Louis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,233 in Santiago and $946 in Port Louis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Santiago compared to Port Louis?
Public transport costs about 30% 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 Santiago or in Port Louis?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Santiago or Port Louis?
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.
How safe is Santiago compared to Port Louis?
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 Santiago or to Port Louis?
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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