😐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 – Santiago10% lower, Port Louis31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.81CLP 10.1K
$5.79MUR 269
86.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9CLP 49.4K
$38.47MUR 1,791
37.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.15CLP 8,546
$7.53MUR 351
21.51%
Cappuccino
$3.38CLP 3,160
$2.68MUR 125
26.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CLP 1,624
$1.13MUR 52.5
53.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31CLP 1,225
$0.63MUR 29.33
107.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.30CLP 4,019
$2.71MUR 126
58.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94CLP 4,614
$4.81MUR 224
2.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37CLP 1,277
$1.55MUR 72.0
-11.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86CLP 1,733
$0.78MUR 36.45
138.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69CLP 1,577
$1.15MUR 53.7
46.96%
Eggs
$4.14CLP 3,862
$2.58MUR 120
60.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.39CLP 10.6K
$5.41MUR 252
110.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.78CLP 6,334
$6.40MUR 298
5.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35CLP 10.6K
$11.20MUR 521
1.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01CLP 1,875
$2.83MUR 132
-28.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65CLP 1,539
$2.62MUR 122
-37.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75CLP 1,629
$1.40MUR 65.3
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.78CLP 1,666
$3.05MUR 142
-41.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12CLP 1,044
$0.99MUR 46.30
13.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61CLP 1,504
$0.93MUR 43.44
73.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32CLP 1,233
$0.75MUR 34.76
76.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12CLP 1,050
$0.84MUR 39.00
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.61CLP 5,242
$6.55MUR 305
-14.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.27CLP 5,853
$8.62MUR 401
-27.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60CLP 1,493
$1.69MUR 78.9
-5.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51CLP 2,343
$2.32MUR 108
8.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83CLP 780
$0.99MUR 46.11
-16.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.10CLP 39.3K
$32.44MUR 1,510
29.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41CLP 386
$4.31MUR 201
-90.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89CLP 831
$3.21MUR 149
-72.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.16CLP 11.3K
$21.36MUR 994
-43.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59CLP 1,483
$1.34MUR 62.2
18.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3KCLP 17.1M
$36.3KMUR 1.7M
-49.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KCLP 21.0M
$30.8KMUR 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)
$155CLP 144.6K
$44.96MUR 2,093
244.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12CLP 12.3K
$10.48MUR 488
25.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.80CLP 19.4K
$28.81MUR 1,342
-27.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.92CLP 32.6K
$26.73MUR 1,245
30.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.43CLP 11.6K
$3.85MUR 179
222.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69CLP 7,176
$6.31MUR 294
21.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456CLP 425.4K
$130MUR 6,035
251.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KCLP 10.6M
$7,821MUR 364.1K
45.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2CLP 49.7K
$78.0MUR 3,631
-31.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.18CLP 28.2K
$73.7MUR 3,431
-59.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1CLP 65.4K
$122MUR 5,667
-42.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.3CLP 79.7K
$78.6MUR 3,659
8.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555CLP 518.6K
$489MUR 22.8K
13.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389CLP 362.9K
$274MUR 12.8K
41.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,084CLP 1.0M
$777MUR 36.2K
39.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$818CLP 763.5K
$597MUR 27.8K
36.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,686CLP 2.5M
$4,098MUR 190.8K
-34.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,689CLP 2.5M
$1,055MUR 49.1K
154.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$836CLP 780.6K
$682MUR 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.