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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Surinam vs $946 in Port Louis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,726 per month in Surinam vs $1,560 in Port Louis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,386 per month in Surinam vs $2,174 in Port Louis, rent included.

Surinam costs about 13% more than Port Louis, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Surinam and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median – Surinam 22% lower, Port Louis 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.77 MUR 269

$5.79 MUR 269

-0.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.85 MUR 1,809

$38.47 MUR 1,791

0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 MUR 356

$7.53 MUR 351

1.59%

Cappuccino

$2.60 MUR 121

$2.68 MUR 125

-2.99%

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

$1.13 MUR 52.7

$1.13 MUR 52.5

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 MUR 30.68

$0.63 MUR 29.33

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 MUR 124

$2.71 MUR 126

-1.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 MUR 219

$4.81 MUR 224

-2.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 MUR 74.9

$1.55 MUR 72.0

3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 MUR 33.90

$0.78 MUR 36.45

-6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MUR 54.1

$1.15 MUR 53.7

0.87%

Eggs

$2.55 MUR 119

$2.58 MUR 120

-1.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 MUR 249

$5.41 MUR 252

-1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 MUR 299

$6.40 MUR 298

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 MUR 530

$11.20 MUR 521

1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MUR 128

$2.83 MUR 132

-2.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 MUR 126

$2.62 MUR 122

3.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 MUR 65.4

$1.40 MUR 65.3

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 MUR 141

$3.05 MUR 142

-0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 MUR 45.16

$0.99 MUR 46.30

-2.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 MUR 44.79

$0.93 MUR 43.44

3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 MUR 34.39

$0.75 MUR 34.76

-1.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 MUR 42.89

$0.84 MUR 39.00

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.50 MUR 303

$6.55 MUR 305

-0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 MUR 399

$8.62 MUR 401

-0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MUR 76.8

$1.69 MUR 78.9

-2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 MUR 106

$2.32 MUR 108

-1.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 MUR 46.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.44 MUR 1,510

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 MUR 201

$4.31 MUR 201

0.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 MUR 148

$3.21 MUR 149

-1.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.11 MUR 983

$21.36 MUR 994

-1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 MUR 62.0

$1.34 MUR 62.2

-0.75%

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

$36.8K MUR 1.7M

$36.3K MUR 1.7M

1.26%

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

$31.6K MUR 1.5M

$30.8K MUR 1.4M

2.57%

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

$45.49 MUR 2,118

$44.96 MUR 2,093

1.18%

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

$10.80 MUR 503

$10.48 MUR 488

3.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.00 MUR 1,350

$28.81 MUR 1,342

0.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.88 MUR 1,438

$26.73 MUR 1,245

15.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.85 MUR 179

Cinema Ticket

$6.45 MUR 300

$6.31 MUR 294

2.22%

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

$126 MUR 5,853

$130 MUR 6,035

-3.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,707 MUR 358.9K

$7,821 MUR 364.1K

-1.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 MUR 3,665

$78.0 MUR 3,631

0.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.8 MUR 3,530

$73.7 MUR 3,431

2.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 MUR 5,679

$122 MUR 5,667

0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 MUR 3,569

$78.6 MUR 3,659

-2.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 MUR 28.2K

$489 MUR 22.8K

23.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 MUR 20.7K

$274 MUR 12.8K

62.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 MUR 57.8K

$777 MUR 36.2K

59.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MUR 34.5K

$597 MUR 27.8K

23.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,098 MUR 190.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,055 MUR 49.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 MUR 31.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Surinam: August 29, 2026

Last update for Port Louis: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $606 in Surinam 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Surinam versus $38.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 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

Surinam vs Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surinam costs about 13% more than Port Louis, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,600 per month in Surinam and $1,419 in Port Louis. 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 $1,067 in Surinam and $946 in Port Louis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $126 per month in Surinam and $130 in Port Louis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $946, than in Surinam at $1,067. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Surinam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Louis costs $946 versus $1,067 in Surinam. 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, Surinam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.