😐A single person spends $1,081 per month in Surinam vs $1,069 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,754 per month in Surinam vs $1,712 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,427 per month in Surinam vs $2,356 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐Surinam costs about 1% more than Port Louis, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Surinam and Port Louis are more affordable than the global median – Surinam19% lower, Port Louis20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.55MUR 311
$6.59MUR 312
-0.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.63MUR 2,116
$44.79MUR 2,124
-0.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18MUR 341
$7.16MUR 339
0.28%
Cappuccino
$2.59MUR 123
$2.56MUR 121
1.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98MUR 46.27
$1.00MUR 47.52
-2.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.96
$0.56MUR 26.47
1.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23MUR 106
$2.25MUR 106
-0.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39MUR 161
$3.24MUR 154
4.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MUR 79.3
$1.63MUR 77.2
2.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 31.50
$0.65MUR 30.72
1.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MUR 59.9
$1.32MUR 62.6
-4.55%
Eggs
$2.34MUR 111
$2.22MUR 105
5.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.94MUR 566
$11.98MUR 568
-0.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.23MUR 295
$6.06MUR 287
2.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70MUR 602
$12.85MUR 609
-1.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08MUR 98.6
$2.03MUR 96.3
2.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97MUR 93.4
$2.00MUR 94.6
-1.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 68.5
$1.44MUR 68.4
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.74MUR 130
$2.66MUR 126
3.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MUR 48.46
$1.02MUR 48.44
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MUR 45.10
$1.01MUR 47.85
-5.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78MUR 37.21
$0.81MUR 38.24
-3.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MUR 35.35
$0.80MUR 37.98
-6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53MUR 309
$6.68MUR 317
-2.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.20MUR 389
$8.63MUR 409
-4.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78MUR 84.3
$1.80MUR 85.5
-1.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23MUR 106
$2.25MUR 107
-0.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00MUR 47.64
$1.03MUR 48.79
-2.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.00MUR 1,043
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45MUR 211
$4.37MUR 207
1.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.70MUR 128
$2.74MUR 130
-1.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.83MUR 940
$19.46MUR 923
1.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MUR 66.0
$1.44MUR 68.3
-3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KMUR 1.7M
$36.5KMUR 1.7M
-3.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KMUR 1.4M
$29.0KMUR 1.4M
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4MUR 2,388
$48.79MUR 2,313
3.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.62MUR 883
$18.55MUR 879
0.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.52MUR 1,589
$33.17MUR 1,573
1.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.53MUR 1,779
$24.33MUR 1,153
54.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$4.09MUR 194
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.98MUR 283
$5.92MUR 281
1.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157MUR 7,443
$152MUR 7,227
2.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,952MUR 187.4K
$3,933MUR 186.5K
0.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4MUR 4,098
$86.3MUR 4,093
0.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.0MUR 3,841
$80.4MUR 3,810
0.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133MUR 6,303
$132MUR 6,247
0.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2MUR 4,511
$96.4MUR 4,569
-1.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$520MUR 24.6K
$463MUR 21.9K
12.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$351MUR 16.6K
$349MUR 16.5K
0.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$966MUR 45.8K
$781MUR 37.0K
23.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713MUR 33.8K
$614MUR 29.1K
16.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,106MUR 194.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,078MUR 51.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MUR 32.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.67
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surinam: June 2, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Surinam versus $463 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 $45.00 in Surinam versus $45.00 in Port Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $232 – making Surinam 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
Which city is more expensive, Surinam or Port Louis?
Surinam costs about 1% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Surinam vs Port Louis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,622 per month in Surinam and $1,603 in Port Louis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Surinam 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 Surinam compared to Port Louis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,081 in Surinam and $1,069 in Port Louis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Surinam and Port Louis?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Surinam and $152 in Port Louis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Surinam or Port Louis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $1,069, than in Surinam at $1,081. In Port Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Surinam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Surinam or Port Louis?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Louis costs $1,069 versus $1,081 in Surinam. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Surinam 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 Surinam or Port Louis?
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.