😐A single person spends $1,061 per month in Surinam vs $1,052 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,713 per month in Surinam vs $1,668 in Port Louis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,364 per month in Surinam vs $2,284 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 – Surinam21% lower, Port Louis21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.70MUR 316
$6.76MUR 318
-0.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.40MUR 2,045
$43.63MUR 2,056
-0.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12MUR 336
$7.07MUR 333
0.71%
Cappuccino
$2.58MUR 122
$2.65MUR 125
-2.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03MUR 48.40
$0.94MUR 44.51
9.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.95
$0.61MUR 28.62
-3.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.17MUR 102
$2.19MUR 103
-0.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35MUR 158
$3.20MUR 151
4.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MUR 77.6
$1.69MUR 79.6
-2.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 31.08
$0.66MUR 30.95
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MUR 62.2
$1.27MUR 59.8
3.94%
Eggs
$2.25MUR 106
$2.27MUR 107
-0.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.97MUR 564
$11.66MUR 549
2.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26MUR 295
$6.23MUR 293
0.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.46MUR 587
$12.63MUR 595
-1.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05MUR 96.6
$1.98MUR 93.2
3.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93MUR 90.8
$2.01MUR 95.0
-3.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49MUR 70.4
$1.48MUR 69.8
0.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63MUR 124
$2.61MUR 123
0.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.77
$1.03MUR 48.50
-3.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 47.33
$0.94MUR 44.18
6.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MUR 37.65
$0.83MUR 39.25
-3.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MUR 35.23
$0.76MUR 35.71
-1.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65MUR 314
$6.56MUR 309
1.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.26MUR 389
$8.24MUR 388
0.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MUR 80.6
$1.71MUR 80.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22MUR 105
$2.16MUR 102
2.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05MUR 49.41
$1.02MUR 48.00
2.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.90MUR 1,032
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.44MUR 209
$4.47MUR 211
-0.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.75MUR 130
$2.62MUR 123
4.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.19MUR 952
$20.10MUR 947
0.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MUR 69.2
$1.39MUR 65.5
5.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KMUR 1.7M
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
$28.6KMUR 1.3M
-0.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4MUR 2,376
$50.3MUR 2,370
0.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.45MUR 870
$18.27MUR 861
0.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.41MUR 1,574
$34.22MUR 1,613
-2.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.91MUR 1,787
$24.24MUR 1,142
56.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.96MUR 187
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20MUR 292
$5.92MUR 279
4.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156MUR 7,344
$155MUR 7,301
0.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,017MUR 189.3K
$3,940MUR 185.7K
1.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.7MUR 3,946
$84.4MUR 3,977
-0.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.1MUR 3,820
$79.1MUR 3,730
2.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134MUR 6,304
$131MUR 6,192
1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4MUR 4,447
$96.4MUR 4,545
-2.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516MUR 24.3K
$458MUR 21.6K
12.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MUR 16.3K
$352MUR 16.6K
-1.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$939MUR 44.2K
$785MUR 37.0K
19.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716MUR 33.8K
$616MUR 29.0K
16.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,113MUR 193.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,073MUR 50.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surinam
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$698MUR 32.9K
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $516 in Surinam versus $458 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 $43.00 in Surinam versus $44.00 in Port Louis. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Surinam vs $229 in Port Louis – so Port Louis wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 and in Port Louis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,591 per month in Surinam and $1,578 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 $1,061 in Surinam and $1,052 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 in Port Louis?
Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Surinam and $155 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 in Port Louis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Louis, where all-in costs run around $1,052, than in Surinam at $1,061. 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 $1,052 versus $1,061 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 to 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.