How much does life in Mauritius cost? Short answer: less than in Western Europe for services, eating out and local produce, more for imported goods, and much less in taxes. Overall, most of our clients live as well as at home on an equivalent or lower budget. The detail line by line, with the orders of magnitude we see on the ground.
Food: affordable local, taxed imports
Local produce (fruit, vegetables, fresh fish from the market) is very affordable; imported goods (cheeses, wines, some meats) cost more than in Europe because of import charges. A litre of milk runs around Rs 60, and the weekly basket mostly depends on your share of imported products. The rule among settled expats: eat local during the week, treat yourself to the camembert at the weekend.
Housing: the item that depends on you
This is the most variable item: location, proximity to the sea, standard and services of the residence make all the difference. Expat areas such as Grand Baie or Tamarin post the highest rents; far gentler options appear a few kilometres from the lagoon. To get a feel at real market prices, browse our long-term rentals, from studio to family villa, and our region pages (North, West) which describe the atmosphere and budgets of each area.
Transport: the car is still king
Buses are very cheap but do not serve everywhere, nor at all hours. Most expats drive: expect around €1.40 per litre of petrol, reasonable insurance, but cars that cost more than in Europe to buy (imports oblige). Many of our clients buy second-hand locally.
Leisure: the lagoon is free
The beach, the lagoon and the hiking trails cost nothing, and that is the real Mauritian luxury. For the rest: a local restaurant costs a few euros, a good table between €20 and €40 per person, a guided outing (hiking, catamaran) between €40 and €60. Golf courses, sports clubs and water sports charge less than their European equivalents.
Taxes: the item where everything changes
This is where the Mauritian budget takes the lead: income tax capped at 20% (0% up to Rs 500,000 a year, around €10,000), no property tax, no council tax, no social levies on the French model. For the same spending budget, what is left at the end of the month is a different story. The details are in our expat tax guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is life cheaper than in Europe?
For services, labour, eating out and local produce, yes, markedly. Imported goods (cheeses, wines, cars) cost more. Overall, most of our clients find an equivalent or lower budget, for a lifestyle that does not compare.
And day-to-day taxes?
This is where the gap widens: income tax capped at 20% (0% up to Rs 500,000 a year), no property tax, no council tax, no social levies. The details are in our Mauritian tax guide.
How much does a year-round home cost?
It all depends on the region and the standard: browse our long-term rentals to get a feel at real market prices, from studio to family villa. The gentlest rents are found away from the most expat-heavy areas, as explained on our region pages.
To estimate your full relocation budget, write to us: we reply with observed figures, not internet averages.
