Mauritius

Cost of living in Mauritius: everything you need to know

Anahita Mauritius04.3K views
Expatriating to Mauritius… More than a dream, it is a whole project that is taking shape in your mind. A change of life that certainly entails several questions: what is the cost of living in Mauritius? Where to settle, how to get around and what budget to plan for a pleasant life there? The information below will help you plan your move.

Expatriating to Mauritius: what you should know before getting started

Where to live?

You have already found a job or laid the foundations of an entrepreneurial project in Mauritius, started the process of transporting your furniture via a carrier and perhaps even thought about how to import your pet… But one question remains: where to live?

While all regions of the island have their own assets, each offers its own unique lifestyle:

  • The centre of the island delights young professionals looking for a dynamic urban lifestyle, close to all amenities.
  • The north and west are now well developed and are the meeting place for expatriates looking for the ideal compromise between seaside life and the big cities.
  • The south and east’s wild and authentic beauty attract those looking for space and connection to nature, without compromising on comfort. Luxury residential estates, such as Anahita Mauritius opted for these regions for these specific assets.

There are two options for expatriates: renting a property or investing in real estate Mauritius. Renting has some advantages, such as being able to live by the sea at a relatively affordable rate. For example, for a three-bedroom seafront house, you can expect to pay from €2,000 per month – depending on the level of comfort required and the property’s location.

Real estate investment, on the other hand, is very interesting: in addition to tax advantages (such as the non-taxation of capital gains on resale, for example), it will allow you to access the Mauritian resident status. Indeed, for any investment above USD 375,000, you can apply for permanent residency and benefit from its tax advantages – while being exempted from additional permits to live and work in Mauritius.

How to get around ?

If nothing is ever far away thanks to the island’s main roads, getting around is not a trivial matter. Public transport, despite being the cheapest option (about €0.75 per trip), is not the best one as it does not serve the entire island. Taxis are an expensive in the long run (about €2.5 per kilometre), and not always the most practical solution.
Therefore, it is recommended to get used to left hand driving and to take the wheel. The easiest way to start is to rent a car with an accredited provider, as from €20 for the smallest ones. This shall help you to get used to driving in Mauritius while discovering the island at your own pace. Once you are ready, you can purchase your own vehicle. However, it should be noted that prices are higher than in Europe: a new car will cost you at least €20,000, and a second-hand car between €5,000 and €20,000. Petrol prices have risen along with the rest of the world and is therefore a significant expense.

Cost of living: everyday expenses and leisure

How much are the daily expenses?

Mauritius provides expats with the opportunity to find a lifestyle equivalent to, if not better than the Western world including leisure, services, amenities, health, schooling… Thanks to its many influences, the country has been able to draw the best from each continent to shape a fantastic lifestyle and quality services to meet all of the residents’ needs
For example, there are private schools affiliated with French and English institutions in different parts of the island. They are renowned for their excellent standards but getting in comes at a price: registration fees range from €600 to €1,000, with an additional €300 to €400 per month required for each child.
The health sector also benefits from Mauritius’ openness to the world as the doctors in private clinics and hospitals are mainly trained in India and Europe and offer a wide range of specialisations to cover all the needs. Consultations in private clinics are not free of charge but can be partially or fully covered by a health insurance. There is a wide choice of local private health insurances such as Swan or MUA, who are renowned for their wide selection of offers.
To make your daily life more pleasant, you can also hire domestic staff. Gardeners, cleaning staff, childcare: there are several qualified profiles to accompany you on a daily basis. You can expect to pay from €1.5 to €5 per hour, depending on the required profile.

 

Last but not least: grocery shopping. In Mauritius, you will be pleased to find most of the products you are familiar with. The country has several supermarkets and even hypermarkets across the island, with wide selection of products – from fruit and vegetables imported from South Africa to major international brands. The average cost is high (+25% compared to France, for example), as it is the case for any island, which relies mainly on importation to cater for the population’s needs.

What about leisure?

Mauritius is a paradise for sports enthusiasts through its lush nature and large lagoons, perfect for adventurers and explorers in search of thrills. Hence, you will have many free options: swimming, hiking, jogging along with a plethora of paid activities to try new experiences. They include horse riding as from €35 per hour, surf as from €80 per lesson or golfing.

In fact, playing golf on the island is a real pleasure, with around ten 18-holes courses and tee-times as from €50 for Mauritius residents, which promotes golfing around the island.

There are plenty of options to stay busy during the weekends. If you are a fan of sea-outings, you can treat yourself to a catamaran day trip on the lagoon from €50 or book a private boat from €400 per day. For rainy days, there is nothing like a movie (€5 for a ticket) followed by a shopping spree in one of the island’s shopping centres offering international brands, ending with dinner in a restaurant (from €15 to €20 per person, excluding alcoholic beverages).
To taste the island’s culinary specialities, the local street food is a must try for as cheap as €1 a meal. If you are a culture amateur, concerts and festivals are regularly organised all over the island (from €10 per ticket excluding drinks) to enjoy the young local artists’ music and share memorable experiences!
We hope that this information will help you plan your expatriation project in Mauritius with serenity and will convince you to take the plunge and come and live in this beautiful and welcoming country. See you soon on our shores!

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