What is the cost of living in Mauritius ?

The cost of living in Mauritius

The cost of living in Mauritius is 37% lower than in France. Rents are cheaper, food is cheaper and taxes are even cheaper. But paradoxically, your expenses will be high. Indeed, besides the fact that your western lifestyle will weigh on your budget, the granting of the residence permit is conditional to the fact that you spend annually on the island a certain amount according to your residence/occupancy permit, or failing that, that you acquire a property with a minimum value of 500.000 US$.

On the other hand, the life of the premises and their level of comfort is a little distant and different from what you are used to.

With a 'correct' apartment, a varied diet and outings, count on a budget of about 800€ per month. By way of comparison, the cost of living in Mauritius is as high as in Southern Europe (Portugal, Greece).

Products and services cheaper than in France are those using local labor: fresh food, personal services, most leisure activities outside tourist areas, public transport, as well as some products less taxed than in France such as fuel or cigarettes.

Products as expensive as in France are those imported from China: clothing, household appliances, audio/video products, telephones, sports equipment, DIY equipment, etc.

Products and services that are more expensive than in France are cheeses, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics of major French brands, unprocessed food products in Mauritius-based factories, and private health services, which require contributions to the Caisse des Français de l'étranger and a complementary mutual insurance company at high rates.

The value of real estate

Foreigners are allowed to acquire real estate in Mauritius, but the granting of a permanent residence permit is conditional on the purchase of a property with a minimum value of US$ 500,000. In Mauritius, as in France, the price per square meter depends on the location of the property, the quality of its construction and the services offered (swimming pool, security...). That being said, the prices for buying and renting real estate are much lower than in France (French Riviera or Corsica).

BARNES Mauritius is at your side to help you realize your real estate projects from A to Z. Do not hesitate to contact us!

Budgeting for expatriation to Mauritius

We are now ready to expatriate to Mauritius! Yes, but in order to settle down in the best conditions, it is recommended, even necessary, to plan a budget covering all the expatriation expenses.

Indeed, you must be sure to have the necessary funds to assume your new life abroad. Yes, despite what you might think, it will probably be difficult to maintain your current lifestyle in Mauritius... Some expenses will be quite significant and will force you to adapt your budget differently. It is important to remember that the matter of budget is specific to each person and to each family, but this article will help you understand the global budget you will need for your expatriation on the island.

TRAVEL : AIRLINE TICKETS

First of all, an important budget will be devoted to airline tickets. Located about 10,000 km from Europe and more than 10 hours flight from France, the price of airline tickets varies depending on the company, the advance booking time and the flight time, the layovers, the economic and health situation...

Several companies operate flights to Mauritius such as Air France, Air Mauritius, Emirates or Turkish Airlines. However, be careful because not all companies are authorized to serve Mauritius during the health crisis. Count between 750 and 1300 € for a return flight.

You must also consider the cost of flight tickets if you plan to return to Europe to visit your family and friends who are still living there. Please note that airfare during the holiday season is 20% more expensive than the rest of the year, due to the tourist season.

MOVING FURNITURE

If you wish to move in with all your furniture, you will have to rent a container, which will be transported by boat in about 1 month. The price of a full container is approximately 7000 €. It is also possible to share a container with other expatriates to reduce the costs. The price will then be between 2000 and 5000 €, depending on the number of m² you need.

Most apartments or houses are available for rent already fully furnished. You will certainly not have to bring your own furniture. However, if you prefer to buy furniture on site, you will find a wide range of furniture in Mauritius, whether or not it is offered by local craftsmen.

ACCOMMODATION

Once again, the price of housing varies depending on the size of the property and its location. Waterfront villas are very popular and therefore much more expensive than inland villas.

The price also varies widely depending on the region you choose, with the two most popular regions being the North and the West.

Sometimes charges such as water, electricity, pool maintenance, cleaning lady etc. are included in the rental. You will certainly find what you are looking for among the long-term rental properties that BARNES Mauritius offers. Whether you are looking for a villa or a penthouse on the water or on a golf course, or even a house or an apartment in the center of town, our BARNES Mauritius teams, present in each region of the island, are at your disposal to assist you in your search for accommodation.

CAR

To get around the island, we strongly recommend that you rent or buy a car. Public transportation does exist, but you will make it more difficult for yourself. On average, renting a car costs about 350 € /month. You can also buy a new car from 10,000 €, or a second-hand one from 5,000 €.

HEALTH

It is highly recommended that you subscribe to a health insurance to support you in your new life. You can choose between local insurance companies or, if you are French, you can join the CFE (Caisse des Français de l'Étranger) which will allow you to obtain health coverage but also to contribute for your retirement in France. On the other hand, since hospital stays are quite expensive, you may have to subscribe to a mutual health insurance in order to be better covered in case of problems.

SCHOOLS

When you think about children, you think about schooling! Private schools in Mauritius are quite expensive. You can choose between private French schools or international schools, the latter being more expensive. Approximately, count between 250 € and 500 € /month for a child.

ACTIVITIES

Activities on the island such as restaurants, diving, boat trips are not overpriced. For a good restaurant, you can get by for 15 € maximum and if you decide to eat local, 6 € approximately. The activities are around 20 € each, for the day. Of course, most of the activities you will be able to do such as nature hikes or beach days are completely free.

DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES

In addition to the expenses mentioned above, you will have to take into account daily expenses such as groceries, phone package, clothing and hygiene products, etc. These expenses vary widely depending on the expatriate's profile.

To sum up, expatriating to Mauritius represents a certain budget but with a good management of it, you will be able to get by for sure! Of course, the rates are approximate and are specific to each person.

Our BARNES teams are at your disposal to assist you and advise you on your expatriation project in Mauritius.