If you’re wondering what the cost of living is here in Mauritius, here’s your answer. Let’s break this article into different sections: housing, banks, transportation, health, education and food. Hopefully, this will give you a good idea of what things cost.
We should start by saying that the average salary here in Mauritius is 21 000 Mauritian rupees.
Of course, the cost of living in Mauritius varies from person to person. This is just a very general guide for you so that you know what to expect.
Bank in Mauritius
List of the top banks in Mauritius.
- MCB
- ABSA
- Standard Bank
- HSBC
- Investec
Utility bills
The next topic is utility bills. Let’s start with electricity. Generally, the cost is between MUR 3000 and MUR 6000 for monthly electricity, depending on whether it’s summer. In the summer, there will be air conditioning, and if you have a pool, you’ll need to run the pool pump.
The water costs around MUR 300 to 500 a month on the island. Most people cook and heat their water with gas.
For the internet, the main provider here is Mauritius Telecom.
They have home internet packages ranging from 10 MBPS to 1 GBPS lines. Which will set you back MUR 800 to MUR 5800 per month. A 75-gigabyte data package for a cell phone is 315 rupees. A basic prepaid top-up package with someone like my.t is anything from 50 to 300 rupees.
If you want cable tv, the two main providers are DSTV and Canal +. Premium on DSTV is MUR 2800, and canal + or something similar would be MUR 2200.
Transportation in Mauritius
There are several ways to get around town, so it’s best to choose the one that works best for you. For example, public transport is available through buses, trains, and local taxis. There are a lot of people in Mauritius who take the bus to get to work, and it costs 35 rupees for a one-way ticket or a thousand rupees for a monthly pass. Taxi fares in Mauritius are not fixed. Before the trip, you should negotiate a price with the taxi driver if you intend on taking one. Additionally, always be aware of traffic conditions and obey the road rules. The cost of transportation should be around MUR 2600 to MUR 4400 per month in Mauritius.
Another option is to buy a car, but cars are very, very expensive. For example, a brand new Toyota Hilux double cab is over a million rupees, and a Suzuki Alto is MUR 360 000. You can also rent a car for around MUR 15000 per month. The current price of gasoline is 60 rupees per litre.
Buying a car also requires you to pay yearly insurance and road tax. This can be renewed every three, six, or twelve months.
Healthcare in Mauritius
There are public hospitals, free for all residents here, and private hospitals, which are naturally more expensive. Private clinics are generally modern and get their equipment through private investments. Therefore, medical tourism has experienced a boom in Mauritius.
There are several private hospitals on the island, including Darne and Welkin, and C-care labs that are popping up everywhere.
Education in Mauritius
In Mauritius, private and public schools are available and are compulsory for all kids from primary school all the way up to secondary school, so from primary to secondary school. Government schools follow the British education system, while private primary and secondary schools follow the IB program or the French education system.
Some of the best-known private schools in the area are Le Bocage, West Coast, Clavis, Alexandra House, and Telfair. Regarding schools, it’s also important to know that there are two rates there’s an ex-pat rate and a local Mauritian rate, so you’ll normally have to pay a deposit or a registration fee, and that fee will normally be higher if you’re an ex-pat.
Food in Mauritius
As for food, Mauritius has a great variety of food available, so you’ll never get bored eating out.
The locals are also happy to share their culinary experiences with you! I recommend mostly eating at the local markets and street food for the best quality and massive portions for affordable costs of MUR 130 to MUR 550 per meal in Mauritius.
Regarding food, Mauritius is all about fresh, local, and affordable options. Locals love to enjoy Indian and Creole cuisine and fresh fruits and vegetables. Seafood is also a popular dish, so it’s important to pack a healthy and balanced diet.
