You’ll need roughly €1,650 a month as a single person and about €5,550 for a family of four, with rent eating up around two‑thirds of the average gross salary. Expect one‑room city‑center apartments near €800, high grocery and dining costs due to imports, cheap buses and pricey taxis/ferries, and private GP visits from ~€50. Utilities and internet add a significant monthly chunk, so plan carefully — keep going and you’ll get detailed line‑item costs and saving tips.

Overview of Average Monthly Expenses for Individuals and Families

Although the Seychelles’ island lifestyle appeals to many, you’ll need a substantial budget: a single person typically spends about €1,650 per month while a family of four requires roughly €5,550.

Although island life in the Seychelles is tempting, plan for significant costs—about €1,650 monthly for one, €5,550 for four.

When you compare those figures to the average gross salary of about €1,200, the gap becomes clear: the average cost of living outpaces typical income, so you’ll need savings or supplemental earnings.

You should expect accommodation to dominate spending—one-room city-center rent averages €800, with other areas ranging €710–€1,650—while transport adds incremental costs (bus trips ~€0.70, taxi base ~€6).

Healthcare is another notable line item: GP visits run about €50 and specialists €100.

For living in the Seychelles, plan a budget that prioritizes rent and contingency for medical and transport spikes.

If you’re managing finances for a family of four, allocate roughly a third to housing, a fifth to food and utilities, and keep an emergency buffer to cover the income-to-cost shortfall.

Housing and Rental Prices Across the Islands

Expect to pay around €800 a month for a one-room apartment in Victoria’s city center, with Mahé generally commanding the highest rents across the islands due to stronger infrastructure and expat demand.

If you’re budgeting for Living in Seychelles, factor that Mahé’s premium reflects better roads, services and employer hubs, so rent pressure is predictable.

Seychelles compared to outer islands shows clear variance: apartments outside Victoria are noticeably cheaper, giving budget-conscious renters practical alternatives without sacrificing basic access.

Purchase prices average 9,700–13,000 SCR (€600–€800) per square meter, useful if you’re weighing buy vs. rent in long-term plans.

Expats often choose Mahé, which sustains demand and keeps market liquidity higher there.

For strict budgets, targeting non-central Victoria units or smaller islands can cut monthly housing costs substantially.

Use island-level comparisons and these benchmarks to model your housing allocation and monthly expense forecasts.

Food, Groceries and Dining Out Costs

Expect lunch to run about €15 per person and dinner for two near €44, so you’ll quickly see dining out is pricier than in many countries.

Grocery bills are higher because of imports, but buying local fish, shopping markets, and cooking at home or picnicking can cut costs substantially.

Compare menus and shop local to stretch your food budget without sacrificing quality.

Dining Out Price Ranges

One quick way to gauge dining costs in Seychelles is to compare common meals: a typical lunch runs about $15.30, a fast-food meal averages $11.80 (nearly the same as the US at $11.50), and dinner for two sits around $43.80. You’ll find fish and takeaway options are often the most budget-friendly choices, and eating at local markets can lower costs versus tourist restaurants. Imported items at eateries push prices up, so prioritize venues using local produce. Below is a compact cost snapshot to help you plan:

Grocery Shopping Tips

If you want to cut food costs beyond the restaurant menu—where lunch averages $15.30 and dinners for two run about $43.80—then shopping smart matters.

Grocery prices in Seychelles skew high because many items are imported, so compare prices: supermarkets vs local markets. You’ll often save on fresh produce and seafood at markets; locally caught fish and seasonal fruit can undercut supermarket prices by a noticeable margin.

Fast food sits around $11.80—useful for occasional convenience but pricey if daily. Cooking at home with staples bought from local shops lowers per-meal costs substantially compared with dining out.

Talk to residents: they’ll point you to the best stalls and shop days. Budget by planning weekly menus around market bargains and you’ll reduce food spending reliably.

Transportation and Inter‑Island Travel Expenses

Although buses are the cheapest option at 13 SCR (€0.70) per trip, you’ll often weigh convenience against cost since taxis start at 97 SCR (€6) plus 29 SCR (€1.80) per kilometer and add 290 SCR (€18) per hour for waiting.

Inter-island travel is considerably pricier — ferries between Mahé and Praslin run about 965 SCR (€60) one-way and even with resident discounts on Air Seychelles flights you should compare door-to-door time and total fare before choosing.

You’ll budget by comparing unit costs and time. A 10 km taxi trip (97 + 10×29 = 387 SCR/€24) can match several bus rides, so reserve taxis for off-hours or group travel.

For inter-island trips, factor in transfer taxis, wait times and luggage fees.

1. Short commutes: bus 13 SCR vs taxi 97+29/km — pick bus when schedules work.
2. Island hops: ferry ~965 SCR one-way; check Air Seychelles resident fares for savings.
3. Time vs money: calculate total door-to-door cost (fare + waiting + transfers) before booking.

Healthcare, Insurance and Medical Costs

Because private care is substantially pricier than public options, you should budget for medical costs and insurance before moving to the Seychelles: a GP visit in private practice runs about 800 SCR (€50) while specialists can reach 1,600 SCR (€100) and emergency consultations about 2,400 SCR (€150), versus roughly 250 SCR (€15.50) for comparable public hospital GP visits.

You’ll save by using public facilities for routine care, but private clinics and teleconsultations (about 1,600 SCR/€100) are useful for convenience and specialist access.

For budgeting, assume a mix: two private GP visits and one specialist or emergency reserve annually pushes out-of-pocket to roughly 3,200–4,800 SCR (€200–€300) without insurance.

Health insurance reduces variability and caps high-cost events; expatriates are advised to compare plans that cover private providers and evacuation if needed.

Factor premiums, co-pays and network limitations into your annual cost model to avoid unexpected medical spending.

Utilities, Internet and Household Services

You’ll want to budget about $126 monthly for electricity, water and garbage, noting electricity can spike during peak usage.

Expect to pay roughly $137 a month for 50 Mbps+ internet, with urban areas generally offering more reliable and competitive options than remote islands.

Also factor in costs for domestic help and household services, which vary but can be a meaningful part of monthly expenses compared with similar-sized economies.

Electricity and Water Costs

When you budget for utilities in the Seychelles, expect an average monthly bill of about $126 for electricity, water and basic services, with electricity rates noticeably higher than in many other countries and water usually bundled into that total (though extra usage can add charges).

You’re paying less than the US average utility bill of about $193, but higher per-unit electricity pushes costs up relative to many places.

For budgeting:

1. Monitor electricity consumption closely — higher rates mean air conditioning and hot water drive most variance.
2. Treat water as bundled but cap usage — overages incur additional charges, especially for irrigation or leaks.
3. Compare appliance efficiency and consider solar options to reduce monthly $126 baseline and exposure to rate increases.

Internet Speed and Pricing

Although island geography limits infrastructure, internet in the Seychelles runs at a premium: a 50+ Mbps plan averages about $137/month versus roughly $67.50 in the U.S., so expect to pay roughly double for comparable speeds. You should budget accordingly: internet is essential for work and staying connected, but speeds vary and outages occur more often than on mainlands. Monthly utilities for a family average around $126 and typically include internet, so factor that into housing costs. If you need reliable high-speed service, compare providers and consider redundancy (mobile data as backup). Expect trade-offs between price and consistency; cheaper plans may not support heavy video conferencing or streaming.

Domestic Help and Services

One clear cost to plan for is monthly utilities and connectivity: families typically pay about $126 for basic utilities (electricity, water, garbage, heating/cooling) while a 50+ Mbps internet plan runs around $137, roughly double U.S. prices for comparable speeds.

You’ll want to budget for both predictable bills and variable household services. Domestic help costs vary widely by task and hours; cleaning or gardening from local providers is common but depends on labor availability.

Internet reliability also varies by island and neighborhood, affecting value.

1. Budget: plan ~$263/month for utilities + internet as a baseline, then add service costs.
2. Variability: domestic help rates fluctuate; get local quotes.
3. Trade-offs: you may pay more for reliability or convenience.

Salaries, Purchasing Power and Budgeting for Expats

If you plan to live in the Seychelles, budget carefully: the average gross salary is only about €1,200 per month while a modest single-person budget runs near €1,650 and a family of four needs roughly €5,550 to cover rent, shopping, transport, healthcare and leisure.

With average wages below a single-person budget, you’ll likely need supplemental income, savings, or employer-provided housing. Rent is a major drain: a one-room city-center apartment averages €800, consuming two-thirds of average gross pay.

Purchasing power is constrained—overall costs run up to 180% higher than in Madagascar and about 38% higher than in Mauritius—so your euros won’t stretch as far.

For realistic planning, itemize fixed costs (rent, utilities, insurance) versus variable costs (food, transport, leisure), target a buffer of 20–30% for price volatility, and assess employer benefits like housing, schooling, or health coverage.

Compare shortlisted neighborhoods and salary offers in detail before committing.

Cost of Living Compared to Nearby Countries and the United States

Having compared salaries and typical budgets, you’ll also want to see how Seychelles costs stack up regionally and against the U.S. to set realistic expectations and negotiate pay or savings plans.

The picture is mixed: rent drives a roughly 38% higher overall cost than Mauritius (studio in Victoria ~£750 vs £400), while Seychelles can be up to 180% costlier than Madagascar, even though Madagascar’s average salary (~€3,000/yr) is far below Seychelles (~€14,500/yr).

Compare specifics to guide decisions:

1. Housing and rent: Expect substantially higher accommodation costs in Seychelles versus nearby islands, so prioritize rental stipends or shared housing in your budget.
2. Daily expenses and dining: Lunch averages $15.3 in Seychelles vs $19.5 in the U.S., making casual eating competitive for visitors but still impactful for locals.
3. Utilities and transport: Monthly utilities (~$126/family) and local fares ($0.74) are lower than U.S. equivalents ($193; $2.35), easing recurring-cost pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Seychelles?

You’ll need about €1,650 monthly as a single person and roughly €5,550 for a family of four; those figures beat the €1,200 average salary, so you’ll likely need savings or higher income to cover rent and essentials.

Can a US Citizen Live in the Seychelles?

Yes — you can live in the Seychelles as a US citizen, but you’ll need a visa or residence permit. Expect high living costs (~€1,650/month), pricey rent (~€800), and plan budgets using SCR for better rates.

How Much Is a Bottle of Coke in Seychelles?

A bottle of Coke in Seychelles costs about 25 SCR (€1.55) in stores, often pricier in restaurants; it’s roughly 20% costlier than in the U.S., with supermarkets and local brands offering cheaper bulk or alternative options.

Is Seychelles a Good Place to Live?

Absolutely — you’ll adore island life, but it’s pricey. Data shows higher living costs versus neighbors; budgets often need €1,650 single or €5,550 family. Mahé gives better services, yet rents and dining strain many incomes.

Conclusion

You’ll find living in the Seychelles is pricier than many nearby Indian Ocean islands: groceries can be about 30–40% higher than Mauritius, and overall consumer prices run roughly 20–25% above Mauritius and about 15% higher than the US (excluding rent). If you’re budgeting, note this eye‑catcher: average monthly rent for a one‑bed in Victoria is roughly SCR 9,000–12,000 (~USD 650–870). Plan accordingly—prioritize housing and food in your budget.