You’ll need roughly €900 a month as a single expatriate and about €2,600 for a family of four to cover typical rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and schooling in Mauritius. Expect city one‑bedroom rent near €400 and three‑bed flats around €700, groceries from €100–€300, health insurance about €160/month, and school fees roughly €400 per child. Factor high car and utility costs when budgeting, and keep reading for detailed line‑item breakdowns and saving tips.
Overview of Monthly Expenses and Typical Budgets
While exact needs vary by lifestyle, you can plan around clear numbers: an expatriate typically spends about €900 monthly while a family of four averages €2,600. Use those anchors to build a practical Cost of Living breakdown.
Expect housing to dominate your monthly budget—city one-bedroom rents run about €400—then add food (roughly 50,000 MUR), transport (bus fares ~44 MUR; petrol ~69 MUR/l), and modest dining out (meal for four ≈ 4,000 MUR).
Factor in recurring healthcare and education: family health insurance about 8,000 MUR/month and schooling roughly 20,000 MUR per child.
Compare totals to the average salary you’d expect locally to judge affordability and savings potential.
If you’re planning relocation, model scenarios: single expatriate, dual-income couple, or family of four with one child in school. That lets you set a realistic monthly budget, prioritize expenses, and identify where to trim or invest for longer-term financial stability.
Housing and Utilities: Renting and Buying Prices
Budgeting for monthly living means you should next look closely at housing and utilities, since rent and energy costs will shape most of your spending.
Budgeting for monthly living starts with housing and utilities, since rent and energy shape most expenses.
You’ll find city-center rent for a one-bedroom studio averages 20,900 MUR (€400) monthly, while a three-bedroom runs about 36,550 MUR (€700). If you’re buying, expect roughly 135,750 MUR (€2,600) per m² in the center.
Utilities swing seasonally: electricity can reach 10,000 MUR in summer, water averages 500 MUR monthly.
- Small studio in city center: ~20,900 MUR/month
- Three-bedroom family flat: ~36,550 MUR/month
- Family house with pool/garden: from ~55,000 MUR/month
- Premium beach rentals: 100,000–230,000 MUR/month
- Utilities estimate: electricity up to 10,000 MUR; water ~500 MUR/month
Use these figures to project your housing budget and compare renting versus buying based on space needs, location, and peak utility costs.
Food, Groceries and Dining Out Costs
Because food makes up a big slice of monthly spending, you should plan on at least 50,000 MUR for groceries if you want a mix of meat and fresh produce, knowing imported items will push costs higher.
Expect a family restaurant meal to run about 4,000 MUR and a fast-food option like McDonald’s to cost roughly 125 MUR per person, while local staples such as 1 L of milk average €1.23.
You’ll find groceries split between affordable local produce and pricier imports, so build a weekly list prioritizing domestic items to control spend.
Dining out costs vary: casual local eateries are cheaper than tourist-focused restaurants.
If your monthly salary is modest, allocate roughly 10–15% to food initially, then adjust based on consumption and imported-item use.
Track receipts for two months to set a realistic grocery ceiling.
For families, compare supermarket chains and local markets each visit — small price differences add up across meat, dairy, and packaged goods.
Transportation, Healthcare and Education Expenses
Transportation, healthcare and education are the three cost centers that will shape your monthly budget in Mauritius: expect vehicle prices to be high (a new Ford Ranger can run ~1,500,000 MUR, a Suzuki Swift about 890,000 MUR).
You’ll face steep transportation costs up front for a car and ongoing costs for fuel, insurance and maintenance.
Healthcare insurance for expats averages ~8,000 MUR/month; GP visits run about 1,400 MUR each.
Education expenses are substantial: roughly 20,000 MUR per child monthly (40,000–45,000 MUR for two).
Balance these against monthly food budgets (at least 50,000 MUR if you include variety).
- Visualize buying a Suzuki Swift vs. a Ford Ranger for island driving.
- Picture monthly healthcare insurance statements and GP bills.
- Imagine school fee invoices stacking up each month.
- See your grocery receipts adding to the food budget baseline.
- Envision utility and mobile bills alongside transport and education costs.
Plan precisely: prioritize insurance and school payments before discretionary spending.
How Much You Need to Earn to Live Comfortably
Money matters: to live comfortably in Mauritius you’ll want roughly €1,200 per month as an expat, while a family of four should plan on about €2,600 monthly to cover rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and schooling. You’ll compare that to local wages — minimum ~16,500 MUR, average ~46,333 MUR — and see why the amount of money you earn matters. Expect rent (~€400 for a one‑bed city studio) to be your largest line item. Factor in health insurance, occasional private schooling, transport and a gym membership if you want to maintain lifestyle standards. With rupee depreciation, budget extra for imported goods.
| Item | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (1‑bed city) | €400 |
| Groceries & transport | €300 |
| Health insurance & schooling | €300–€700 |
| Gym membership & misc | €50–€150 |
Aim for €1,200+ as single, €2,600+ for family to live comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Rent in Mauritius per Month?
You’ll pay roughly €400 for a one-bedroom studio and €700 for a three-bedroom in city centers; rent prices vary, so review rental agreements, compare housing options, and use cost comparison to choose the most practical option.
Can Americans Live in Mauritius?
Yes — you can live in Mauritius: check visa requirements, tap the expat community, evaluate job opportunities versus average €1,200 salary and €900 living costs, plan health insurance, and prioritize cultural integration for practical, cost-focused relocation.
How Much Is a Gallon of Milk in Mauritius?
Right off the bat, a gallon of milk in Mauritius costs about €4.64 (≈240 MUR). You’ll see milk prices steady in local supermarkets; dairy products vary by brand, so use cost comparison for best deals.
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire Comfortably in Mauritius?
You’ll need about €900 monthly for an individual or €2,600 for a family; retirement savings should reflect cost analysis of lifestyle expenses, housing, food and medical care, so plan savings to cover those ongoing costs.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to move to Mauritius, expect monthly basics around $800–$1,200 for a modest lifestyle and $1,800+ for a comfortable one. Rent often drives costs: a one‑bed in Port Louis averages $400–$700. Curiously, groceries can be just 20–30% of your monthly spend, showing housing dominates budgets. Factor in transport, healthcare and schooling — aim to earn at least $2,000–$2,500/month net to live comfortably.
