Horse racing in Mauritius - Maiden cup 2006 at Champ de Mars
Champ de Mars, Port Louis 1880. Signiert. Datiert (18) 80. Öl a…
Mauritius 5c stamp of 1954, Rempart mountain
Copper engraving (made in the Netherlands) showing Dutch activi…
Raphus cucullatus, Extinct. Plaster and wax model, made by taxi…
Battle of Grand Port
Visible are, from left to right:

HMS Iphi…

Mauritius

Indian Ocean
Climate
MUR
Currency
Moderate
Safety
Low
Cost of Living
English
Language
Country Information Mauritius

Mauritius is a vibrant island nation located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of the African continent. The country is part of the Mascarene Islands and is known for its stunning natural beauty, diverse cult...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average19% cheaper
Rent
MUR22,258Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
MUR375Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
MUR75.00Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
MUR44.00One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Mauritius Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 51/100, Mauritius offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Mauritius offers visa-free entry or visa on arrival (Visitor's Permit) for citizens of over 120 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most EU nations, allowing stays of up to 60 days for tourism or business. This permit is issued free of charge at airports or seaports upon presentation of a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond departure, proof of sufficient funds ($100 USD per day), confirmed accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter), and a...

Visa-free entry: 60 days
Digital Nomad Visa: 1 year
Work permits available
Retirement visa options
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Mauritius

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Location Intelligence for Mauritius
Cost of Living38.3

19% below EU avg

Safety50.7

22% below EU avg

Quality of Life116.8

25% below EU avg

Purchasing Power56.6

19% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Port Louis

Timezone

UTC+04:00

Area

2,040 km²

Population

1,265,740

Mauritius shows a purchasing power index of 57/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Mauritius

GDP

$12.90B

HDI

0.8

Quality of Life

51/100

+8 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

24/100

-18 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Mauritius. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Mauritius
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Very High

Very affordable with CPI of 38.6 (NYC=100). Groceries index 41.4 and restaurant prices 32.6 are significantly lower than developed nations, making daily expenses minimal.

Housing Market

Very Poor

Property prices average 20.5 years of household income, indicating severe affordability challenges. High property-to-income ratio makes homeownership difficult for average residents.

Average Income Levels

Very Poor

Purchasing power index of 56.4 is substantially below developed economies, indicating limited earning capacity and purchasing power relative to global standards.

Tax System

Good

Progressive income tax system with rates up to 25% on higher earners. VAT at 15% applies to most goods and services. Tax framework is relatively straightforward with reasonable compliance requirements.

Business Environment

Good

Mauritius maintains strong business fundamentals with investment-grade credit rating and pro-business reforms. Global Ratings affirmed stable outlook, though global headwinds and climate risks present challenges.

Social Security

Good

Comprehensive social safety net including public healthcare, pension system, and unemployment benefits. Government maintains social spending despite fiscal pressures, supporting vulnerable populations.

Work & Business in Mauritius
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Mauritius, a small tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean (2,040 km²), features a predominantly warm climate influenced by southeast trade winds and topography. It divides into windward (eastern/southern) tropical rainforest (Af) zones with high rainfall, leeward (western/northern) tropical savanna (Aw) areas with drier conditions, and a cooler, wetter central plateau with humid subtropical traits (Cfa/Cfb variations).

Climate
Tropical rainforest, Tropical savanna
Summer
24–30°C
Winter
18–24°C
Sunshine
2800+ hrs/yr

3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Mauritius

Life Expectancy

74.4

Population

1,265,740

Religions

Hinduism
48.5%
Christianity (Catholic)
26.3%
Islam
17.3%
Non-religious
0.7%

Ethnic Composition

Indian
67%
Creole
28%
Chinese
3%
French
2%
What Expats Say About MauritiusBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Mauritius. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Mauritius
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Mauritius
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Mauritius
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Mauritius is a stable parliamentary republic with a new Labour Party-led government under Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam following the November 2024 elections. The government is implementing reforms in economic policy, infrastructure, and social services as outlined in the 2025-2029 programme. The country maintains strong democratic institutions and regular peaceful power transitions.

System
Parliamentary republic
Democracy
Full Democracy
Legal System
Mixed legal system of French civil law and English common law
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Mauritius
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Mauritius flag
Mauritius at a Glance

Capital

Port Louis

Languages

English, French, Mauritian Creole

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Mauritius

Population

1,265,740

Currency

MUR

Timezone

UTC+04:00

Calling Code

+230

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

36.8 (2017)

Traffic side

left side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.