Seychelles, Mahé Island
Seychelles, Mahé Island
Cutting open young coconuts for drinking, Seychelles
The parish church of St. Francis at Baie Lazare, Mahé Island, S…
Mahe Beach, Seychelles
The spectacular beach of Grand Anse on the island of La Digue, …

Seychelles

N/A
Climate
SCR
Currency
Moderate
Safety
High
Cost of Living
Seychellois Creole
Language
Country Information Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelagic nation located in the Indian Ocean, situated off the eastern coast of Africa. Comprised of 115 islands, this small island state is known for its extraordinary natural beauty, with pristine beaches, lush tropical landscap...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average29% more expensive
Rent
SCR13,500Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
SCR218Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
SCR29.74Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
SCR11.39One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Seychelles 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 55/100, Seychelles offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Seychelles maintains a visa-free entry policy for all nationalities, welcoming travelers from around the world without requiring advance visa approval.[2][5] However, all international visitors must complete a mandatory Travel Authorization (TA) before arrival, which is distinct from a traditional visa. This authorization costs €10.90 (standard processing) and can be obtained through the online platform seychelles.govtas.com or the Seychelles E-Border mobile app.[1][4] The Travel Authorization application can be submitted up to 30 days before arrival, with standard processing taking up to...

Tourism
Work & Business
Long-term Stay
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Seychelles

Create your free profile to see personalized match scores.

Location Intelligence for Seychelles
Cost of Living60.6

29% above EU avg

Safety55.0

15% below EU avg

Quality of Life138.7

10% below EU avg

Purchasing Power34.6

51% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Victoria

Timezone

UTC+04:00

Area

452 km²

Population

98,462

Seychelles shows a purchasing power index of 35/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Seychelles

GDP

$1.59B

HDI

0.8

Quality of Life

60/100

+17 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

14/100

-28 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Seychelles. 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:
Seychelles
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Moderate

Moderate costs with CPI of 67.2 (NYC baseline 100). Groceries index at 76.9 and restaurant prices at 70.9 indicate mid-range pricing for island economy.

Housing Market

Excellent

Very affordable housing with property-to-income ratio of 4.8 years. Rent index of 28.1 shows particularly low rental costs relative to income levels.

Average Income Levels

Very Poor

Low purchasing power index of 33.96 indicates limited buying capacity. Income levels are substantially below developed economy standards despite stable employment.

Tax System

Good

Seychelles operates a progressive income tax system with focus on revenue mobilization and fiscal consolidation. Digital modernization of tax administration and transfer pricing reforms underway to enhance compliance.

Business Environment

Good

Strong offshore business sector with over 200,000 registered international companies. Blue economy focus and structural reforms support entrepreneurship, though limited land and labor constrain growth.

Social Security

Good

Poverty declining to 7.4% (2025 projection) with public sector wage increases and redistributive spending. Social programs supported by fiscal consolidation and primary budget surplus of 3.2% GDP (2024).

Work & Business in Seychelles
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

Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, features a uniform tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) across its small land area of 459 km². Temperatures remain consistently warm year-round, averaging 26-30°C with minimal seasonal variation, ideal for beach living and outdoor activities.

Climate
Tropical rainforest
Summer
27–31°C
Winter
24–29°C
Sunshine
2500+ hrs/yr

2 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Seychelles

Life Expectancy

74.3

Population

98,462

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)
76.2%
Christianity (Protestant)
10.5%
Christianity (Anglican)
6.1%
Hinduism
2.4%
Islam
1.6%

Ethnic Composition

[[Seychellois Creole people
97%
What Expats Say About SeychellesBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Seychelles. 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 Seychelles
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Seychelles
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Seychelles
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Seychelles is a presidential republic and the 43rd-ranked electoral democracy worldwide, holding the distinction of being Africa's 1st-ranked liberal democracy. The country operates under a unicameral National Assembly with 35 members and has demonstrated democratic resilience through peaceful transfers of power, most notably in 2020 when Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party won the presidency.

System
Presidential Republic
Democracy
Electoral Democracy
Legal System
Mixed legal system based on English common law
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Seychelles
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Seychelles flag
Seychelles at a Glance

Capital

Victoria

Languages

Seychellois Creole, English, French

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Seychelles

Population

98,462

Currency

SCR

Timezone

UTC+04:00

Calling Code

+248

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

32.1 (2018)

Traffic side

left side

Location

Map coordinates not available for this 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.