Are you planning a trip to Mauritius? Here’s a breakdown of what it’ll actually cost you, from daily budgets and currency tips to hidden fees and money-saving hacks.
Your Mauritius Currency Guide
Is Mauritius Expensive? (2026 Cost Guide)
💸 Quick Answer
Mauritius sits in the middle. Not as expensive as you’d expect for a luxury Indian Ocean destination, but not cheap either.
| Travel Style | Daily Budget (USD) | Daily Budget (MUR) |
|---|---|---|
| 🎒 Budget | $50 – $80 | MUR 2,350 – 3,750 |
| 🧳 Mid-range | $110 – $200 | MUR 5,150 – 9,370 |
| 💎 Luxury | $300 – $800+ | MUR 14,000 – 37,500+ |
👉 The key is where you eat vs where you sleep. Hotels can be expensive; food doesn’t have to be.
💱 Currency & Money Tips
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Currency | Mauritian Rupee (MUR) |
| Symbol | Rs |
| 1 USD | ≈ MUR 47 |
| 1 EUR | ≈ MUR 55 |
| 1 GBP | ≈ MUR 64 |
| Cards | ✅ Widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, restaurants |
| ATMs | ✅ Available across the island |
| ATM Fees | ~2–3% depending on your bank |
Exchange rates sourced from the Bank of Mauritius, May 2026. Rates fluctuate — check bom.mu for live rates before you travel.
Mauritian Rupee notes come in denominations of Rs 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000. Coins: Rs 1, 5, 10, and 20. There are 100 cents in one rupee, with 5, 20, and 50 cent coins still in circulation.
💡 Smart Money Tips
- Withdraw MUR from ATMs on arrival — rates are better than pre-travel exchange
- Use Wise or Revolut to cut fees on card payments
- Carry cash for street food, markets, and buses — small vendors rarely take cards
- Most tourist restaurants and hotels accept Euros and USD, but your change comes back in MUR at an unfavourable rate
- Exchange desks at the airport are open 24 hours and are a reasonable first port of call — but compare a few rates before committing
🛂 Proof of Funds
- Required on arrival at immigration
- The benchmark is USD $100 per day of your intended stay
- Show via bank statement, card access, or cash on hand
- Not always checked for EU/UK/Australian passport holders, but the requirement exists — have something ready
🏨 Accommodation Costs
| Type | USD per night | MUR per night |
|---|---|---|
| 🏕️ Budget guesthouse / hostel | $25 – $55 | MUR 1,175 – 2,580 |
| 🏨 Mid-range hotel (3-star) | $80 – $180 | MUR 3,750 – 8,440 |
| 🌴 Upscale hotel (4-star) | $180 – $350 | MUR 8,440 – 16,400 |
| 💎 Luxury beach resort (5-star) | $350 – $800+ | MUR 16,400 – 37,500+ |
💡 Self-catering apartments in Flic en Flac, Pereybere, or Trou aux Biches offer the best value — beach access without the resort price tag.
🍽️ Food & Drink Prices
🍛 Meals
| Item | USD | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Street food (dholl puri, roti) | $0.50 – $1.00 | MUR 25 – 50 |
| Local canteen lunch (curry, rice) | $3 – $6 | MUR 150 – 280 |
| Inexpensive restaurant (1 person) | $6 – $10 | MUR 280 – 470 |
| Mid-range restaurant (2 people, 3 courses) | $35 – $55 | MUR 1,650 – 2,580 |
| Tourist / beachfront dining (per person) | $15 – $55 | MUR 700 – 2,580 |
| Resort fine dining (per person) | $40 – $80+ | MUR 1,875 – 3,750+ |
☕ Drinks
| Item | USD | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | ~$1.55 | ~MUR 72 |
| Cappuccino | ~$2.20 | ~MUR 102 |
| Soft drink | $1.30 – $1.80 | MUR 60 – 85 |
| Bottled water (0.33L, restaurant) | ~$0.70 | ~MUR 32 |
| Bottled water (supermarket) | $0.40 – $0.90 | MUR 20 – 42 |
🍺 Alcohol
| Item | USD | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix beer – local bar (0.5L) | ~$2.15 | ~MUR 100 |
| Phoenix beer – supermarket | $1.00 – $1.50 | MUR 47 – 70 |
| Imported beer – bar | $3.50 – $5.50 | MUR 165 – 260 |
| Cocktail | $6.50 – $13 | MUR 300 – 610 |
| Wine (glass, restaurant) | $5.50 – $10 | MUR 260 – 470 |
| Local rum (supermarket bottle) | $8 – $15 | MUR 375 – 700 |
👉 Phoenix is the local beer and it’s good. Ordering imported brands at a resort will cost you two to three times more for no meaningful upgrade.
🚌 Transport Costs
| Transport | USD | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Public bus (short ride) | $0.30 – $0.65 | MUR 15 – 30 |
| Metro Express (Port Louis–Curepipe) | ~$1.15 | ~MUR 54 |
| Taxi (short, metered estimate) | $3.50 – $8 | MUR 165 – 375 |
| Taxi from airport to Port Louis | ~$50 | ~MUR 2,350 |
| Taxi from airport to Grand Baie | ~$55 – $62 | MUR 2,580 – 2,900 |
| Car rental per day | $26 – $50 | MUR 1,220 – 2,345 |
🤿 Activities
| Activity | USD | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Public beaches | FREE | FREE |
| SSR Botanical Garden (non-citizens) | ~$6.35 | ~MUR 297 |
| Seven Coloured Earths entry | ~$5 | ~MUR 235 |
| Casela Nature Park (basic entry) | ~$32 | ~MUR 1,510 |
| Snorkelling from the shore | FREE | FREE |
| Catamaran day cruise (incl. lunch) | $60 – $100 | MUR 2,815 – 4,690 |
| Dolphin watching / swimming trip | $55 – $90 | MUR 2,580 – 4,220 |
| Scuba diving (single dive) | ~$55 | ~MUR 2,580 |
| Le Morne guided hike | ~$53 | ~MUR 2,485 |
| Island hopping tour | $65 – $110 | MUR 3,050 – 5,160 |
🛒 Supermarket Prices (Key Savings Area)
| Item | USD | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1L) | $1.10 – $1.80 | MUR 52 – 85 |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.80 – $1.50 | MUR 38 – 70 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.50 – $3.80 | MUR 117 – 178 |
| Chicken (1kg) | $3.50 – $5.50 | MUR 165 – 258 |
| Local rum (bottle) | $8 – $15 | MUR 375 – 700 |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $0.40 – $0.70 | MUR 19 – 33 |
👉 Shopping at local supermarkets costs 2–3x less than eating out every meal. Super U, Winner’s, and Jumbo are the main chains; you’ll find them on the main roads of every major town.
✈️ Flight Costs (Return)
| Region | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Southern Africa | $400 – $650 |
| Middle East (via Dubai/Abu Dhabi) | $500 – $800 |
| Europe | $650 – $1,100 |
| India | $350 – $600 |
| Australia | $700 – $1,200 |
💡 Real Money-Saving Hacks
- Eat one street food meal a day — a Rs 50 dholl puri from a roadside stall vs a $25 tourist lunch adds up fast over a week
- Use the Metro Express between Port Louis and Curepipe instead of taxis — Rs 54 vs Rs 2,000+
- Book airport transfers in advance — kerbside taxis during peak season will charge what they can get away with
- Carry a reusable bottle — tap water in Mauritius is safe to drink
- Travel shoulder season (May–June or September–October) — hotel prices drop noticeably outside the July–August and December–January peaks
- All beaches are public — Mauritian law gives everyone access to the sand up to the high-water mark, including beaches fronting five-star resorts
- Buy your SIM card at the airport — data is cheap in Mauritius; roaming is not
📊 Final Verdict
Mauritius is:
- ✅ More affordable than its luxury reputation suggests
- ❌ Not cheap if you stay inside resort walls for everything
- 💡 Best value comes from sleeping mid-range and eating local
👉 Control:
- Accommodation (guesthouses beat resorts on value)
- Food choices (street food and local canteens vs tourist menus)
- Transport (buses and Metro Express vs taxis for every ride)
You can have a genuinely excellent week in Mauritius without spending at luxury levels.