Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of most major cities in North America and Europe? The best affordable places to retire – Mauritius edition will introduce you to this small island paradise. The people are wonderful and politeness is ingrained in their culture from birth.
Fasten your seat belt and come along for the ride as we explore the Mauritius Island republic.
The Republic of Mauritius is a small island and along with Rodriguez island, the combined landmass of these two volcanic islands is just over 2000 square Kms. It is located in the Indian Ocean about 800 Kms from Madagascar in Southern Africa. A beautiful coral reef surrounds the island.
The population of Mauritius is 1.3 million culturally diverse people including from India, Pakistan, Africa, China, and France. English is considered the national language, however, the most commonly spoken is Creole or French patois. The currency used in Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee. 1 Rs = 0.25 cents USD. The economy is rapidly growing and many major banks have founded offices in Mauritius along with customer support centers for technology companies.
This post will explore the best cities to retire in Mauritius, the food, culture, and budget for living on the island.
BEST AFFORDABLE PLACES TO RETIRE – MAURITIUS EDITION
TOP RETIREMENT CITIES
GRAND BAY
If you love being in the middle of the beach action along with the tourists, then Grand Bay is for you. It boasts of many luxurious resorts and water sports including windsurfing and swimming. And, this is the place to take advantage of marine life. You will find hundreds of species of fish and other ocean life as you snorkel just off the coastline.
FLIC EN FLAC
Sitting on the western side of the island is less developed than the rest of Mauritius. This area consists of small fishing villages and is on the quieter side of the country. This is a great place for those who want to relax.
QUATRE BORNES
Known as the city of flowers, Quatre Bornes has the best nightlife and shopping in Mauritius. It is located 35 KMS from the airport and 15 – 30 minutes from the beach. Getting around the city is easy using public transportation. A bus ride is only Rs34 or $0.84 USD one way.
PORT LOUIS
Port Louis is not only the main harbor for the country it is also the capital city. With the largest population of 200,000 people, Port Louis is also the economic hub. You will find many museums and roadside vendors along the very crowded streets. You can enjoy walks through the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden; have fun at Vanilla Crocodile Park, or visit the Sugar Museum. The jewel of Port Louis is the horse racing track called Champ des Mars.
LIFE IN THE BEST PLACES TO RETIRE – MAURITIUS
There is a growing ex-pat community in Mauritius from countries all over the world. You can experience the ocean, waterfalls, and volcanic rock formations all around the island.
Islanders celebrate many holidays because of their diversity – everything from Christmas to Diwali and everything in between. One of their popular arts festivals will typically include their folk dance known as Sega.
You can count on consistent weather that ranges from a mild 22 degrees Celcius in the winters to a hot 34 degrees in the summer. But, the rainy season which is typically between December and February (summer) could bring with it monsoons on occasion.
TRANSPORTATION
The roads are well built and there is very good infrastructure throughout the island. This makes getting around very easy. If you prefer not to use your own car, you can safely ride the public busses. Or, you can hire a car for Rs 100 or $2.50 USD per KM. If you decide you want to use your vehicle today, gas prices are roughly Rs 48 or $1.20 per liter.
You can drive designated vehicles using an international license. You can obtain a local license but you will be required to go through the Police Commissioner and pass 3 tests. Note that cars are driven on the left-hand side of the road due to the original British influence on the island.
LOCAL FOOD
You can enjoy local street fair Dholl Puri (a flatbread stuffed with split peas) or Roti (also a flatbread which encases Indian curries). Other delicacies offered up are samoussas, and various gateaux. Don’t let the word gateaux fool you. While the word is French for cakes, these delicacies are not cakes at all.
GATEAUX Piments – spicy crunchy little balls of deliciousness similar to jalapeno poppers.
Di Pains Frire – battered and fried bread. This is the savory version of French toast
GATEAU Patates – a sweet potato filled patty
GATEAU Arouille – fritters made from taro root (a vegetable similar to potato)
Dining at a mid-range local restaurant will cost around Rs 1,500 or $38 USD for 2 people. A local domestic beer goes for Rs 75 or $1.88 USD. Of course, if American food is what you are craving you can drop into McDonald’s and grab a meal for Rs 200 or $5 USD per person.
GROCERIES
So, you say you prefer to buy your own groceries well, here is a small sampling of what things costs at the local supermarket. These prices are comparable to current market prices in the US.
- Loaf of bread – Rs 20 or $0.50 USD
- 1.5 liter of bottled water – Rs 30 or $0.75 USD
- 12 eggs – Rs 67 or $1.68 USD
- 1 liter of milk – Rs 45 or $1.13 USD
- 1 can of Coke – Rs 36 or $0.90 USD
- Head of lettuce – Rs 31 or $0.78
- White rice 1Kg – Rs 72 or $1.80 USD
- Chicken fillets 1Kg – Rs 230 or $5.75 USD
- Beef round 1Kg – Rs 500 or $12.50 USD
- Potatoes 1Kg – Rs 45 or $1.10 USD
- Apples 1Kg – Rs 90 or $2.25 USD
Now you’re cooking with gas as all home kitchens are equipped with gas stoves. Cylinders for cooking will cost you approximately Rs 270 or $6.75 USD for a 12 KG cylinder. Depending on how often you cook at home you will need 240 to 480 KGs of gas per month.
You will need to have a minimum of $1,500 USD per month to live a good life when you retire in Mauritius
HEALTH CARE FOR PLACES TO RETIRE MAURITIUS EDITION
There are many public and private hospitals. The country’s 5 regional hospitals provide free health care and are considered to provide high-quality medical care. Private facilities are also available but the cost is very high. As an ex-pat looking to retire in Mauritius, it is recommended to have private health insurance to cover unexpected costs.
LIVING IN MAURITIUS
You have choices when it comes to the best places to retire Mauritius edition. Rent or buy – the choice is yours.
Rental units typically come fully furnished. Leases lock you into a 12-month commitment with the ability to renew on an annual basis.
INLAND rental – Rs 7,000 to RS 10,000 ($175 to $250 USD) per month
TOURIST Area Rentals – Rs 15,000 to RS 25,000 ($375 to $625 USD) per month
WATERFALLS Area Rentals – Rs 30,000 to RS 60,000 ($750 to $1,500 USD) per month
To buy a house on Mauritius Island upon retirement, you will need proof of $120,000 USD in funds in the bank.
Renting a house while in one of the most beautiful and best affordable places to retire – Mauritius, the rent is not all-inclusive. You will need to consider the following additional expenses:
BASIC Utilities – including electricity, water, heat/air conditioning, and garbage Rs 2,300 or $57.50 per month
LAND Line – all properties come equipped with telephone service. There is a security deposit of Rs 5,000 or $125 USD required to open the account and the monthly bill for a telephone costs Rs 90 or $2.25 USD per month.
INTERNET – unlimited high-speed internet is available starting at Rs 1,300 or $32.50 USD per month
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mauritians love all types of water sports from windsurfing to snorkeling but their national sport is football (soccer). For the fitness buff lurking beneath your interior, you can join one of the many fitness centers (gyms) for a monthly fee of Rs 1,400 or $35 USD. If you prefer golf, join one of the none 18-hole golf clubs on the island. Green fees range from Rs 7,500 to Rs 15,000 ($187.50 to $375 USD) for a round of golf.
PROS AND CONS OF RETIRING IN MAURITIUS
You need to weigh the pros and cons of moving to a new country. Like in every country you need to understand the good and the bad before you make such a dramatic life-changing decision.
PROS OF MOVING TO MAURITIUS
1 – The American dollar can stretch a long way when exchanging for a Mauritian Rupee. The cost of living is reasonable and one can easily live on a pension income.
2 – Opening a bank account in Mauritius is quite simple. All you need is your passport, your visa, and a local utility bill for proof of address. The banking system is robust with ATMs found all over the island. online banking is a great feature, and debit cards are carried by everyone.
3 – The island is safe and getting around on public busses is hassle-free.
4 – Tap water is treated by the government making it safe to drink except during monsoon season where it is recommended to drink bottled water.
5 – Government-funded healthcare is considered top-notch and is free at public hospitals.
6 – The cost of living in Mauritius is quite reasonable and $1,500 USD will cover the expenses for a modest retirement lifestyle
7 – Shop to your heart’s content. You will find all the American and European brand name products available on the island.
CONS OF MOVING TO MAURITIUS
1 – English is the national language but much of the population speaks French patois known as the lingua franca.
2 – As a visitor to Mauritius your visa is only valid for 180 days.
3 – Staying in the country longer than 183 days per year you are automatically considered a tax-paying non-resident
4 – While the process to open a bank account is simple, you need to maintain a $2.00 USD balance in the account
5 – Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius can be in the direct line of monsoons that bring with them heavy rains and sometimes destruction.
6 – Because of the location of the Republic of Mauritius, shipping your belongings can take 20 – 40 days so pack what you can in a good set of luggage like this one found on Amazon. Avoid the delays and missing essential items by taking them with you on the plane while the “big stuff” arrives by boat in due time.
This post was all about the best affordable places to retire – Mauritius edition the food, the culture, and the monthly budget. It identified some of the most popular cities and showed you the pros and cons of living in Mauritius.
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