Mauritius budget 2026: accommodation, food, activities, transport prices

What budget should you plan for a week in Mauritius?

Budget 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per person for a week on a budget trip (guesthouse, local restaurants), 2,000 to 3,500 EUR for a mid-range stay, and 5,000 EUR or more for a luxury stay in a 5-star hotel.

Mauritius: a destination for every budget

Mauritius is often seen as a luxury destination, reserved for honeymoons and deep pockets. That reputation is partly deserved: the island is home to some of the most sumptuous hotels in the world, with experiences costing over 1,000 EUR per night per room.

But Mauritius can also be visited on a modest budget, provided you make the right choices. Local markets are packed with delicious food for less than a euro, family-run guesthouses offer comfortable and authentic accommodation, and the finest beaches from Grand Baie to Blue Bay are completely free. The turquoise sea at Flic en Flac or the sunset from Le Morne won’t cost you a cent more than they cost a guest in the presidential suite.

At a glance


Budget option	around 700 to 1,000 EUR/person for a week (excluding flights)
Mid-range option	around 1,500 to 2,500 EUR/person for a week (excluding flights)
Luxury option	from 3,500 EUR/person, with no real ceiling
Most flexible cost	accommodation (from 25 to over 1,000 EUR/night)
Best time to save	May, June and October (shoulder season)
Do you need cash?	Yes, in rupees, especially for buses and markets

The Mauritian rupee (MUR)

The local currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). In 2026, the exchange rate is around 1 EUR = 48 to 50 MUR. Prices in this guide are given in both currencies. For a detailed guide to the local currency, currency exchange offices and tips for paying, see our Mauritius currency guide.

Quick conversion: divide rupees by 50 to get euros. 1,000 MUR = 20 EUR, 500 MUR = 10 EUR.

Accommodation: prices by category

Tight budget (backpackers, small budgets)

Family-run guesthouses, boarding houses and hostels offer rooms between 25 and 60 EUR per night. These places are often run by welcoming Mauritian families and offer an authentic immersion in local culture. Many include breakfast.

Rooms in a family guesthouse: 25 to 50 EUR/night for a double room, breakfast often included.

Hostels (rare in Mauritius): 15 to 25 EUR for a dorm bed. Very few in number — Mauritius isn’t yet a true backpacker destination.

The most affordable areas for accommodation are the south (Mahebourg, Blue Bay), certain residential areas of the central plateau, and the less touristy east coast.

For the best budget accommodation, our budget accommodation guide lists the most recommended guesthouses and boarding houses.

Mid-range budget

3-star hotels and mid-standard guesthouses fall between 60 and 150 EUR per night, with breakfast or half-board included.

3-star hotels with a pool: 80 to 150 EUR/night for a double room.

Rental apartments (Airbnb): 50 to 120 EUR/night for a whole apartment, very economical for families or stays of more than 10 days. A villa or apartment also lets you cook for yourself and save on dining out.

Quality guesthouses: 50 to 90 EUR/night with breakfast included.

To compare accommodation options by area, our regional guides give you the best addresses: where to stay in Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Belle Mare and Trou aux Biches.

Comfort and luxury budget

Mauritius is world-renowned for its grand hotels. Prices are high but the level of service is exceptional — suite service, private beach, gourmet restaurants, world-class spas.

4-star hotels: 150 to 300 EUR/night on half-board.

5-star hotels (One&Only, Four Seasons, Constance, Beachcomber, Heritage): 400 to 1,500 EUR/night and beyond.

All-inclusive packages at 4-5 star hotels: expect between 300 and 1,000 EUR/night per room in high season. To find out whether all-inclusive is worth it for you, see our all-inclusive Mauritius guide.

Luxury villas: our Mauritius villas guide lists the best properties with a private pool.

Food: eating in Mauritius on any budget

Eating like a Mauritian (very cheap)

Street food and local restaurants let you eat well for a fraction of the price of tourist restaurants. Mauritian cuisine is extraordinarily rich for the price.

Dholl puri from a market stall: 15 to 25 MUR (0.30 to 0.50 EUR) — the flatbread stuffed with yellow split peas is the icon of Mauritian street food.

Roti with curry: 50 to 80 MUR (1.00 to 1.60 EUR) — flatbread with chicken, fish or vegetable curry.

Bol renversé: 80 to 120 MUR (1.60 to 2.50 EUR) — an upturned bowl of rice with brèdes (leafy greens) and curry.

Meal at a local restaurant (outside tourist areas): 200 to 400 MUR (4 to 8 EUR) per person with a local drink.

Gâteau piment: 5 to 10 MUR each — the quintessential Mauritian snack, spicy lentil fritters.

Mid-range restaurants

Mid-quality restaurants in tourist areas (Grand Baie, Flic en Flac):

Main course: 400 to 900 MUR (8 to 18 EUR).

Starter-main-dessert lunch menu: 600 to 1,200 MUR (12 to 24 EUR).

Local beer (Phoenix): 100 to 150 MUR (2 to 3 EUR) at a restaurant, 50 to 80 MUR at a supermarket.

Rhum arrangé (spiced rum): 150 to 250 MUR (3 to 5 EUR) per glass at a bar.

Fine dining and gourmet restaurants

At 5-star hotels and gourmet restaurants:

Gourmet dinner: 2,500 to 5,000 MUR (50 to 100 EUR) per person, sometimes more with wine.

Beachfront dinner at a popular seaside restaurant: 1,500 to 3,000 MUR (30 to 60 EUR).

Supermarkets for self-caterers

Doing your own shopping can save you a lot. The main chains are Jumbo, Super U, Winner’s and Intermart, found in every major town.

Average grocery cost for two people for a day: 500 to 800 MUR (10 to 16 EUR).

Bottled water (1.5L): 30 to 50 MUR (0.60 to 1.00 EUR).

Fresh fruit: remarkably cheap. A pineapple: 50 MUR, a papaya: 40 MUR, a bunch of lychees: 80 MUR in season.

Rum (75cl): 300 to 500 MUR (6 to 10 EUR) for a good local rum, perfect for sundowners in your villa or hotel room.

Transport: estimated costs

Bus: 20 to 90 MUR (0.40 to 1.80 EUR) per trip. The cheapest option. Our guide to buses in Mauritius covers all the routes and timetables.

Taxi: 500 to 2,500 MUR (10 to 50 EUR) depending on distance. Negotiable. For detailed fares by route, see our guide to taxis in Mauritius.

Car rental: 35 to 80 EUR/day depending on the vehicle. Very economical for groups — split between 3 or 4 people, it’s often cheaper than taxis. Our car rental guide compares all the offers.

Airport transfer: 20 to 80 EUR depending on destination and option chosen. Details in our airport transfer guide. For a pre-booked private transfer with a driver waiting for you on arrival, you can book your Mauritius airport transfer online at a fixed price, with no haggling on arrival.

Fuel: about 60 to 70 MUR/litre. A full tank for a small car costs around 1,800 to 2,500 MUR (36 to 50 EUR).

Activities: prices of the main attractions

Free or nearly free activities

One of Mauritius’s great strengths is the abundance of free or very cheap activities:

Swimming at any of the beaches in Mauritius (free, open access)
Hiking in Black River Gorges National Park — freely accessible trails
Local markets (Mahebourg on Mondays, Quatre Bornes Thursday-Saturday)
Photography Museum in Port-Louis (nominal entry fee)
Port-Louis Waterfront and public gardens
Sunsets over the lagoon from Le Morne or Flic en Flac
Dolphin watching from Tamarin beach (free if you don’t swim with them)

Moderately priced activities

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden: 200 MUR/adult (4 EUR)
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths: 250 MUR/adult (5 EUR) — our Chamarel guide has all the details
La Vanille (nature reserve): 500 MUR/adult (10 EUR)
Mahebourg Museum: free or nominal entry fee
Snorkeling with rented equipment: 500 to 800 MUR (10 to 16 EUR) for half a day
Boat excursion to Ile aux Cerfs: 1,000 to 1,500 MUR/person (20 to 30 EUR) — see our Ile aux Cerfs guide. For a full day with a Creole lunch, you can book a catamaran trip to Ile aux Cerfs at the best rate.

Water sports and other activities

Scuba diving (1 dive): 2,000 to 2,500 MUR (40 to 50 EUR) — our snorkeling and diving guide covers all the sites
Introductory dive: 2,500 to 3,000 MUR (50 to 60 EUR)
Kitesurfing (1-hour lesson): 4,000 to 5,000 MUR (80 to 100 EUR)
Deep sea fishing (full day): 8,000 to 15,000 MUR (160 to 300 EUR) per boat (4 to 6 people)
Swimming with dolphins: 2,000 to 3,000 MUR (40 to 60 EUR) — our swimming with dolphins guide
Catamaran trip: 2,500 to 4,000 MUR (50 to 80 EUR) — our catamaran guide

Daily budget by travel style

Tight budget: 50 to 80 EUR/day per person

This budget suits a frugal traveller staying in a guesthouse, eating mostly local food, getting around by bus and enjoying free activities (beaches, hikes, markets).

Accommodation (guesthouse with breakfast): 25 to 35 EUR
Meals (3 local meals): 10 to 15 EUR
Transport (bus plus occasional taxi): 2 to 8 EUR
Activities/miscellaneous: 10 to 20 EUR

Strategy: stay in less touristy areas such as Mahebourg or Blue Bay, eat at markets and local snack stalls, use the bus for trips between towns.

Mid-range budget: 120 to 200 EUR/day per person

This budget covers a 3-star hotel, mid-range restaurants and a few water activities or excursions.

Accommodation (3-star hotel, half-board): 80 to 120 EUR
Extra meals and drinks: 20 to 40 EUR
Transport (shared car rental or taxis): 10 to 20 EUR
Activities: 20 to 40 EUR

Strategy: book in shoulder season (May, October) for better rates, share a car rental between two people, alternate between local and tourist restaurants.

Comfort-luxury budget: 300 to 600 EUR/day per person

Grand 4-5 star hotel, gourmet restaurants, premium activities and spa services.

Accommodation (full board at a 5-star hotel): 200 to 400 EUR
Meals and outings outside the hotel: 50 to 100 EUR
Premium activities (diving, catamaran, golf): 50 to 150 EUR

Tips for saving money in Mauritius

Book early: flights and hotels are cheaper 3 to 6 months ahead. Low-season rates (January-March outside school holidays, June) are significantly lower — see our guide to the best time to visit to plan your calendar.

Eat local: roadside restaurants and markets offer tasty food at rock-bottom prices. Save beach and hotel restaurants for a few special occasions. Mauritian cuisine is delicious and authentic at local snack stalls.

Rent a car with others: split between 3 or 4 people, a rental car is often cheaper than taxis. For 4 people, it’s the most economical way to explore the island.

Avoid booking activities through hotels: the same excursions are often 30 to 50% cheaper when booked directly with local providers in the villages.

Shop at the supermarket: preparing your own breakfast and some lunches can save 10 to 20 EUR a day for two people.

Travel in low season: January to March outside school holidays, and June, offer hotel prices 30 to 50% lower than high season. Our Mauritius weather guide helps you pick the best time based on your budget.

Negotiate taxi fares: knowing reference prices and negotiating politely reliably saves money on transport. Our taxi guide gives all the reference rates.

Favour free activities: hiking in Black River Gorges National Park, the markets of Mahebourg and Quatre Bornes, and sunsets over the lagoon are free and among the most memorable experiences on the island.

Manage your cash withdrawals wisely: bank fees on foreign withdrawals can add up. Withdraw larger amounts less often, and consider a fee-free travel card (Revolut, N26, Wise). Our currency guide covers all the options. For connectivity, avoid steep roaming charges by ordering an eSIM for Mauritius before you leave — much cheaper than your French carrier’s roaming rates.

Quick comparison of the three budget profiles

	Tight budget	Mid-range budget	Comfort-luxury budget
Accommodation	guesthouse, 25 to 60 EUR/night	3-star hotel, 60 to 150 EUR/night	4-5 star hotel, 300 EUR/night and up
Food	markets and local snacks	mix of local/tourist restaurants	gourmet restaurants
Transport	bus	shared rental car	private taxi or dedicated transfers
Activities	beaches, hikes, markets	1 to 2 paid excursions per week	daily premium excursions
Typical day	50 to 80 EUR/person	120 to 200 EUR/person	300 to 600 EUR/person

Often-overlooked extra costs

Beyond accommodation, meals and activities, a few costs easily slip under the radar when planning your budget:

Tipping isn’t mandatory in Mauritius but is increasingly expected in tourist dining and for guides. Our guide to tipping in Mauritius covers the norms for each situation, to avoid over- or under-tipping.

Mobile connectivity: standard European roaming quickly gets expensive over two weeks. An eSIM for Mauritius usually costs under 20 EUR for several gigabytes and avoids nasty surprises on your bill when you get home.

Travel insurance: rarely included in the initial calculation, yet it typically costs 30 to 80 EUR per person depending on duration and coverage. Our guide to travel insurance for Mauritius explains what’s genuinely worth covering (repatriation, water sports, cancellation).

The gap between planned and actual spending: many travellers underestimate the extras — a sunset cocktail, a spontaneous excursion, a souvenir bought at a market. Budget an extra 10 to 15% on top of your initial estimate.

Special family budget

Travelling as a family changes the budget picture: children under 12 often get discounts on excursions (sometimes free under 2 or 3 years old), but families also tend to favour apartments or villas with a kitchen to cut catering costs. Generally budget 20 to 30% more than a couple would spend, mainly on accommodation (a bigger room or villa) and family-friendly activities. Our family activities guide and family itinerary help you target the spending that’s really worth it.

Our honest verdict

Who it’s worth it for: this guide is useful for any traveller planning their budget before booking, from the backpacker aiming for under 1,000 EUR a week to the couple who wants a 4-star hotel without blowing their budget.

Skip it if you’re after a fixed price — Mauritian rates vary a lot depending on the season, exchange rate and booking window; treat these figures as ballpark estimates, not quotes.

Best internal alternative: if your priority is cutting the transport bill rather than your overall budget, our comparison of travelling with or without a rental car goes deeper into that specific cost.

Should you book ahead? Yes for accommodation and flights (3 to 6 months ahead in high season for the best prices), but excursions and activities can generally be booked on the spot or a few days ahead, except in peak periods (Christmas, New Year).

Mistakes to avoid

Comparing prices shown in MUR without converting — one zero too many or too few changes everything; keep the habit of dividing by 50 to get an approximate euro figure.
Booking every excursion through the hotel — it’s often 30 to 50% more expensive than booking directly or getting to the departure point yourself via a bus guide/taxi.
Forgetting the day’s real exchange rate — it fluctuates, and some exchange offices or hotels apply large margins; compare rates before changing large sums.
Under-budgeting for transfers and getting around — especially without a rental car, repeated taxi rides over two weeks can add up to more than expected.
Not carrying cash for buses and markets — these run on cash only, unlike hotels and larger restaurants, which accept cards.

Summary: budget for a week in Mauritius

For a full week (7 nights, flights not included) as a couple:

Budget option: 1,400 to 2,000 EUR for two (700 to 1,000 EUR/person)
Mid-range option: 3,000 to 5,000 EUR for two (1,500 to 2,500 EUR/person)
Luxury option: 7,000 to 15,000 EUR for two and beyond

Flights from France range between 500 and 1,200 EUR return depending on season and airline (Air Mauritius or Air France). Adding the flight, the total cost of a week for a couple ranges from 2,400 EUR (very tight budget) to 17,000 EUR (presidential suite in high season).

For families, our family accommodation guide helps you find the best value-for-money options, and our family itinerary optimises the activities budget for children.