For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $980 in Mauritius, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in China and in Mauritius actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $980 in Mauritius.
China $791
Mauritius $980
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $1,608 in Mauritius.
China $1,251
Mauritius $1,608
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $2,236 in Mauritius.
China $1,711
Mauritius $2,236
📏
China ($465–$1,222) and Mauritius ($495–$1,237) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in China costs about 19% less than in Mauritius on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: China 42% lower, Mauritius 28% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Mauritius
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98¥19.78
$6.34MUR 299
-53.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09¥147
$41.50MUR 1,956
-46.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.55
$6.86MUR 323
-24.20%
Cappuccino
$2.97¥19.71
$2.59MUR 122
14.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.18
$1.08MUR 50.7
-55.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.00
$0.69MUR 32.67
-56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.17
$2.22MUR 104
-51.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28¥15.13
$3.27MUR 154
-30.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Mauritius
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥11.94
$1.49MUR 70.2
20.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68¥11.13
$0.66MUR 31.23
154.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.13
$1.65MUR 77.7
-44.24%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.72
$2.42MUR 114
-33.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38¥88.9
$9.13MUR 430
46.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.25
$5.76MUR 272
-41.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35¥75.4
$12.91MUR 608
-12.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.11
$2.27MUR 107
-19.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.68
$2.09MUR 98.6
-37.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥9.88
$2.30MUR 108
-35.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.46
$2.76MUR 130
-53.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.73
$1.08MUR 51.0
-34.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.20
$1.05MUR 49.34
-11.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.11
$0.83MUR 39.07
-25.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.73
$0.72MUR 34.09
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.12
$6.42MUR 303
-41.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13¥80.6
$10.55MUR 497
14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥5.53
$1.69MUR 79.5
-50.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.19
$2.27MUR 107
-25.99%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Mauritius
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.91
$0.97MUR 45.74
-70.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.83¥118
$31.78MUR 1,498
-43.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49¥9.88
$4.29MUR 202
-65.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.49
$3.27MUR 154
-88.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥47.17
$10.43MUR 491
-31.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.36
$1.45MUR 68.4
-13.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.2K
$32.4KMUR 1.5M
-40.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.5K
$33.6KMUR 1.6M
-47.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Mauritius
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.6¥363
$57.9MUR 2,727
-5.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73¥58.0
$13.66MUR 644
-36.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07¥73.5
$30.63MUR 1,443
-63.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Mauritius
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.77¥271
$34.75MUR 1,638
17.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48¥96.2
$7.33MUR 345
97.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78¥45.05
$6.18MUR 291
9.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Mauritius
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517¥3,433
$160MUR 7,561
222.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥131.6K
$5,296MUR 249.6K
274.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Mauritius
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53¥309
$46.76MUR 2,204
-0.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66¥237
$40.24MUR 1,896
-11.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥512
$79.8MUR 3,761
-3.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3¥533
$63.2MUR 2,979
26.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Mauritius
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,564
$481MUR 22.7K
-19.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235¥1,558
$313MUR 14.7K
-24.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,461
$880MUR 41.5K
-6.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453¥3,011
$679MUR 32.0K
-33.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,697¥31.2K
$4,437MUR 209.1K
5.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372¥15.8K
$2,123MUR 100.0K
11.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Mauritius
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,093¥7,264
$771MUR 36.4K
41.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
6.32
-45.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Last update for Mauritius: October 27, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$235 29.6%
Mauritius
$313 31.9% ↑ 33.3%$78
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$210 26.5%
Mauritius
$231 23.6% ↑ 9.9%$21
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$108 13.6%
Mauritius
$104 10.6% ↓ 3.9%$4.2
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
Mauritius
$127 13% ↑ 44.2%$39
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74 9.4%
Mauritius
$102 10.4% ↑ 37.4%$28
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.9%
Mauritius
$47 4.8% ↓ 13.3%$7.2
🚌Getting Around
China
$22 2.8%
Mauritius
$56 5.8% ↑ 152%$34
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$453 26.5%
Mauritius
$680 30.4% ↑ 50%$226
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$483 28.3%
Mauritius
$535 23.9% ↑ 10.7%$52
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$239 14%
Mauritius
$230 10.3% ↓ 3.9%$9.4
🍽Eating Out
China
$284 16.6%
Mauritius
$459 20.6% ↑ 62%$176
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.9%
Mauritius
$116 5.2% ↑ 39.4%$33
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
Mauritius
$102 4.5% ↓ 17.5%$22
🚌Getting Around
China
$45 2.6%
Mauritius
$115 5.1% ↑ 153%$69
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $437 in Mauritius. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $484 in Port Louis.
💰National salary averages: $873 in China, $836 in Mauritius. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 47% higher in Mauritius.
⭐Dining out costs 64% more in Mauritius.
⭐Public transport is 83% more expensive in Mauritius.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
China vs Mauritius: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Mauritius?
At $791 per month in China and $980 in Mauritius, China comes out about 19% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Mauritius?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and Mauritius?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $437 in Mauritius and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Mauritius?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.