Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Mauritius

For one person, living is cheaper in Mauritius: $980 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

United States
Mauritius
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
🇲🇺 Mauritius
$980
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Mauritius

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Mauritius actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,734 in the United States versus $980 in Mauritius.

  • United States $2,734
  • Mauritius $980

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in the United States versus $1,608 in Mauritius.

  • United States $3,985
  • Mauritius $1,608

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,235 in the United States versus $2,236 in Mauritius.

  • United States $5,235
  • Mauritius $2,236

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $495–$1,237 in Mauritius. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in the United States is roughly 179% more expensive than in Mauritius on average.

The United States (101% above) and Mauritius (28% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$6.34 MUR 299
215.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0 $80.0
$41.50 MUR 1,956
92.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.80 $11.80
$6.86 MUR 323
72.01%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$2.59 MUR 122
114.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.08 MUR 50.7
146.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.69 MUR 32.67
214.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$2.22 MUR 104
175.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$3.27 MUR 154
142.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.49 MUR 70.2
-30.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$0.66 MUR 31.22
443.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.65 MUR 77.7
173.94%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$2.42 MUR 114
76.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 $13.22
$9.13 MUR 430
44.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.60 $12.60
$5.76 MUR 272
118.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.60 $17.60
$12.91 MUR 608
36.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$2.27 MUR 107
133.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.09 MUR 98.6
-19.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.30 MUR 108
93.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.76 MUR 130
72.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.08 MUR 51.0
175.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.05 MUR 49.33
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.83 MUR 39.06
165.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.72 MUR 34.08
226.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98 $10.98
$6.42 MUR 303
71.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$10.55 MUR 497
42.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.69 MUR 79.5
21.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$2.27 MUR 107
66.96%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Mauritius
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.97 MUR 45.73
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.4 $59.4
$31.78 MUR 1,497
86.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$4.29 MUR 202
-16.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$3.27 MUR 154
-42.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.84 $29.84
$10.43 MUR 491
186.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.45 MUR 68.4
-29.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K $28.8K
$32.4K MUR 1.5M
-11.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$33.6K MUR 1.6M
-22.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$57.9 MUR 2,727
276.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$13.66 MUR 644
357.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 $74.5
$30.63 MUR 1,443
143.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.86 $41.86
$34.75 MUR 1,637
20.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81 $22.81
$7.33 MUR 345
211.19%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70 $14.70
$6.18 MUR 291
137.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,489 $1,489
$160 MUR 7,560
828.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K $25.3K
$5,296 MUR 249.5K
376.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$46.76 MUR 2,203
16.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 $42.71
$40.24 MUR 1,896
6.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 $94.1
$79.8 MUR 3,760
17.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$63.2 MUR 2,978
79.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Mauritius
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 $1,659
$481 MUR 22.7K
244.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$313 MUR 14.7K
331.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,682 $2,682
$880 MUR 41.4K
204.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,169 $2,169
$679 MUR 32.0K
219.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,283 $3,283
$4,437 MUR 209.1K
-26.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$2,123 MUR 100.0K
16.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Mauritius
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,296 $4,296
$771 MUR 36.4K
456.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.32
3.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mauritius: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K
Mauritius
$313 76.8% $1K
Groceries & Markets
United States
$415
Mauritius
$231 44.4% $184
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355
Mauritius
$102 71.2% $253
Eating Out
United States
$328
Mauritius
$127 61.3% $201
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Mauritius
$104 24.5% $34
Getting Around
United States
$80
Mauritius
$56 29.7% $24
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71
Mauritius
$47 33.9% $24

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,620 in the United States, $437 in Mauritius. Capital cities: $2,768 in Washington, DC vs $484 in Port Louis.

National salary averages: $4,549 in the United States, $836 in Mauritius. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 271% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 108% more in the United States.

Public transport is 91% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 5.4 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇲🇺 Mauritius
🕒 Local time
00:53 12:53 AM
09:53 9:53 AM
9 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
1,264,613
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MUR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Mauritian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 47.12 MUR (100 MUR = 2.12 USD). 1 EUR = 52.61 MUR (100 MUR = 1.9 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Mauritius 16,160 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • 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
United States vs Mauritius: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Mauritius and the United States?
At $980 per month in Mauritius and $2,734 in the United States, Mauritius comes out about 64% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Mauritius: 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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $437 in Mauritius. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Mauritius or in the United States?
In Mauritius, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Mauritius or to the United States?
It depends on what you’re after: Mauritius wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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