A trip to Mauritius typically costs between USD 50 and USD 80 per day for budget travelers, USD 120 to USD 200 for mid-range comfort, and USD 300 to USD 600+ for luxury stays. Mauritius is not cheap like Bali, but it is far more flexible than its luxury image suggests. Your exact daily budget depends heavily on whether you choose local guesthouses and street food, or opt for beachfront resorts and private tours.
While the island is famous for high-end honeymoons, Mauritius is not exclusively expensive. Independent travelers can comfortably explore the island on a lower budget by using public transport, self-catering apartments, and free public beaches.
In this guide, we break down exactly how much a trip to Mauritius costs per day, with real prices in both US Dollars (USD) and Mauritian Rupees (MUR).
(Note: Exchange rates fluctuate, but for this guide, we use an approximate working rate of 1 USD ≈ 46 MUR).
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What Is Excluded From This Budget?
Before looking at the daily numbers, it is important to note what is not included in these estimates. The daily budgets below cover your on-island expenses (sleeping, eating, moving around, and activities). They do not include:
- International flights to and from Mauritius
- Travel and medical insurance
- Upfront costs for all-inclusive resort packages (if prepaid)
- Heavy shopping, souvenirs, or duty-free purchases
Mauritius Daily Budget by Travel Style
Your travel style determines how much spending money you need. Here is a synthesized look at daily budgets per person based on current 2026 pricing.
| Travel Style | Daily Budget (USD) | Daily Budget (MUR) | What This Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $50 – $80 | ~2,300 – 3,700 MUR | Guesthouse/hostel, local street food, buses, mostly free public beaches, 1–2 paid activities per week. |
| Mid-range | $120 – $200 | ~5,500 – 9,200 MUR | 3-4★ hotel or nice Airbnb, mix of local eateries and sit-down restaurants, shared car rental, a couple of organized boat tours. |
| Luxury | $300 – $600+ | ~13,800 – 27,600+ MUR | 5★ resort or private villa, frequent resort dining, private airport transfers, premium private catamaran charters. |
Pro Tip: Always build a 10–15% buffer into your budget to account for seasonal price swings or unexpected transport needs.
Sample Daily Itinerary Cost (Budget Traveler)
To see how the numbers work in practice, here is a concrete example of a solo budget traveler’s day in Mauritius:
- Accommodation: Private room in a coastal guesthouse ($30)
- Breakfast & Dinner: Groceries from a local supermarket for self-catering ($10)
- Lunch: Local street food (dholl puri and a soft drink) ($4)
- Transport: Two public bus rides ($2)
- Activity: Swimming at a public beach and walking around the town (Free)
- Connectivity: Amortized daily cost of a local tourist SIM card ($1)
- Total: $47 per day
Sample Daily Itinerary Cost (Mid-Range Couple)
Couples naturally save money by sharing major expenses. Here is a typical day for two mid-range travelers:
- Accommodation: 3-star beachfront hotel ($100 total / $50 per person)
- Breakfast: Included in hotel rate ($0)
- Lunch: Casual beachfront restaurant ($30 total)
- Dinner: Nice 3-course sit-down meal ($60 total)
- Transport: Daily car rental plus fuel ($40 total)
- Activity: Shared catamaran cruise to the Northern Isles ($120 total)
- Total: $350 per day for two ($175 per person)
Mauritius Trip Cost for One Week
Many travelers want to know how these daily numbers translate to a full week. If you are traveling for 7 days, here is what you should expect to spend in total (excluding flights).
| Traveler Profile | 1-Week Budget (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Traveler (Solo) | $350 – $560 | Mostly hostels/guesthouses, public buses, and local street food. |
| Mid-range Traveler (Solo) | $840 – $1,400 | Comfortable 3-4★ hotels, rental car, and sit-down restaurant meals. |
| Mid-range Couple (For Two) | $1,300 – $2,200 | Couples save significantly by splitting accommodation and car rental costs down the middle. |
Accommodation Prices in Mauritius
Where you sleep dictates the largest chunk of your travel cost. Prices vary heavily depending on the region and the type of property.
- Hostels & Basic Guesthouses: $20–$35 (~900–1,600 MUR) per night.
- Budget Hotels (2-3★): $35–$70 (~1,600–3,200 MUR) per night. Often located a few blocks inland from the beach.
- Mid-range Hotels & Resorts (3-4★): $70–$150 (~3,200–6,900 MUR) per night.
- Luxury Resorts (5★): $250–$600+ (~11,500–27,600+ MUR) per night.
Best Value Areas for First-Time Travelers
Your budget will stretch much further depending on the coast you choose.
- Flic en Flac: Excellent for combining long, beautiful beaches with mid-range value and a wide variety of affordable dining options.
- Pereybere / Trou aux Biches: Great north coast value with calm swimming lagoons, supermarkets, and local transport access.
- Mahebourg: Perfect for airport convenience and lower, authentic local prices without the resort markups.
- Premium locations: Le Morne, Belle Mare, and Bel Ombre are dominated by luxury resorts and large estates. Staying in these areas generally pushes your daily budget into the luxury category.
Food and Drink Prices in Mauritius
If you eat outside the hotel walls, food in Mauritius is very affordable.
Typical Meal Costs
- Street Food Snack: 25–50 MUR ($0.50–$1.00). Dholl puri or roti from a roadside vendor.
- Full Local Lunch: 150–250 MUR ($3–$5.50). A plate of chicken curry or fried noodles at a local canteen.
- Inexpensive Restaurant: ~300 MUR ($6.50).
- Mid-range Restaurant (3-course for two): ~1,900 MUR ($41).
- Tourist/Beachfront Dining: 700–2,500 MUR ($15–$54) per person.
- Resort Fine Dining: $30–$60+ per meal.
Drink Costs
- Bottled Water (0.33L): ~32 MUR ($0.70).
- Cappuccino: ~115 MUR ($2.50).
- Domestic Beer (0.5L): ~100 MUR ($2.15) at a local bar.
- Resort Cocktails: 300–600 MUR ($6.50–$13).
Transport Costs in Mauritius
Your transport choices heavily impact your daily budget.
- Public Buses & Metro Express: The cheapest way to travel. Short bus rides cost 15–30 MUR, while the Metro Express (running between Port Louis and Curepipe) costs about 20–50 MUR per trip.
- Car Rental: Small rental cars cost about $30–$50 per day, dropping to $20 in the off-season. Splitting a rental car between two people often undercuts the cost of relying on taxis.
- Taxis: Metered taxis are not the norm; you generally negotiate or pre-book fixed quotes. An airport transfer to Grand Baie or Le Morne typically costs 2,300–3,000 MUR ($50–$65). Hiring a taxi driver for a full day tour costs around 5,500–6,000 MUR ($120–$130).
- Uber / Ride-Hailing: Uber began rolling out in Mauritius in 2026 through a partnership with the local Alalila taxi network, though traditional negotiated taxis and apps like Yugo remain common.
If you plan to drive yourself, read our practical guide on driving in Mauritius.
Activity Prices in Mauritius
You do not need to spend heavily to enjoy the island, as many natural sites are completely free.
- Free Activities: All public beaches in Mauritius are free to access. The Black River Gorges National Park is also free to enter for hiking.
- Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth: ~650 MUR ($14) for a non-resident adult.
- Casela Nature Parks: ~1,525 MUR ($33) for basic entrance.
- Snorkeling / Glass-Bottom Boats: $20–$60+ for short lagoon outings.
- Full-Day Shared Catamaran (with lunch): $60–$110 per person.
- Scuba Diving: $70–$120 per single dive.
Is Mauritius Expensive Compared With Bali, Seychelles, and Dubai?
How does the cost to visit Mauritius stack up against other major warm-weather hubs?
- Mauritius vs Bali: Bali is generally cheaper. Bali has a massive, ultra-low-cost backpacker infrastructure and cheaper food. Mauritius has higher import costs and is more expensive overall, especially for 5-star resorts.
- Mauritius vs Seychelles: Mauritius is usually cheaper than the Seychelles. Even bare-bones “budget” trips in the Seychelles often run $80–$120+ a day, whereas Mauritius offers much better value for mid-range travelers.
- Mauritius vs Zanzibar: Both are mid-priced. Zanzibar can be cheaper at the backpacker level, but once you factor in local infrastructure levies, mid-range and resort travel costs are very similar.
- Mauritius vs Dubai: For comparable comfort, Mauritius is usually cheaper than Dubai, especially for mid-range family trips and dining out.
Best Time to Visit Mauritius on a Budget
Timing impacts your budget significantly.
- Festive peak (late December to early January): The most expensive time to visit. Christmas and New Year push accommodation and flight prices up by 40–60%.
- Shoulder season (May–June and September–November): The best balance of price and weather. You get lower accommodation rates without sacrificing beach days.
- Rainier low season (January–March): You will find the cheapest on-island prices, but this coincides with cyclone season, meaning a higher chance of rain and interrupted outdoor plans. Keep in mind that the cheapest months are not always the best beach months.
Money-Saving Tips for Mauritius That Actually Work
Use these practical tactics to lower your costs:
- Stay where the locals stay: Base yourself in Flic en Flac, Pereybere, or Trou aux Biches for affordable guesthouses near the beach instead of the premium hotel strips.
- Know the beach laws: Mauritian law does not recognize “private beaches.” The sand up to the high-water mark is public domain. You can use the same beach as guests paying $800 a night at a luxury resort for free.
- Buy a local SIM card instead of roaming: Data is cheap. You can buy a dedicated tourist SIM card with unlimited 5G data for around 30 EUR, or 200GB packs for roughly 700–1,100 MUR.
- Eat one street food meal a day: Swapping a $30 tourist restaurant lunch for a $3 local roti will save you hundreds of dollars over a week.
Mauritius Budget Myths: Busted
Myth: “Mauritius is only for luxury travel.” Reality: False. With clean guesthouses available from $25 a night and cheap street food, you can travel Mauritius on a $50–$80 daily budget.
Myth: “You must rent a car.” Reality: Context-dependent. If you have time, the bus and Metro Express network connect most towns. However, for short trips or families, a rental car ($30/day) provides the best value and flexibility.
Myth: “Food is expensive everywhere.” Reality: Misleading. Food is only expensive if you eat exclusively at resorts or beachfront tourist venues. Inland local canteens and street food stalls are highly affordable.
Conclusion
Budget travelers can do Mauritius on $50–$80 a day by staying in coastal guesthouses, eating local food, and using public buses. Mid-range travelers should plan for $120–$200 a day to comfortably afford 3-star hotels, sit-down restaurant meals, and a rental car. Luxury travelers seeking 5-star resorts and private transfers should expect to spend upwards of $300 a day.
Ultimately, Mauritius offers the absolute best value for independent couples and small groups who rent a car, stay in self-catering apartments, and mix local food with a few key paid activities. If you are willing to step outside the all-inclusive resort bubble, the island provides a world-class tropical experience at a surprisingly accessible price point.
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