\nBudget advice for 2026:<\/strong> If you are arriving in Mauritius to settle down, build your meal budget with 3 levels<\/em> (street food \/ simple restaurant \/ hotel restaurant) and keep a margin linked to inflation. In 2025, inflation was around 3\u20134%<\/strong> According to economic projections and publications: it is reasonable to include a small reserve.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nMeal prices in Mauritius: details by type of establishment<\/h2>\n1) Street food and snacks (the best \u201cprice\/pleasure\u201d ratio)<\/h3>\n
Street food is one of the most economical ways to eat in Mauritius. It is also an excellent gateway to discovering the mix of influences (Indian, Creole, Chinese\u2026).<\/p>\n
\n- Dholl puri \/ roti:<\/strong> Local media have reported an increase starting October 1, 2025, with prices generally mentioned around Rs 25 to Rs 28.50<\/strong> according to the sellers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Note: prices vary depending on size, accompaniments (curries, chutneys), and area (Port Louis, tourist areas, beaches, etc.).<\/p>\n
2) Fast food (clearly displayed prices, frequent promotions)<\/h3>\n
Chains and fast food allow you to keep a stable budget, especially when you haven't yet established your routines (recent arrival, searching for accommodation, administrative procedures...).<\/p>\n
\n- Fast food combo<\/strong> : landmark at \u2248 Rs 225<\/strong> in Port-Louis (collaborative estimation).<\/li>\n
- KFC (examples of prices shown)<\/strong> : a \u201cStreetwise\u201d burger is listed at Rs 165<\/strong>, and meal boxes around Rs 285\u2013300<\/strong> depending on the composition.<\/li>\n
- McDonald's (example of a promotion)<\/strong> \u201cExtra Value Meal\u201d at Rs 99<\/strong> on a weekday time slot (offer displayed online).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Be aware of additional charges: some delivery services display fees delivery fees<\/strong> (e.g., Rs 200 on an order page), which quickly increases the actual cost of the meal.<\/p>\n3) \u201cSimple\u201d restaurants (business lunches, brasseries, local eateries)<\/h3>\n
For a sit-down meal, without going overboard into "premium touristy" territory, a good place to start is... lunch menu<\/strong> (often more advantageous than dinner):<\/p>\n\n- Lunch menu with drink<\/strong> : \u2248 Rs 334<\/strong> (Port-Louis).<\/li>\n
- Simple dinner<\/strong> : \u2248 Rs 1,527 for two<\/strong> (Port-Louis), or approximately Rs 764 per person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This is often the best compromise if you work locally (Ebene, Port-Louis\u2026) or if you want to treat yourself regularly without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n
4) More \u201cexpat\/touristy\u201d restaurants (starter + main course + wine)<\/h3>\n
In more "outdoorsy" establishments, with a more complete experience (aperitif, wine, dessert), prices logically rise.<\/p>\n
\n- Italian dinner for two<\/strong> including aperitifs, main course, wine and dessert: \u2248 Rs 2,375<\/strong> (Port-Louis, collaborative estimate).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5) Hotel buffets and restaurants (the vast difference)<\/h3>\n
In hotels, the cost can vary significantly depending on the type of meal (buffet, set menu, special evening, holiday celebrations). To give you a rough idea based on displayed prices:<\/p>\n
\n- Buffet\/dinner options are listed around Rs 3,400<\/strong> (and more on certain dates and special menus, with higher prices for Christmas\/New Year).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you are a resident, remember to look out for "local" offers when they exist, or lunch deals.<\/p>\n
Drinks: which quickly inflate the bill<\/h2>\n
With the same budget, it's often the drinks that make the difference.<\/p>\n
\n- Cappuccino<\/strong> : \u2248 Rs 145<\/strong> (Port-Louis).<\/li>\n
- Beers and outings<\/strong> : \u2248 Rs 172<\/strong> beer in pubs (Port-Louis); in supermarkets, a landmark is \u2248 Rs 75<\/strong> for a home beer (0.5 L).<\/li>\n
- Cocktails in a club<\/strong> : \u2248 Rs 436<\/strong> (Port-Louis).<\/li>\n
- Wine (supermarket)<\/strong> : \u2248 Rs 500<\/strong> for a \u201cgood quality\u201d bottle (Port-Louis benchmark).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
VAT, service charge, tips: how to read a bill in 2026<\/h2>\n
To properly estimate the price of a meal in Mauritius<\/strong>, You need to know the basic rules:<\/p>\n\n- VAT (VAT):<\/strong> the standard rate is 15%<\/strong> in Mauritius (official source: Mauritius Revenue Authority).<\/li>\n
- Service charge \/ gratuity:<\/strong> Depending on the establishment, a service charge may already be included; otherwise, a "deserved" tip is often mentioned in travel guides, around 10%. In practice, always check your bill (for a line item indicating whether or not there is a "service charge").<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Examples of "meal" budgets (typical day) for 2026<\/h2>\n
These scenarios use published\/displayed price benchmarks (Port Louis and some examples of chains\/hotels). They are intended to help you build a realistic budget.<\/p>\n
Tight budget (street food mix + promo)<\/h3>\n\n- 1 dholl puri\/roti: \u2248 Rs 25\u201328.50<\/strong><\/li>\n
- 1 \u201cvalue meal\u201d promotion: \u2248 Rs 99<\/strong><\/li>\n
- 1 drink \/ coffee (optional): \u2248 Rs 145<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indicative total:<\/strong> \u2248 Rs 124 to Rs 272 (depending on whether you have coffee).<\/p>\n\u201cComfort\u201d budget (lunch + dinner at a simple restaurant)<\/h3>\n\n- Lunch menu (with drink): \u2248 Rs 334<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Simple dinner: \u2248 Rs 764<\/strong> (based on \u201cRs 1,527 for two\u201d)<\/li>\n
- Coffee : \u2248 Rs 145<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indicative total:<\/strong> \u2248 Rs 1,243 for the day.<\/p>\nBudget \u201cpleasure \/ hotel\u201d (one hotel meal during the day)<\/h3>\n\n- 1 hotel\/buffet meal (example): \u2248 Rs 3,400<\/strong><\/li>\n
- + another simple meal (lunch or dinner): \u2248 Rs 334 to Rs 764<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indicative total:<\/strong> \u2248 Rs 3,734 to Rs 4,164 (excluding additional drinks).<\/p>\nHome-cooked meals: estimating the cost without inventing (simple method)<\/h2>\n
If you're moving abroad, cooking can significantly reduce your monthly expenses. To keep costs down, the best approach is to start with observed unit prices<\/strong> (e.g. Port-Louis) and to calculate a cost per portion.<\/p>\nExamples of food prices recorded: 500g of chicken breast \u2248 Rs 142<\/strong>, 1 L of milk \u2248 Rs 59<\/strong>, 12 eggs \u2248 Rs 93<\/strong>, 1 kg of tomatoes \u2248 Rs 68<\/strong>, 1 kg of potatoes \u2248 Rs 49<\/strong>, Bread for 2 people\/day \u2248 Rs 22<\/strong>.<\/p>\nNext, you estimate your portion size (weights) and add them up. This gives you a order of magnitude<\/em> without \u201cguessing\u201d for missing prices (rice, spices, oil, etc. can vary the total).<\/p>\nWhy do prices vary so much depending on the area (North, West, Port Louis\u2026)<\/h2>\n
Two people can spend very different amounts on a meal in Mauritius, even on the same day. The differences often stem from:<\/p>\n
\n- The location:<\/strong> Highly touristic areas (seaside, resorts) vs more local areas.<\/li>\n
- The moment:<\/strong> Lunch deals are often more competitive than dinner deals.<\/li>\n
- The content:<\/strong> Seafood, premium meat, alcohol, desserts and coffee quickly drive up the bill.<\/li>\n
- The macro context:<\/strong> Inflation (around 3\u20134% in 2025 projections and observations) can have repercussions on the restaurant industry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n