{"id":776,"date":"2026-04-23T14:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-mauritius.com\/blog\/ile-maurice-reunion-installer-comparatif-complet-expatries\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:38:00","slug":"mauritius-reunion-island-complete-comparison-for-expats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-mauritius.com\/en\/blog\/ile-maurice-reunion-installer-comparatif-complet-expatries\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauritius or Reunion Island: where to settle? The complete comparison for expats"},"content":{"rendered":"

The choice is made quickly. Mauritius often attracts expatriation projects thanks to dedicated statuses such as the Occupation Permit<\/a> and a transparent tax system, while R\u00e9union remains within the French framework, with residency procedures specific to overseas departments and regions, via the DROM\/CTOM form. France-Visas<\/a>. The latest official data also shows a tighter labor market in R\u00e9union than in Mauritius, with 17.1% unemployment in 2024 compared to 5.6% in the third quarter of 2025.passport.govmu.org<\/a>)<\/p>\n

If you want to proceed methodically, the Practical guides to prepare your installation<\/a> will help you structure the budget, health, school and transport before making a decision.<\/p>\n

Quick answer: which island to choose?<\/h2>\n

If your priority is entrepreneurship, flexible residency, and an international environment, Mauritius is often the most logical choice. If you are looking for continuity with French administrative, educational, and social services, R\u00e9union is generally more reassuring. This is confirmed by recent population and employment figures, as well as the residency regulations specific to each island. (passport.govmu.org)<\/p>\n

Quick comparison table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Criteria<\/th>\nMauritius<\/th>\nReunion Island<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Stay<\/td>\nSeparate permits depending on your profile: investor, professional, self-employed, or retired. (passport.govmu.org)<\/td>\nFrench framework for foreigners, with visa or residence permit depending on the situation. (france-visas.gouv.fr)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Labor market<\/td>\nUnemployment is estimated at 5.6% in the third quarter of 2025.statsmauritius.govmu.org<\/a>)<\/td>\nUnemployment of 17,130 in 2024.insee.fr<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost of living<\/td>\nBudget is highly dependent on the neighborhood, housing, and schooling.<\/td>\nPrices measured at +9 % compared to mainland France in 2022, with food up to +37 %.insee.fr<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taxation<\/td>\nIndividual tax rates of 0 %, 10 % and 20 % from July 1, 2025, with VAT and corporation tax at 15 %.mra.mu<\/a>)<\/td>\nFrench taxation, therefore more familiar if you already live under the French tax system. (france-visas.gouv.fr)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Population<\/td>\n1,241,856 inhabitants by the end of 2025.statsmauritius.govmu.org<\/a>)<\/td>\n896,200 inhabitants as of January 1, 2025. (insee.fr)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In practice, Mauritius is better suited to an international project structured around residency status and a carefully planned budget, while R\u00e9union is more appropriate for a more "French-style" lifestyle. This inference is based on residency regulations, the job market, and price data published by the official sources mentioned above. (passport.govmu.org)<\/p>\n

The real criteria for deciding<\/h2>\n

The monthly budget<\/h3>\n

In R\u00e9union, prices are structurally higher than in mainland France for many consumer goods, which quickly puts a strain on the budget of a newly arrived household. In Mauritius, the final cost depends heavily on the area, the type of housing, the car, and the choice of school. If you want to avoid approximations, rely on a breakdown of each item rather than an overly vague "average budget." (insee.fr)<\/p>\n

THE Practical guides for expatriates<\/a> are useful for defining these positions before signing a lease or sending a container.<\/p>\n

Work and activity<\/h3>\n

Unemployment data paints a simple yet telling picture: the Mauritian job market appears less tight than that of R\u00e9union. This doesn't mean that simply arriving will guarantee a job, but it does suggest that in Mauritius, profiles oriented towards business, services, and international mobility may be better aligned with the local ecosystem. (statsmauritius.govmu.org)<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurship and taxation<\/h3>\n

If your project includes setting up a business, Mauritius is often much easier for an expatriate to understand: the individual tax rates published by the MRA, combined with a VAT rate of 15% and a corporate tax rate of 15%, create a straightforward framework for a manager or freelancer. In R\u00e9union, you remain within the French tax system, which is convenient for some profiles, but less advantageous if your goal is to optimize an international relocation. (mra.mu)<\/p>\n

Residence status<\/h3>\n

The starting point isn't housing, but status. In Mauritius, you must choose the right category from the outset: investor, professional, self-employed, retiree, or, depending on the circumstances, permanent resident. In R\u00e9union, the procedures fall under French law and require a valid reason for stay. If you haven't yet secured your right to stay, Mauritius and R\u00e9union shouldn't be compared solely on a postcard basis. (passport.govmu.org)<\/p>\n

If you are seriously comparing the two options, also take the time to check the operator behind the publishing project. legal notices<\/a> They specify the framework of the platform, which is useful when preparing to entrust a sensitive matter.<\/p>\n

What profile for which destination?<\/h2>\n