Moving to Mauritius from Portugal
What to Expect
Considering a move from Portugal to Mauritius? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Portugal to Mauritius, you would find that Mauritius is 27.7% cheaper than Portugal overall. A €64,826 salary in Portugal would need to be roughly MUR2,391,511 in Mauritius to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, French and Mauritian Creole. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Louis averages 85°F vs 69°F in Lisbon, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Portugal and Mauritius.
What does your salary buy?
€64,826 → MUR2,391,511
To maintain the same standard of living in Mauritius
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 49.0% less
Groceries
pay 21.3% less
Transportation
pay 20.5% more
Housing
pay 49.3% less
Childcare
pay 65.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Mauritius compared to Portugal.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Portugal performs better than Mauritius across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mauritius leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Portugal performs better than Mauritius across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Portugal performs better than Mauritius across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Mauritius generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Portugal performs better than Mauritius across all family life metrics.
Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lisbon | Port Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) | 89°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 85°/71°F (29°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 81°/67°F (27°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 86°/71°F (30°/22°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lisbon | Port Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) | 89°/75°F (31.5°/24.1°C) |
| Feb | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) | 89°/75°F (31.4°/24.0°C) |
| Mar | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) | 89°/75°F (31.5°/23.8°C) |
| Apr | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) | 87°/73°F (30.7°/23.0°C) |
| May | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) | 85°/71°F (29.3°/21.5°C) |
| Jun | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) | 82°/68°F (27.6°/19.9°C) |
| Jul | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) | 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) | 80°/66°F (26.8°/19.1°C) |
| Sep | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) | 82°/67°F (27.7°/19.4°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) | 84°/69°F (28.8°/20.4°C) |
| Nov | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.8°C) |
| Dec | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) | 88°/74°F (31.1°/23.2°C) |
Data:
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera,
Mauritius Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Portugal and Mauritius. To live, work, or study long-term in Mauritius, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Mauritius's immigration authority.
Portugal passport holder visiting Mauritius
Visa Free
Mauritius passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Mauritius than Portugal?
On average Mauritius is about 33% less expensive than Portugal, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Mauritius?
Budget about MUR597,878 for 3 months in Mauritius (based on a €64,826 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Mauritius?
Connectivity is usually fine (Mauritius: 25.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Mauritius offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Mauritius safe for expats?
Portugal performs better than Mauritius across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Mauritius is 2.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.
How is healthcare in Mauritius compared to Portugal?
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mauritius leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Mauritius, compared to 57.7 in Portugal. Mauritius scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).
What's the weather like in Mauritius compared to Portugal?
The average high temperature in Port Louis is 85°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Port Louis receives around 28.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.
What language do they speak in Mauritius?
The official languages in Mauritius are English, French and Mauritian Creole. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.
