🇲🇺 Mauritius
Port Louis: what to see and whether to move there
Port Louis is a compact port capital under an extinct volcano, where colonial forts, Hindu temples and a Chinatown all sit within a short walk of the harbour.
Le Caudan Waterfront
A harbourside development of shops, restaurants, a cinema and a marina right on the water.
Blue Penny Museum
A museum inside Caudan Waterfront housing Mauritius's legendary 1847 postage stamps.
Port Louis Central Market
A two-storey market for spices, tropical fruit and street food, five minutes from the waterfront.
Champ de Mars Racecourse
The world's second-oldest racecourse, running since 1812, where the whole city turns out on Saturdays.
Aapravasi Ghat
A UNESCO site marking the landing point of the first indentured Indian labourers in the 19th century.
Fort Adelaide (Citadelle)
A hilltop fort with panoramic views over the harbour and the mountains around Port Louis.
Jummah Mosque
The island's oldest and most beautiful mosque, right in the heart of the capital.
Chinatown
A compact Chinese quarter of noodle shops, dim sum and old-school spice stores.
Municipal Garden (Company Garden)
A shady historic garden in the city centre, home to century-old banyan trees.
Le Café des Arts
A cosy café near the waterfront for coffee and dessert after a walk through the market.
Is it worth moving to Port Louis and Mauritius in 2026
Port Louis is the business capital of Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island with English and French, a stable economy and a tax system under which foreign income is taxed only when remitted to the island. The city itself is offices, the port and markets, while newcomers usually prefer to live on the coast or the cooler central plateau. The island suits remote workers, families with foreign income and investors ready to buy a home in an approved project.
What it costs to live in Mauritius
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in central Port Louis | ~$460-480 |
| One-bedroom flat outside the centre | ~$240-280 |
| Utilities for an 85 m² flat | ~$45 |
| Home internet | ~$29 |
| Public transport pass | ~$32-33 |
| One person's costs without rent | ~$470-560 |
| Family of four without rent | ~$1,400-2,090 |
| Average salary after tax | ~$690 |
Prices come from two independent 2026 price databases, with rupees converted at the Bank of Mauritius mid rate of 5 October 2026, 47.56 rupees per dollar. Rents on the coast and in complexes for foreigners are noticeably higher than in Port Louis.
Where to live in Mauritius
- Grand Baie - the north, beaches, restaurants and many foreigners.
- Ebène and Moka - the business cybercity and green residential areas in the centre, near international schools.
- Tamarin and Black River - the sunny west, surfing and villas in complexes for foreigners.
- Curepipe and Quatre Bornes - the cooler central plateau, cheaper than the coast.
- Flic en Flac - the resort west with a long beach.
- Port Louis - offices, the port and market, chosen less often for living because of traffic and heat.
Nomad visa and residence
| Route | Condition |
|---|---|
| Remote worker visa | income from $1,500 a month per adult and $500 per child, over 6 months and up to a year, renewable, no government fee |
| Buying a home in an approved project | from $375,000, residence for the buyer and family while ownership lasts |
| Business and technology | from $100,000 |
| Start-up | from $40,000 |
The remote worker visa is applied for online, and it only allows work for foreign clients. Investor residence usually takes 6-8 months. More on the Mauritius digital nomad visa and Mauritius residence by investment pages.
Taxes in Mauritius
Income tax is progressive: the first 500,000 rupees a year, about $10,520, are tax-free, the next 500,000 are taxed at 10% and the rest at 20%. From the tax year starting 1 July 2025, income above 12 million rupees carries an additional 15% levy. A resident's foreign income is taxed only when remitted to the island, and there are no capital gains or inheritance taxes. Corporate tax is 15% and VAT is 15%. More on the Taxes in Mauritius page.
Buying property
Foreigners buy homes in approved programmes: resort complexes, property schemes and smart cities, where a purchase from $375,000 gives residence. A flat in a building of three or more floors can be bought from 6 million rupees with Economic Development Board approval, but such a purchase does not give residence. The registration duty for non-citizens under these programmes is 5%: the rise to 10% planned for 1 July 2026 was repealed by the Finance Act 2026.
Work and business
Mauritius is a financial centre for investment into Africa and India: banks, fund managers and service companies operate in Ebène, and international companies with a global business licence pay 15% corporate tax with partial exemptions for certain income. A foreigner needs an occupation permit to work or run a business, which combines the right to live and work. Local salaries are low, about $690 a month, so people usually move with their own business or remote work.
Climate, language and everyday life
The tropical climate means a hot, humid summer from November to April with possible cyclones, and a winter from May to October of about 20-25 degrees, cooler on the plateau. The official language is English, and French and Creole are used in daily life. People mostly drive, traffic is on the left, and a light rail line runs between Port Louis and Curepipe. Public healthcare is free, while newcomers more often use private clinics. There are international schools with British and French curricula.
Mauritius or other islands
| Country | Income tax | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | 0%, 10% and 20% | foreign income taxed only when remitted |
| Barbados | 11.5% and 27.5% | remote work visa with no tax on remote income |
| Saint Lucia | 15-30% | foreign income taxed when remitted |
| Cayman Islands | 0% | very high living costs |
People choose Mauritius for moderate prices, English and French, and residence through buying a home, which most Caribbean islands do not offer.
Pitfalls
- Traffic into Port Louis at rush hour.
- Cyclone season from November to April.
- Foreign income is taxed when remitted, so transfers need planning.
- Local salaries are low, local jobs are hard to find, and work permits are arranged by the employer.
- The buyer adds a 5% registration duty to the price of a home.
Murblz specialists obtain the remote worker visa or investor residence, find housing and plan taxes.
Services
Murblz services in Mauritius
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
FAQ
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Relocation options
Want Mauritius residence with a home near Port Louis?
We find Mauritius property that grants residence to the buyer and family, check the project and handle the application. The catalogue lists investor residence in other countries.