Essentials
- Internet Speed
- Average 40-100 Mbps; Fiber is available in the town center via Orange and SFR
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€); 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major French banks include BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, though many locals prefer bottled water due to occasional Chlordecone concerns in certain rural areas
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets (French standard)
- SIM Card
- Orange, SFR Caraïbe, and Free; Free Mobile offers 250GB for €19.99/mo including roaming
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and N26 are widely used; local accounts at Banque Postale are accessible for residents
- Accommodation
- Villas and apartments; Airbnb and Gîtes de France are primary platforms
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly yes; cards accepted in supermarkets and restaurants, cash needed for small bakeries and markets
- City
- Le Moule, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, France
- Population
- Approximately 22,500
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local agencies like Antilles Exception (approx. €800-€1,200/month for a studio)
- Budget Accommodation
- Shivas Surf Camp offers affordable rooms starting at €50/night near the surf spots
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Baie de l'Autre Bord; beachfront area with access to the lagoon and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Downtown (Centre-Ville) for proximity to shops and fiber internet, or L'Autre Bord for leisure balance
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Spot Coworking (located in Jarry, 45 mins away); locally in Le Moule, nomads work from WWI (World Wild Island) hubs
- Best Cafe for Work
- Le Spot at L'Autre Bord; offers decent Wi-Fi and a view of the lagoon
- Networking Events
- French Tech Guadeloupe meetups (usually in Pointe-à-Pitre or Jarry)
- Social Events for Expats
- Le Moule Surf School gatherings and Friday night 'Léwoz' (traditional Gwo Ka music events)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber; Karukera Taxi or local 'Taxi de l'Est' are used, but very expensive
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Volo Velo for bicycles; approximately €20/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Plage de l'Autre Bord (calm) and Plage des Dauphins (active/surf)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Antilles and Air Caraïbes
- Top International Airline
- Air France (direct from Paris), Corsair, and JetBlue (seasonal from JFK)
- Highway Access
- RN5 connects Le Moule to Pointe-à-Pitre and the airport in 35-40 minutes
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Gare Routière du Moule is the main bus hub
- Public Transport Passes
- KarU'Lis bus network; single tickets are €1.20, monthly passes approx. €40
- Regional Travel
- Global Bus service to Saint-François and Sainte-Anne for €2-€5
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- CHOR (Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Grand-Terre) in nearby Saint-Martin/Le Moule border
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Passion Guadeloupe; offers seaside sessions at L'Autre Bord
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Keep Cool Le Moule; modern equipment, approx. €35/month
- Laundry Services
- Laverie Automatique 'Le Lave Linge' located in the center near the market
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- FoodSwoop or Lyveat (service can be limited compared to mainland France)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bokit (fried bread sandwich) from 'Chez Henriette' and grilled fish (Vivaneau)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Le Jardin de l'Est; offers plant-based Caribbean fusion
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pâtisserie de l'Anse; famous for Tourment d'Amour and coconut tarts
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Carrefour Contact and the local fish market at the Port
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr (shipping is expensive and slow); Cdiscount is an alternative
- Grocery Delivery
- Destreland Drive (delivery to pick-up points)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Boulevard at L'Autre Bord; bars like 'Le Schiva' for sunset drinks
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie de la Lézarde (based in Petit-Bourg but widely sold in Le Moule)
- Wine Bars
- La Cave du Moule; excellent selection of French wines and rums
- Street Food Stalls
- The nightly 'Bokit' vans at the Boulevard de l'Autre Bord
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ti-Havane (Cuban/Caribbean fusion) and various Pizzerias in the town square
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Distillerie Damoiseau; famous rum distillery with free tasting area
- Museums & Art Venues
- Edgar Clerc Archaeological Museum (Amerindian history)
- Historical Sites
- L'Habitation Néron (former sugar plantation)
- Religious Sites
- Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste; iconic neoclassical architecture
- Annual Events
- Carnaval (January-March) and the Fête du Rhum at Damoiseau
- Cultural Districts
- The Waterfront/Boulevard for public art and monuments
- Theater Venues
- Salle Robert Loyson; local cultural performances and cinema
- Local Markets
- Marché Agricole du Moule (Wednesday afternoons) for fresh produce
- Music Scene
- Café de la Gare for live Gwo Ka jazz sessions
- Street Art
- Murals on the walls of the old sugar factory ruins
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier de la Main à la Pâte (local Creole cooking workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie l'Art s'en Mêle
- Historic Buildings
- The Town Hall (Mairie) with its colonial architecture
- Local Heritage
- The 'Moulien' identity, rooted in being a historic port of resistance
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Porte d'Enfer (Gate of Hell); spectacular cliffs and coastal hiking
- National Parks Nearby
- Parc National de la Guadeloupe (1 hour drive to the Basse-Terre side)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The coastal path from Plage de la Baie to Pointe de la Couronne
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Pointe de la Grande Vigie (northernmost tip, 20 mins drive)
- Birdwatching Locations
- The wetlands near the Ouassensia river
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted on main beaches; allowed at designated picnic zones with local permits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (Colissimo) and DHL Express in the Z.A. (Industrial zone)
- Tech Repair Services
- Gwad'Informatique in the town center
- Table Tennis Spots
- Omnisports Hall of Le Moule
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (located in Pointe-à-Pitre, tutoring available locally)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Médiathèque Le Moule; quiet and air-conditioned
- Community Centers
- Centre Social de Damencourt
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited; mostly internet cafes in the town center
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino du Gossier (40 mins away)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (Example: 40 m² = €128,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (Example: 40 m² = €104,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (Example: 60 m² = €180,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,400 per m² (Example: 60 m² = €144,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (Example: 80 m² = €224,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (Example: 80 m² = €176,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard French rate; some exemptions apply for local zone developments)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat tax/Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique)
- Tax System
- French tax system; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% plus a surcharge for high earners
- VAT
- 8.5% (Lower than mainland France's 20%)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, French tax code Article 209 B applies
- Property Tax
- Yes, Taxe Foncière (varies by municipality)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% for existing properties (Notaire fees)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; however, French 'Auto-entrepreneur' status offers simplified accounting for freelancers