Essentials
- Internet Speed
- 100 Mbps via My.T Fiber or Canal Plus
- Currency & Banking
- Mauritian Rupee (MUR). 1 USD ≈ 46 MUR, 1 EUR ≈ 50 MUR
- Tap Water
- Potable, but filtering/boiling is recommended for sensitive stomachs
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) and Type C (European)
- SIM Card
- my.t (Mauritius Telecom) or Emtel. Pre-paid 100GB data for approx. 600 MUR ($13)
- Banking for Expats
- MCB (Mauritius Commercial Bank), SBM, and Absa Mauritius. Revolut/Wise work at ATMs
- Accommodation
- Residential villas and colonial-style apartments. Local listings on LexpressProperty
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly yes in malls; cash preferred in smaller boutiques and local markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; average $45-$80 per night
- Budget Accommodation
- Residence Hotel or small guest houses near Jan Palach Square (approx. 1,500 MUR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Trou aux Cerfs area for views and the cooler climate
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Floréal (upscale, quiet) or Forest Side (residential, cooler weather)
- Population
- 80,000
- City
- Curepipe, Plaines Wilhems District, Mauritius
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Ground (Cassis/Port Louis - 30 mins commute) or Workshop (Ebene - 15 mins commute)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Artisan Coffee at Manhattan Shopping Centre (Free WiFi, quiet corners)
- Networking Events
- Monthly meetups at Ebene Cybercity (15 mins drive away) or French Hub events
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Mauritius groups and the 'Expats in Mauritius' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Yugo or Alalila. Standard trips around town approx. 200-400 MUR
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- West Coast Scooter Rental (delivery available, approx. 600 MUR/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Flic en Flac (West Coast), approx. 35-40 minutes drive away
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Mauritius (Flights to Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles)
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Air France, and Turkish Airlines via SSR International Airport
- Highway Access
- Direct access to M1 Motorway linking North and South
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Curepipe Central Metro Station (Metro Express terminal) and Jan Palach Bus Station
- Public Transport Passes
- MECard for Metro Express. Fares between 30 and 55 MUR
- Regional Travel
- Metro Express to Port Louis (45 mins) or Rose Hill (25 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Clinique Darné (Floréal) - Private, high-end healthcare
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Wellness Loft in Floréal (Yoga and Pilates classes)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Ennoia Sports & Health Club at Les Casernes (approx. 2,000 MUR/month)
- Laundry Services
- Pressing de Curepipe (Rue Chasteauneuf)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- OrderManche or Munch My
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Dholl Puri at the Curepipe Market or Boulettes (Dumplings) at Ti-Koulou
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Govinda’s (near the center) for affordable Vedic vegetarian meals
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pâtisserie Suisse (Rue Chasteauneuf) for traditional cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Curepipe Market (Bazar) for fresh produce at local prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- PriceGuru.mu and Marideal.mu
- Grocery Delivery
- Winners.mu or Monoprix delivery services
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Curepipe is quiet at night; head to Grand Baie or Flic en Flac for nightlife
- Local Brewery
- Phoenix Beverages (Largest brewery in Mauritius, located nearby in Vacoas)
- Wine Bars
- Le Pot de Vin in Floréal
- Street Food Stalls
- Jan Palach Bus Station stalls for Gates Piments (chili cakes)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Luigi's Italian for pizza and pasta in the town center
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Trou aux Cerfs (dormant volcano crater)
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Carnegie Library (Historical manuscripts and architecture)
- Historical Sites
- Curepipe Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), a classic colonial wooden building
- Religious Sites
- Sainte Thérèse d'Avila Church
- Annual Events
- Thaipoosam Cavadee (January/February) - major colorful procession
- Cultural Districts
- Floréal Square for high-end textiles and local diamond cutting history
- Theater Venues
- Municipal Theatre of Curepipe (Classic architecture, currently undergoing renovation)
- Local Markets
- Curepipe Central Market (open daily, best on Wednesdays and Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- Local Sega performances at hotels in nearby coastal regions
- Street Art
- Limited in Curepipe; more prevalent in Port Louis (30 mins away)
- Cooking Classes
- Shakti’s Kitchen (private home-based Mauritian cooking lessons)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie d’Art Adamah Fine Arts (nearby Floréal)
- Historic Buildings
- Royal College Curepipe (classic stone architecture)
- Local Heritage
- The Dodo heritage symbols and tea culture at nearby Bois Cheri
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Black River Gorges National Park (15 mins drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Bras d’Eau National Park (45 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Trou aux Cerfs crater rim walk (approx. 1.2 km loop)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Trou aux Cerfs view of Rempart Mountain and Trois Mamelles
- Birdwatching Locations
- Black River Gorges for the Pink Pigeon and Echo Parakeet
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally restricted; allowed only at designated beach campsites like Flic en Flac
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Mauritius (Floréal branch) and Mauritius Post
- Tech Repair Services
- 101 Multimedia in Curepipe center for laptop and mobile repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Manhattan Shopping Centre (Leisure area)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (Bell Village - 25 mins away) for French classes
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Carnegie Library (Quiet, colonial setting with large desks)
- Community Centers
- Curepipe Social Centre (near the central bus station)
- Gaming Lounges
- Gamer's Hub (Vacoas - 10 mins away)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino de Maurice (One of the oldest in the country)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 85,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 3,400,000 MUR / $74,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 60,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 2,400,000 MUR / $52,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 80,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 4,800,000 MUR / $104,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 55,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 3,300,000 MUR / $72,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 75,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 6,000,000 MUR / $130,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 50,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 4,000,000 MUR / $87,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (80% partial exemption available for certain sectors)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents; 183-day rule applies
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 15%
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applied to companies with passive income
- Property Tax
- None (Municipal rates apply for services, approx. 3,000 MUR/year)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Registration Duty plus 0.5% Administrative fee
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Premium Visa allows for 1-year residency with 0% tax on foreign income if not remitted