What if you were born in Mauritius?

If you had grown up in Mauritius instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Port Louis could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Le Morne Brabant peninsula. Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Mauritius

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in MUR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Mauritius: MUR 53,700Rs 316,000
Rent (city centre): MUR 15,500
Transport (public transport): MUR 3,650
Food: MUR 7,760
Saved: MUR 8,060

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Mauritius: MUR 123,000Rs 726,000
Rent (suburbs): MUR 31,500
Transport (public transport): MUR 8,390
Food: MUR 21,000
Saved: MUR 18,500

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Mauritius: MUR 200,000Rs 1,180,000
Rent (city centre): MUR 49,000
Transport (car): MUR 18,700
Food: MUR 24,500
Saved: MUR 56,000

Try it with my own income

A day in Port Louis

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Port Louis, a city of mild winters around 23°C and warm summers around 28°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak English.
Lunch
Lunch might be dholl puri: flatbread filled with yellow split peas, served with curry.
Evening
You get home with MUR 18,500 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Mauritius compared with Pakistan

	Mauritius	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.9× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	74 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	14 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	5.6%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	25°C	26°C
Languages	English, French, Mauritian Creole	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	MUR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Mauritius, living in Mauritius and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Mauritius?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around MUR 123,000 a month at the same level in Mauritius (about Rs 726,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Mauritius more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.9 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Mauritius?

Mainly English, French, Mauritian Creole. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to Mauritius?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Mauritius page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.