One of the main questions when preparing for a trip to Mauritius is what kind of money is used in Mauritius and what currency to take with you. I will tell you where it is best to exchange money on the island, which cards are accepted for payment in shops and restaurants, how high is the commission at ATMs and about the characteristics of local banks.
What currencies are used in Mauritius?
The official currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee. You will have to use it for paying almost everywhere. In rental offices and hotels, prices are often indicated in two currencies: in Mauritanian Rupees and in Euros. In hotels, rentals and some other tourist places they do accept payment in Euros, but in shops, banks, national parks and other places only Rupees are accepted.
What does money look like in Mauritius?
Both banknotes and coins are in circulation in Mauritius. There are also ordinary paper and polymer banknotes. Therefore, it is pleasant to hold some of the money in your hands, and some of the bills are worn out and tattered.
This is what the bills look like:
This is what Mauritian coins look like:
Mauritian Rupee to Dollar and Euro exchange rate
Current exchange rate of Mauritian Rupee (MUR) to Dollar and Euro:
- 1$ = 46.51 Rupees (MUR)
- 1€ = 49.49 Rupees (MUR)
What is the best place for currency exchange?
There are many exchange offices in Mauritius where you can exchange Euros and Dollars for the Mauritian currency, Rupees. This can be done at a bank, at an exchange machine (I tried to change money using a machine in Trou aux Biches, but the machine didn’t work), at a hotel, at the airport, or manually. The last method is the least profitable.
The bank will exchange your money for rupees at the best rate but be aware that banks in Mauritius close very early. Most banks are open until 15:00 on weekdays, and until 11:00 on weekends. Only a few banks are open until 16:00 or 17:00.
You need a passport for currency exchange.
You can change rupees back to Dollars or Euros only at the airport.
Is it possible to pay using bank cards?
Mauritius accepts bank cards of all common international types: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners, UnionPay. At the same time, you can pay with a bank card almost everywhere. Some stores even ask for the currency of the card in order to make a transaction using it. True, there are usually only three currencies to choose from: Dollar, Euro and Rupee.
There are many places where you can pay contactless using Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. For example, I easily paid with a card linked to Samsung Pay on the beach at a street food stall. But in the large supermarket Super U it was not possible to pay for the purchase like this. I didn’t have my regular card with me and had to cancel my purchase.
Which ATMs to use for money withdrawals in Mauritius
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are found in almost all places where tourists may need cash, but not all ATMs are profitable for withdrawing money.
Some ATMs charge an additional fee of 200 rupees (4.04 €) for withdrawing money. So, you will pay a commission to your bank for withdrawing cash in a foreign country and a foreign ATM, then you will pay for currency conversion and on top of that you will pay a Mauritius bank for using their ATM. In this case, the commission for cash withdrawal can be up to €10 per withdrawal. In order not to overpay, avoid blue ATMs and pay in stores with your card – it’s more profitable.
Hello!
My name is Tatiana, and I am glad to see you in my Mauritius travel guide.
For more than 12 years I have been traveling and creating travel guides to different countries. For the first time I got to Mauritius in 2018. I got inspired by the island so much that I decided to create this guide.
I personally visited all the places described on this site. Photos and texts are also taken and written by me. I update articles regularly to keep them up to date.
I hope you’ll forgive any errors or awkward phrasing, as I am not a native English speaker.
- Find the best flight to Mauritius – Trip.com.
- Score a sweet deal on a hotel – Booking.com
- Hire a car – Localrent.
- Book a taxi from / to the airport – GetTransfer or KiwiTaxi.
- Find interesting or unique tours & activities – GetYourGuide.