Living in Mauritius

Mauritius has made itself a finance hub, and low taxes are a large part of the draw. Pay sits mid-range while the island's costs run high, so even with little going to tax, a salary leaves little to spare once life is covered. Where it stands apart is access, with hiring more open here than across most of the region and finance and tourism the readiest ways in. English carries through working life, so the everyday comes without a language hurdle.

Mauritius is a country people leave more than they come to: some 114.3K Mauritians live abroad, against fewer than 28K foreign-born residents at home. The diaspora has edged up only 4% over the past decade, and it leans heavily toward the former colonial connection — France hosts the largest share at 44.7K, followed by Australia and Canada. Arrivals, by contrast, come mainly from India and Bangladesh.