Compare countries · Mauritius vs South Africa
Mauritius vs South Africa
Mauritius(Africa)·
South Africa(Africa)
Across 10 comparable indicators: Mauritius leads on 8, South Africa on 2. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Mauritius cheaper than South Africa?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Mauritius at 38.3 and South Africa at 37.1. South Africa is about 3% cheaper overall.
Is Mauritius or South Africa safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Mauritius scores 1.59 and South Africa scores 2.31. Mauritius ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Mauritius or South Africa?
On the UN Human Development Index, Mauritius scores 0.806 and South Africa scores 0.741. Mauritius scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Mauritius compared to South Africa?
GNI per capita runs $14,040 in Mauritius against $6,270 in South Africa; people live 73.8 years on average against 66.3. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Mauritius
38.3
Better than 60% of countries
South Africa
37.1
Better than 63% of countries
South Africa: 3% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Mauritius
10.9
Better than 71% of countries
South Africa
13.0
Better than 57% of countries
Mauritius: 16% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Mauritius
1.59
Better than 89% of countries
South Africa
2.31
Worse than 76% of countries
Mauritius: more peaceful (1.59 vs 2.31).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Mauritius
49.8
Worse than 64% of countries
South Africa
25.5
Worse than 97% of countries
Mauritius: higher perceived safety (49.8 vs 25.5).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Mauritius
0.806
Better than 62% of countries
South Africa
0.741
Around the global middle
Mauritius: higher human development (0.806 vs 0.741).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Mauritius
$33,667
Better than 63% of countries
South Africa
$15,906
Worse than 59% of countries
Mauritius: 112% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Mauritius
73.8 yrs
Around the global middle
South Africa
66.3 yrs
Worse than 84% of countries
Mauritius: 7.5 years longer on average.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Mauritius
59 Mbps
Worse than 65% of countries
South Africa
48 Mbps
Worse than 73% of countries
Mauritius: 22% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Mauritius
71/100
Better than 76% of countries
South Africa
78/100
Better than 88% of countries
South Africa: freer press (78 vs 71 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Mauritius
5.94
Around the global middle
South Africa
5.01
Worse than 69% of countries
Mauritius: happier on the Cantril ladder (5.94 vs 5.01).
Not comparable for this pair
- Healthcare index: Numbeo doesn't publish a healthcare index for one of these countries.
- English proficiency: EF doesn't score one of these countries — usually because English is a native language there.
- Climate pleasantness: Numbeo doesn't publish a climate index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Mauritius and South Africa for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Mauritius profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full South Africa profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.