Cash or Card in Mauritius? Your Complete Money Guide (2026)

Money questions are the most asked topic in every Mauritius travel group, and it is easy to see why. The answer is not as simple as it sounds. Mauritius is an island where a five-star resort sits ten minutes from a street food market, where taxis do not use meters and ATMs are scarce in the places you most want to explore. Get your money setup right and you will not think about it for the rest of the trip. Get it wrong and you will be negotiating with a taxi driver in the dark with nothing smaller than a Rs 2,000 note.

This guide covers everything: the currency, where to get the best exchange rates, when to use cash and when cards work fine, how much to bring, and what locals actually do.

The North Island Tour takes you through Port-Louis Central Market, the most vibrant street food scence on the island, and up the north coast past Cap Malheureux, before ending the day at a hidden waterfall. Almost everything you encounter along the way is cash. Our guides know every stop and can help you navigate like a local from day one.

 

The Currency: What You Need To Know

The Mauritian rupee (MUR) is the only legal tender in Mauritius. Notes come in denominations of Rs 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000. Coins run from 5 cents up to Rs 20.

A few things worth knowing before you arrive:

Always pay in rupees. Some larger hotels and tourist shops quote prices in euros or US dollars, but paying in foreign currency almost always means a poor exchange rate built into the price. Ask to pay in rupees and you will consistently get better value.

The Rs 2,000 note is a problem. ATMs often dispense large notes. Many small vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, and market stalls cannot change a Rs 2,000 note. Always ask for smaller denominations when withdrawing or exchanging, and break large notes at supermarkets and petrol stations at the first opportunity.

Approximate exchange rates as of June 5, 2026. Rs 63 to £1 GBP, Rs 55 to €1 EUR, Rs 47 to $1 USD. Rates fluctuate daily, so check before you travel, but these give you a working sense of what things cost.

 

Where to Get The Best Exchange Rate

This is where most visitors lose money without realising it, and it is entirely avoidable.

Best option: a transaction fee-free ATM card. This is what savvy travellers use and what most guides do not tell you clearly enough. Cards like Revolut, Wise, and Charles Schwab (for US travellers) or Capital One (for US travellers) charge no foreign transaction fees and give you the interbank exchange rate, which is the closest rate to what banks trade at wholesale. Withdraw rupees directly from an MCB or SBM ATM using one of these cards and you will consistently get a better rate than any cash exchange counter on the island, including the airport. Set the card up before you leave home and you can top up your rupee cash whenever you need it, from any major town.

Second best: exchange at the airport on arrival. The exchange counters at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport are open around the clock, including late-night arrivals. The rates are competitive and more reliable than most options in town. Bring a larger amount to exchange in one go as the rate improves with the amount. You will need your passport for any currency transaction in Mauritius.

Third: local money changers. Operators like Shibani Finance and Thomas Cook branches in Port Louis and Grand Baie consistently offer better rates than banks or hotel exchange desks. If you are in town and need to top up, these are the places to go.

Avoid: hotel exchange desks. Convenient, but the rates are routinely the worst on the island. The difference on a Rs 50,000 exchange can be significant. Only use them in an emergency.

Avoid: exchanging before you travel. Do not buy Mauritian rupees in your home country. Rates from UK, European, and US providers for MUR are poor. Change on arrival in Mauritius.

 

!	Pro Tip: If you are travelling from India, convert Indian rupees to US dollars before you leave, then convert dollars to Mauritian rupees at the airport on arrival. The intermediary step gets you a meaningfully better rate.

 

Cash or Card: The Honest Answer

The honest answer is both, and the balance matters more than most guides admit. Here is how it actually breaks down across different situations.

Use cash for:

•       Street food and local markets. Dholl puri, gateaux piments, alouda, fresh fruit, spices — everything at Port Louis Central Market runs on cash. No exceptions.

•       Taxis. Taxis in Mauritius do not use meters. Agree the price before you get in, and have the exact amount ready if you can.

•       Small guesthouses and locally run accommodation. Airbnbs and smaller family-run hotels frequently prefer or require cash, particularly for deposits.

•       Village restaurants and local snacks. The family-run restaurants where you will eat the best food on the island are almost universally cash operations.

•       Roadside stalls and beach vendors. Coconut water, grilled corn, fresh juice, alouda carts at the beach: all cash.

 

Use card for:

•       Supermarkets and large shops. Most supermarkets across the island accept Visa, Mastercard and Union Pay without issue.

•       Resort and hotel restaurants. All resort dining and most mid-range and upmarket restaurants accept cards.

•       Petrol stations. Most accept cards, and they are also a reliable place to break large notes.

 

Practical split: Withdraw enough cash at the airport for two to three days of street food, taxis, and small purchases — roughly Rs 3,000 to 5,000 per person. Then use your card for larger hotel and restaurant bills and top up your cash from ATMs as needed.