What budget to travel Mayotte? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Mayotte?

Count between 60 and 80 € for a day at sea. This may seem like a budget, but it often includes pastries and coffee in the morning, lunch and punch at noon, and many hours of sailing as the trips start at 8am and end around 4-5pm. It would be a shame to miss out on such activities, so if you are on a tight budget, plan to cut back on food and transportation. Guided tours or workshops to discover the local culture cost around 20 € for 1 or 2 hours. Two activities are fortunately free: hiking and swimming on the beautiful coral reefs.

If the sea outings may seem expensive at first sight (count between 60 and 80 € for the day), they are not expensive considering the show that is offered to you and the number of hours spent on (or in) the water. For sports activities, count between 10 and 20 € for a paddle or kayak rental per hour. Finally, the most restricted budgets will turn to the free activities: hiking and snorkeling.

Products coming from France are mostly taxed when they arrive in Mayotte, so you have to expect a surcharge for imported goods, especially food, computers and furniture. To spend less, nothing is better than spending locally: do your food shopping at the market, and hunt in the artisan shops.

Take advantage of happy hours to get discounts on drinks and enjoy the sunset. Most nightclubs or bars are free for girls until a certain time or a drink is offered with the purchase of the entrance ticket. Count between 10 and 20 € for the paying clubs.

What budget to eat Mayotte?

Since most restaurants are frequented by expatriates or transient workers who generally earn a good salary, the quality/price ratio is not always optimal. Expect to pay around €15-20 for a dish. Those on a tight budget will turn to street vendors, mamas brochettis or markets, where you can find meat brochettes and starchy foods (manioc, breadfruit, green bananas) for a few euros. Beware, very few restaurants accept credit cards, so remember to have cash on hand when leaving Mamoudzou.

The prices of pastries and desserts are the same as in mainland France but there are fewer addresses, especially as the local cuisine is more salty than sweet. Think about cash when you are outside Mamoudzou. More and more entrepreneurs are starting to create cafés or tea rooms with Anglo-Saxon influences with cookies, cupcakes or muffins. We like it.

What is the budget for accommodation Mayotte?

Accommodation is quite expensive as the number of places is limited: count between 50 and 200 € per night depending on the range. Booking and Airbnb rentals are developing in Mamoudzou and offer the advantage of being able to cook, ideal for long stays. For charming addresses with independent bungalows or swimming pool, you often have to go out of town, as everywhere. All styles are present in Mayotte, from the very comfortable and luxurious to the room in the home for the small budget. It's up to you to define your desires.

Travel budget Mayotte and cost of living

The standard of living of the Mahorais is still low compared to metropolitan France or even compared to Reunion Island. Although Mayotte became a department in March 2011, it remains far from departmental standards on many points. Since 2011, the increase of the SMIC (minimum wage) takes place every year on January^1st instead of July^1st, and the SMIC paid in Mayotte is now closer to the one paid in mainland France, but the difference is still there: €1,199.68 gross per month in Mayotte on October^1st 2021, compared to €1,589.70 in mainland France or Reunion Island. The Mahorais try for many to support themselves, being for the most part owners of their house and their piece of land (land when you hold us!); they consume a lot of vegetables and fruits (green bananas, manioc, brèdes...) from their orchard and fish thanks to the generous lagoon. But as Mayotte is very far from the metropolis and lives essentially by imports, many products are expensive. Thus, all consumer goods are generally more expensive than in mainland France. This is why it is difficult to say that Mayotte is a cheap destination compared to neighbouring islands such as the Comoros or Madagascar which are however developing countries. As Mayotte is a small piece of French land, the same cost of living can be found there. In 2018, shopping in Mayotte is estimated to cost 73% more than in mainland France, compared to an average of 66% in the French overseas territories. However, for tourists, the price of supermarkets often impacts less, and fortunately a meal in a restaurant is not always more expensive than in mainland France (around €15 a dish) and you can get by for less than €5 per meal eating local in pikelets.

Itis possible to find low-budget rooms (with rudimentary comfort, about 50 € for two people per night), to eat at the "mamas brochettis". Installed in each village, they will treat you to chicken wings, beef brochettes for about 30 cents per piece.

Count on an additional thirty euros for two people for a more comfortable accommodation and 15 € for a meal in a restaurant or snack bar.

Finally, count from 100 to 150 € or even more for a double room with breakfast by the sea in exceptional settings. Count 30 € for a good restaurant with starter + main course or main course + dessert.