You are settling in
Formalities, budget and daily life for a first move.
Moving back to or settling in Réunion
Formalities, budget and calendar to prepare your arrival on the island, with official sources.
The 5 steps
-
Estimate your budget. Prices are 9% higher than in mainland France, and 37% higher for food.
Simulate your budget -
Prepare the removal inventory. Your personal belongings enter free of VAT and octroi de mer with a dated, signed inventory.
See the exemption rules -
Decide about the car. A car imported tax-free cannot be sold or lent for 12 months.
Shipping your car -
Plan your dates around school. The long school holidays run from December to February.
See the school calendar -
Prepare for the cyclone season. Each alert level has its own instructions, from pre-alert to lockdown.
Open the cyclone checklist
Your situation
You are moving back home
Moving back, jobs and travel aid for Réunionese living in mainland France.
You are being transferred
Overseas pay supplement, relocation costs and bonus leave.
The tools
See all toolsMoving to Réunion checklist
The 13 steps to tick off, from 6 months before leaving to your arrival on the island.
Fuel prices in Réunion
The maximum prices of unleaded, diesel and gas set by the Prefect this month, with the cost of a full tank.
Réunion school calendar
School start and holiday dates of the Réunion education authority for 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029.
Cyclone checklist for Réunion
The official instructions for each cyclone alert level and how to prepare your home, as a checklist.
Cost of living in Réunion
Simulate your monthly budget in Réunion from your current spending, with the price gaps measured by Insee.
Overseas pay supplement for civil servants in Réunion
Work out your gross salary in Réunion from your salary index or your salary in mainland France.
Key figures
-
911 000
inhabitants on 1 January 2026
-
+9 %
in prices compared with mainland France, +37% for food
-
16 %
unemployment in 2025, against 7.5% in mainland France
-
2.00 €
maximum price of a litre of unleaded in October 2026
A sourced, dated guide
Every figure comes from an official source: Insee, prefecture, education authority, Météo-France, customs.
The update date appears at the top of each page.