Cost of living in Réunion
Simulate your monthly budget in Réunion from your current spending, with the price gaps measured by Insee.
By the Rentîles editorial team Published on Updated on
Prices are 9% higher in Réunion than in mainland France, according to Insee. The gap reaches 37% for food. Housing and transport cost slightly less.
Simulate your budget
Enter your current monthly spending. The simulator applies the price gap of each category and gives two estimates, depending on whether you keep your shopping habits or adopt those of Réunion households.
Estimate in Réunion, per month
- Your budget in mainland France
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- In Réunion, keeping your habits
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- In Réunion, with local habits
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Insee Analyses Réunion no. 83, "Des prix plus élevés de 9 % à La Réunion, jusqu'à 37 % pour l'alimentaire" (prices 9% higher in Réunion, up to 37% for food), July 2023. 2022 spatial price comparison survey. See the source Consulted on 26 October 2026.
Price gaps by category
Insee Analyses Réunion no. 83, "Des prix plus élevés de 9 % à La Réunion, jusqu'à 37 % pour l'alimentaire" (prices 9% higher in Réunion, up to 37% for food), July 2023. 2022 spatial price comparison survey. See the source Consulted on 26 October 2026.
The gap depends on your shopping habits. With the habits of a mainland household, the same basket costs 12% more in Réunion. With the habits of a Réunion household, it costs 6% more.
| Category | Mainland France habits | Réunion habits |
|---|---|---|
| Food | +46.4% (unfavourable) | +27.7% (unfavourable) |
| Alcoholic drinks and tobacco | +28.6% (unfavourable) | +26.0% (unfavourable) |
| Clothing and footwear | +0.4% (unfavourable) | −5.3% (favourable) |
| Housing, water, gas, electricity | −5.2% (favourable) | −6.8% (favourable) |
| Furniture, household appliances, home maintenance | +11.2% (unfavourable) | +3.0% (unfavourable) |
| Health | +9.9% (unfavourable) | +7.9% (unfavourable) |
| Transport | −4.2% (favourable) | −3.8% (favourable) |
| Communications | +24.0% (unfavourable) | +24.9% (unfavourable) |
| Leisure and culture | +15.1% (unfavourable) | +12.4% (unfavourable) |
| Restaurants and hotels | +10.9% (unfavourable) | +1.7% (unfavourable) |
| Other goods and services | +10.2% (unfavourable) | +6.2% (unfavourable) |
| Overall | +12.3% (unfavourable) | +5.5% (unfavourable) |
Insee Analyses Réunion no. 83, "Des prix plus élevés de 9 % à La Réunion, jusqu'à 37 % pour l'alimentaire" (prices 9% higher in Réunion, up to 37% for food), July 2023. 2022 spatial price comparison survey. See the source Consulted on 26 October 2026.
What costs more
- Food, 37% more on average.
- Alcoholic drinks and tobacco, 27% more.
- Communications, 25% more.
- Leisure and culture, 14% more.
What costs less
- Housing, water, gas and electricity, 6% less.
- Transport, 4% less in 2022.
- Clothing and footwear, 2.5% less.
These averages come from the Insee survey of 2022 prices, published in July 2023.
Fuel since 2022
The Insee figures date from 2022. Since then, the maximum price of unleaded has risen from €1.56 a litre in October 2025 to €2.00 in October 2026. This month’s prices are on the fuel prices in Réunion page.
In short
In Réunion, a mainland budget costs 12% more if you keep your shopping habits. Food accounts for most of the gap. The guide to settling in Réunion gives the other steps to plan.