Mauritius Construction Costs Rise 5.8% in a Year, Data Shows

Building or renovating a home in Mauritius has become notably more expensive over the past year, according to the latest figures from Statistics Mauritius, the island's official national statistics office.

Data published on 21 October shows that construction costs rose 5.8% in September 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. While that annual figure is the headline concern, the month-on-month increases have been more gradual: costs edged up 0.2% in September, following a 0.1% rise in August and a sharper 0.8% jump in July.

The annual increase is being driven by several factors. Equipment rental costs on construction sites rose 0.9%, adding to the burden for contractors and self-builders alike. Among materials, waterproofing and roofing sealant products recorded the steepest price jump at 4.3%. Tiles and granite, widely used in Mauritian homes for flooring and finishing, increased by 2.1%.

Structural and civil works, known in the industry as gros oeuvre, also became more costly, rising 0.2% in September. Statistics Mauritius attributed this largely to higher spending on tiling work, which falls under that category.

What this means for households and buyers: anyone planning to build a new home or carry out significant renovations in Mauritius is likely to find that budgets stretch further than expected. A project costed a year ago may now require a meaningful revision upward. Contractors typically pass rising material and equipment costs on to clients through revised quotes or contract escalation clauses, so both private individuals and property developers are affected. The trend also has implications for the broader housing market, where construction costs influence the final sale price of new properties and the viability of affordable housing schemes.

For Mauritius, where homeownership is culturally important and construction activity remains a significant part of the economy, sustained cost pressures can slow project start rates and weigh on household financial planning. Those relying on bank loans to finance construction projects may find the gap between their approved loan amount and actual build cost has widened since they first applied.

Statistics Mauritius releases construction cost index data regularly as part of its suite of economic indicators. The figures cover a basket of inputs including labour, materials and equipment hire across the residential and commercial building sectors.

Source: ION News