Living in Reunion Island: pros, cons and cost of living
Thinking of swapping your life for a tropical island that is still part of France and the EU? Climate, salaries, rents, schools, jobs, safety, where to live and every useful link to plan, and make a success of, a move to Reunion Island.
Reunion Island is a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, which means French law, the euro and EU membership. Every year, several thousand people move here, mostly from mainland France: a public sector posting, a hospitality contract, locals coming home after studying in Europe, or couples and families chasing an outdoor lifestyle. Some leave again after 2-5 years, put off by the job market, the cost of living or the distance. If you don't hold an EU passport, check the French visa and residence rules for your nationality first: this guide doesn't cover them.
Here's a factual, honest overview: the pros and cons, the cost of living in detail, the climate, where to live, jobs, schools, healthcare, driving and outdoor life. Everything you need to know in 2026 to make an informed decision.
West coast year-round, sharp microclimates depending on altitude.
Unemployment rate vs 7-8% in mainland France. Arrive with a contract.
€800-1,500 return per adult. 3 hours ahead of Paris in winter, 2 hours in summer.
Of marked trails, 3 UNESCO-listed cirques, an accessible active volcano.
Why people move to Reunion Island
Mild tropical climate
22-32°C year-round on the west coast, cooler in the highlands (Plaine des Cafres, Cilaos). Cyclone season runs from January to March.
An exceptional setting
A lagoon, endless hiking trails, Piton de la Fournaise, street markets. For outdoor lovers, few places anywhere compare.
Part of France and the EU
Reunion Island is a French overseas department: French social security, pensions, employment law, free state schooling and public services all apply, and the currency is the euro.
Public sector pay bonus
French state civil servants get +53% (on top of the cost-of-living bonus). It offsets some of the extra cost, and is a real advantage for teachers and public hospital staff.
A multicultural community
A blend of Creole, Indian, Chinese, Malagasy, Comorian and mainland French heritage, with a real openness to different backgrounds, religions and cuisines.
Relocation help (French residents)
LADOM, the French overseas mobility agency, funds flights for eligible French residents, subject to income and purpose (a job, training, returning home).
What might put you off
Cost of living +12 to +15%
According to INSEE (the French statistics office, 2022), a typical shopping basket costs roughly 12-15% more than in mainland France, mostly because of food, cars and appliances. Local fresh produce, on the other hand, is still affordable.
A tight job market
Unemployment is around 17-19%, against roughly 7-8% in mainland France. Arrive with a signed job offer if you can, especially in the private sector. Sectors in demand: healthcare, construction, hospitality, tech, primary school teaching.
Rising rents
Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre and the west coast have become tighter since 2020: around €800-1,100 a month for a 2-bed flat in Saint-Denis, €1,200-1,600 on the west coast. Many furnished flats have been turned into holiday lets.
A long way from everywhere
An 11-hour direct flight from Paris, roughly €800-1,500 return per adult, and 3 hours ahead of Paris in the European winter (2 hours in the European summer). You won't see family back home often, so prepare yourself for that.
Cyclone risk
January to March. A powerful tropical cyclone hits roughly every 5-10 years on average. Have a cyclone kit ready, check your home insurance, and keep water and tinned food in stock. Belal (January 2024) is still fresh in people's minds.
Island logistics
Almost everything arrives by sea (vehicles, containers, post), so online deliveries take longer and cost more, and some products are hard to find or often out of stock.
What everyday life costs
Typical prices in 2026 for a household of 2-4 people, excluding one-off costs (flights, buying a car, major renovations). Prices, especially rents, vary a lot from town to town.
For a fuller picture of real prices on the ground (holiday budget, groceries, eating out, activities), see the detailed 15-day Reunion Island budget. And if money is tight: cheap accommodation in Reunion Island.
Two seasons, six microclimates, one cyclone risk
Reunion Island has two seasons: the southern summer (November to April, hot and humid, cyclone season) and the southern winter (May to October, cooler and drier). But the geography creates very contrasting microclimates: the west coast stays dry and sunny year-round, the east and the south-east highlands can get 6 to 10 metres of rain a year, and the cirques have cold nights at 5-10°C in winter.
Choosing your area: 6 very different lifestyles
Reunion Island is only 70 km long and 50 km wide, but where you live changes everything: climate, rent, commute, atmosphere, services. Here are 6 very different lifestyles to weigh up depending on your plans (career, family, remote work, retirement, outdoor living).
Saint-Denis (North)
Profile: The capital, with the university, the main hospital and Roland-Garros airport nearby. Residential areas: La Montagne, Bellepierre, Bois-de-Nèfles.
Pros: Public sector jobs, services close at hand, cultural life (cinemas, theatres, concerts).
Cons: Constant traffic jams on the N1, a dense city, a more humid climate than the west.
Discover Saint-DenisWest coast (Saint-Paul, Saint-Gilles, La Saline)
Profile: Lagoon, beaches, the driest and sunniest climate. Jobs are mostly in tourism, hospitality and services.
Pros: Outdoor quality of life, schools near the lagoon, a strong community scene.
Cons: The island's highest rents, lots of holiday lets and a tight market for long-term rentals.
Discover Saint-GillesSaint-Pierre (South)
Profile: The island's second city: university, hospital, a lively centre, a beach and a bustling seafront.
Pros: A good balance of quality of life and services, cheaper property than the west, and real nightlife.
Cons: Hotter, drier climate, little shade along the seafront. Rising traffic at rush hour.
Discover Saint-PierreThe Hauts (Le Tampon, Plaine des Cafres, Plaine des Palmistes)
Profile: 800 to 1,600 m above sea level. A cool climate, afternoon fog, winter nights at 8-12°C.
Pros: Peace and quiet, nature, affordable property. Ideal for remote workers, retirees and outdoor types.
Cons: Long drives to the coast (30 to 60 minutes), limited services, a humid climate in Plaine des Palmistes.
Discover Le TamponThe cirques (Cilaos, Salazie, Mafate)
Profile: The mountainous interior, reached by winding roads (Cilaos, Salazie) or only on foot (Mafate).
Pros: A stunning natural setting, a close-knit rural community, affordable property, the outdoors on your doorstep.
Cons: Long drives to the coast (2+ hours from Cilaos), limited services, harder access to healthcare.
See the 3 cirquesThe Wild South (Saint-Joseph, Saint-Philippe)
Profile: A little-developed south coast, volcanic landscapes, primary forest. A quiet, unspoilt way of life.
Pros: Authentic, with some of the lowest seafront property prices. Surfing, snorkelling, volcano hikes.
Cons: 40 minutes from the services in Saint-Pierre. Few local jobs outside farming.
Discover the Wild SouthFor a broader look at the cirques: the 3 cirques of Reunion Island. And for town-by-town guides: Saint-Paul, Saint-Leu, Cilaos, Salazie, Saint-André, Saint-Benoît, Plaine des Palmistes, l'Étang-Salé, Sainte-Suzanne, La Saline-les-Bains.
The job market, assistance, moving
Outside the public sector, Reunion Island's job market is small, and most jobs require fluent French. The sectors that are always recruiting are healthcare (the northern and southern main hospitals, private clinics), construction, hospitality, tech (a handful of local IT consultancies and a growing start-up scene) and teaching. Outside these sectors, arrive with a signed contract if you can: job hunting on the island can take 6 to 12 months. Non-EU nationals will also need the right to work in France.
For French residents: LADOM (the French overseas mobility agency) funds flight tickets under certain conditions (a signed job, training, returning to your family roots), the special settlement allowance (PSI) benefits state civil servants posted overseas, and the remoteness allowance covers local government and hospital staff. If you are already covered by French social security, your health cover and family benefits carry on just as in mainland France, usually with no paperwork to transfer.
The move itself takes planning: a shipping container takes 6-8 weeks, and many people rent a furnished place for 3-6 months while they look for somewhere permanent. Many new arrivals sell their car before leaving and switch to a local long-term hire to avoid import costs.
Family life in Reunion Island
Schools follow the French national curriculum, taught in French, up to the baccalauréat; for top universities, students either take local preparatory classes or move to mainland France with LADOM support. For healthcare, the French system applies, the Saint-Denis hospital and the CHU Sud in Saint-Pierre cover every speciality, and teleconsultation is widely available. For young children, the outdoor lifestyle is one of the strongest arguments: the lagoon, hikes, street markets, schools near the sea.
8 activity ideas for kids, from the lagoon to the volcano.
Trails suitable from age 3, safe and fun.
Platforms used by local families and typical rates.
Outbreak season, prevention, effective repellents, useful habits.
The current situation, where to swim safely, and the CHARC and CapRequins shark programmes.
Which walks, which beaches, how to travel with your pet.
A car, almost essential
You can manage without a car for a few days in a town centre, but day to day it quickly becomes limiting. The Car Jaune network serves the main towns, urban networks (Citalis in the North, Karouest in the West, Estival in the South) cover local areas, but services thin out fast in the evenings and at weekends. Long-term hire is the best compromise for 6 to 24 months (fixed budget, maintenance included, no car to import). For weekends away, a campervan often works out cheaper than a car plus hotels.
A comparison of 6-24 month deals, real budgets, advice.
The complete guide for visitors, or new arrivals waiting for a long-term hire.
For weekends and school holidays: a campervan versus a car and accommodation.
Rules of the road, dangerous roads, parking, winter driving tips.
Bus, taxi, shuttles, bikes. Which routes work, and their limits.
A detailed route for long weekends or visiting family.
The big reason to stay
Almost everyone who settles here and stays for more than 5 years gives the same reason: the outdoors, every day. 900 km of marked trails, 3 UNESCO-listed cirques, an accessible active volcano, a protected lagoon on the west coast, world-rated diving spots, paragliding, canyoning, surfing. It's the number one reason people put up with the cost of living and the distance, and a great way to lure family and friends out to visit.
The catalogue brings together over 60 verified activities on the island, from helicopter flights to guided hikes, diving and canyoning. The page to bookmark for planning weekends, celebrating your arrival or organising a family visit.
See the activities cataloguePrices, packages, companies. The best gift you can give a visitor.
Which flight to choose based on budget, mood and adrenaline.
Helicopter, paragliding, microlight, paramotor: every way to fly over the island.
Why wild campers come from around the world, and the best spots.
IGN Rando, Cartes Outdoor, Mafate Pass. The apps used by locals.
A tour of the island's beaches, from the protected Ermitage lagoon to the black sand beach at Étang-Salé.
Visit for 2-3 weeks first
A scouting trip before you move saves a lot of nasty surprises: try out different towns, the climate, the driving, real prices and the rental market. Most people who settle here successfully came on a recce first.
Plan a scouting tripFitting in through food and markets
Creole culture is lived above all at the street markets, in the food (cari curries, rougail, achards pickles, samoussas), in the festivals (Fèt Kaf on 20 December, marking the abolition of slavery, Dipavali, Cavadee, the Victoria pineapple festival) and in the language. Reunion Creole is still very much alive, especially in the Hauts. Newcomers who are curious settle in quickly by joining in the festivals and picnics, and by eating local.
Workshops, markets, home-cooked cari. One of the best ways into the culture.
Friday afternoon, Saturday morning. 300 stalls by the sea.
Saturday morning, 400 stalls. The south's market, at its liveliest.
Why the world's best pineapple grows in Reunion Island.
Origins, historic distilleries, possible visits.
A multi-faith island: Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism and Buddhism coexist.
Pages worth bookmarking
Whether you're still planning your move or already living on the island, these are the pages that come in handy: for days out, hosting visitors, treating them, or simply getting away for the weekend.
Over 60 verified activities on the island: guided hikes, diving, helicopter flights, microlights, canyoning, paragliding. The page to bookmark for weekends out, or when friends come to visit.
See the catalogueThe best present for a visitor (or for yourself, to celebrate the move). Cirques, volcano and waterfalls in 25 to 55 minutes.
Compare flightsOutside the west coast beach towns, you need a car every day. Compare long-term hire (6 to 24 months) and avoid short-term rates.
Compare long-term rentalsFor weekends, school holidays or visiting family and friends: a campervan lets you tour the island without hotels.
Read the comparisonUpmarket hotels, rural gîtes (B&Bs and guesthouses), glamping, lodges. For putting up visitors or a weekend away.
See the accommodationOne of very few islands in the world where you can legally pitch a tent out in the wild. Try it at least once if you live here.
Plan a wild camping tripLiving in Reunion Island: your questions answered
Do I need a job before moving to Reunion Island?
Is Reunion Island expensive to live in?
What are the downsides of living in Reunion Island?
Is there any help for people moving to Reunion Island?
How does schooling work for children?
Is Reunion Island a good place to raise children?
Is Reunion Island safe?
Where is the best place to live in Reunion Island?
Do I need a car to live in Reunion Island?
What health risks should I plan for?
Keep reading
- → How to organise a scouting trip.
- → 7-day family itinerary.
- → Budget for 15 days on the island.
- → Paris-Reunion Island flights: comparing airlines.
- → Combining Reunion Island and Mauritius.
- → Mauritius or Reunion Island? The comparison.
- → 7 traveller mistakes to avoid.
- → Stargazing in Reunion Island.
- → Why Reunion Island is back in fashion.
- → Reunion Island according to Lonely Planet.