Co-living in Mauritius: Real Estate’s New Momentum

Published on October 4, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Mauritius, often perceived as a tropical paradise, is also transforming into a laboratory for innovative real estate trends. In recent years, the rise of co-living spaces has captured the attention of young professionals and digital nomads seeking flexibility and community.

Offering a friendly alternative to traditional forms of housing, these shared residences cleverly combine private and common spaces, while fostering a spirit of collaboration and cultural exchange.

This phenomenon is not only revolutionizing the local real estate market, but it also provides a dynamic response to modern challenges of connectivity and sustainable urban living.

The Factors Behind the Rise of Co-living Spaces in Mauritius

Demographics and Social Trends

Population growth in Mauritius is accompanied by a marked evolution in lifestyles, particularly among young professionals, students, and expatriates. These groups are seeking modern, flexible, and community-oriented housing alternatives. Co-living spaces particularly appeal to these groups through their ability to provide a collaborative and dynamic environment in attractive urban neighborhoods like Rose Hill or Moka. This lifestyle meets aspirations for independence while promoting social interactions, a characteristic highly valued by digital nomads.

Key Demographic Factors:

• Increase in the number of young urban professionals
• Growing arrival of expatriates seeking quick integration
• Rising popularity of remote work

Economy and Real Estate Market

The Mauritian real estate market is undergoing a profound transformation due to innovative investment opportunities and challenges from the high cost of traditional housing in attractive areas. The rise of co-living is explained by the need for some real estate players to offer more accessible, adaptive, and profitable models.

Examples:

• Recent projects in Rose Hill offering flexible rental in high-end shared housing
• Investments in hybrid residential properties blending modern private spaces with shared common areas

Comparative Table:

Traditional Model	Modern Co-living
High rents	Shared cost
Rigid contracts	Contract flexibility
Social isolation	Integrated community

Technology and Communication

Widespread digital connectivity has profoundly changed work habits: remote work, international freelancing, and digital entrepreneurship are rapidly becoming mainstream in Mauritius. Co-living spaces now often include high-speed internet access, shared offices (coworking), and technological equipment facilitating collaboration or individual work. This infrastructure particularly attracts mobile workers seeking a flexible environment without sacrificing their productivity or social network.

List of Frequently Offered Technology Services:

• Unlimited fiber optic internet
• Equipped coworking spaces
• Multipurpose rooms for video conferences

Cultural and Tourism Influence

Mauritius has long benefited from an attractive international image thanks to premium tourism and its remarkable cultural diversity. This open culture fosters the adoption of new concepts like co-living; both local residents and expatriates easily find a balance between traditional Mauritian hospitality and urban modernity.

Key Points:

• Strong social adaptability due to historical cultural blending
• Positive influence of tourism on tolerance for new residential models

Testimonial:

“I felt welcomed from the moment I arrived at my co-living space in Moka; it allowed me not only to be productive but also to quickly build a strong social circle.”

Government Policies and Regulatory Framework

The Mauritian government actively supports real estate innovation to attract international talent, foreign investors, or tech companies looking to establish themselves long-term on the island. Several recent measures encourage the development of hybrid housing, which includes co-living: administrative simplification for opening such spaces; tax incentives during launch; adapted regulations aimed at tenant protection while preserving the flexibility sought by this new generation clientele.

Concrete Example:

Pilot initiatives have given birth to several mixed complexes combining flexible temporary accommodation with shared services (cleaning, 24/7 security), thus facilitating quick settlement for both foreign students and seconded employees.

Statistical Summary:

Key Statistic	Estimated Value 2025
Proportion of young urban professionals	>30% of workforce
Annual growth of co-living offerings	+18%
Occupancy rate traditional vs co-living housing	82% / 95%

The Appeal of High-End Shared Housing for Young Professionals

High-end shared housing is increasingly attracting young professionals in Mauritius for practical, economic, and social reasons.

Practical Advantages and Modern Amenities

• Access to fully furnished apartments or villas with state-of-the-art appliances, high-speed internet, integrated coworking spaces, private pools, or equipped rooftops.
• Regular maintenance included (cleaning, gardening), 24/7 security, and sometimes additional services like concierge or on-site gym.
• Contract flexibility: possibility to rent for just a few months without long-term commitment.

Controlled Cost Compared to Traditional Market

Sharing rent allows access to a higher standard residential setting while reducing individual expenses (water, electricity, internet).

Furnished housing avoids significant initial costs associated with traditional setup.

Compared to individual rental in the Mauritian premium sector—where demand is strong in areas like Grand Baie or Tamarin—shared housing offers an economical solution without sacrificing comfort.

Traditional Individual Housing	High-End Shared Housing
High rent	Shared rent
Setup costs	All-inclusive
Long commitment	Flexibility

Community Atmosphere and Professional Networking

Collective living promotes exchange among young professionals from diverse backgrounds: expatriate IT engineers, freelance creatives, or international consultants.

Regular organization of private events (barbecues on common terraces, after-work gatherings), creating a dynamic social network useful for developing local or international careers.

“Arriving alone on the island was intimidating. Joining a co-living space not only allowed me to live in a modern villa but also to quickly expand my professional circle,” testifies Julie M., digital project manager settled for six months in Rivière Noire.

“The shared pool after work has become THE moment where we exchange business tips!” explains David G., developer who came to work for an international tech operator based in Ebène.

Concrete Examples and Integration into the Real Estate Market

Popular co-living spaces:

• The Hive Coliving, Grand Baie: ultra-connected modular spaces designed for digital nomads with direct access to popular beaches.
• Urban Retreat, Tamarin: contemporary villas offering integrated coworking space and an active international community around surfing and professional networking.

These formulas fully align with the current dynamics of the Mauritian real estate market: upgrading of the rental stock under expatriate influence; accelerated development of residences under the Property Development Scheme (PDS) which facilitate this type of exclusive offering. Developers systematically integrate these community needs in new premium constructions.

Future Perspectives

With attractive taxation for foreign and local investors as well as sustained growth in the island’s tertiary sector (particularly digital technologies), high-end shared housing should continue its rise. Their success is explained both by their ability to meet lifestyle demands and to offer a pragmatic solution to the rising cost of premium individual housing.

How Shared Spaces Foster a Dynamic Digital Community

The impact of shared spaces on creating and strengthening a dynamic digital community in Mauritius manifests at several levels through a combination of design, digital services, and community initiatives.

Key Elements That Foster This Collaborative Environment

• The very design of co-living and coworking spaces, conceived to encourage spontaneous interactions among residents. Open spaces, relaxation areas, common rooms, and coffee corners facilitate informal exchanges while creating a sense of belonging.
• Advanced digital installations such as free high-speed wifi, ergonomic workstations, meeting rooms equipped for video conferencing, and easy access to collaborative tools are systematically integrated.
• Regular organization of community events: professional workshops, themed after-work gatherings, or wellness sessions actively contribute to weaving social bonds. These unifying moments allow members to exchange on their projects or common interests.

Digital Platforms

Digital platforms also play a central role in daily management and communication among residents:

• Dedicated mobile applications for booking common spaces
• Private groups on instant messaging (Slack/WhatsApp) to coordinate events or mutual aid
• Shared tools for managing routine administration (automated payments, notifications)

This synergy results in a connected lifestyle where each resident can easily integrate into a stimulating community while maintaining professional autonomy.

Key Factor	Contribution to Community Dynamism
Collaborative design	Promotes chance encounters & exchanges
Digital installations	Enables optimal productivity & connectivity
Organized events	Creates cohesion & networking opportunities
Digital platforms	Streamlines communication & collective management

This framework naturally attracts digital professionals – freelancers, entrepreneurs, or digital nomads – drawn by:

• The immediate possibility to network with diverse profiles,
• An environment conducive to creativity,
• A balance between private and social life without disruption to their professional activity.

Such an ecosystem directly contributes to Mauritius’ digital prominence by positioning the island as a preferred destination for those seeking much more than simple accommodation: a true connected community experience.