Bus fares in Mauritius (2026): prices, how to pay, who travels free

Bus tickets in Mauritius cost between Rs 17 and Rs 47, depending on how far you travel. You pay the conductor in cash on board. This page explains the fare stages, gives real examples for popular trips and answers the questions every visitor asks.

Rs 17 minimum Rs 47 maximum cash only tariff since 8 May 2022

The fare table

Every route is divided into fare stages, roughly one per village or every 1–2 km in town. The conductor counts the stages between where you board and where you get off:

Fare stages travelled	Fare	Typical trip
1	Rs 17	a few stops within a town
2	Rs 24	to the next village
3–4	Rs 30	across a town, e.g. Rose Hill – Quatre Bornes
5–6	Rs 35	Port Louis – Rose Hill
7–8	Rs 39	Port Louis – Quatre Bornes
9–12	Rs 41	Port Louis – Curepipe
13–30	Rs 44	Port Louis – Grand Baie, Port Louis – Mahébourg
31–39	Rs 47	the longest cross-island routes

Source: NLTA tariff in force since 8 May 2022, checked September 2026. Air-conditioned express buses (routes marked A/C) have their own, higher tariff; ask the conductor.

Real examples, computed from the timetables

Fares below are calculated from the official fare stages of each route by our journey planner. Ride time is the published journey time without waiting.

From	To	Route	Stages	Fare	Ride
Port Louis (Victoria Square)	Rose Hill	69	7	Rs 39	25 min
Port Louis (Victoria Square)	Quatre Bornes	187	1	Rs 17	15 min
Port Louis (Victoria Square)	Curepipe	162	13	Rs 44	40 min
Port Louis (Immigration Square)	Grand Baie	215	16	Rs 44	47 min
Port Louis (Victoria Square)	Mahébourg	198	31	Rs 47	85 min
Curepipe	Mahébourg	9	17	Rs 44	70 min
Rose Hill	Central Flacq	15/15B	20	Rs 44	83 min
Port Louis (Immigration Square)	Pamplemousses	109	7	Rs 39	25 min
Curepipe	Souillac	6	17	Rs 44	50 min
Port Louis (Immigration Square)	Triolet	20A	8	Rs 39	35 min

How to pay

Cash to the conductor, after you sit down. Tell them where you are going; they name the fare and hand you a printed ticket.
Small notes and coins. Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes are fine; a Rs 1,000 note early in the morning may get you a sigh. Foreign currency is not accepted.
No cards, no apps, no contactless. There is no bus pass for visitors and no ticket machine. The Metro Express card (MECard) works only on the metro.
Keep the ticket until you get off: inspectors board occasionally and a missing ticket means paying again.
No transfers. Each bus is a new ticket. A trip with one change costs the sum of two fares.

Who travels free or cheaper

Students in uniform travel free between home and school on school days (a scheme funded by the government since 2005).
Residents aged 60 and over and persons with disabilities travel free with the government bus pass, on any route.
Children under about 3 travel free on a lap; older children pay the normal fare.
There are no tourist passes, day tickets or return tickets. The cheapest way to see the island is still the bus: a full day of hopping around rarely costs more than Rs 200.

Bus versus Metro Express

The Metro Express light rail (Port Louis – Rose Hill – Quatre Bornes – Vacoas – Curepipe, plus the Réduit branch) has its own zone fares of about Rs 35–55 and its MECard. It is faster and more predictable than the bus on the same corridor, but it does not go to the coast, the airport or the villages. For everything outside the Port Louis–Curepipe line, the bus is the only public transport.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a bus ticket in Mauritius?

Between Rs 17 and Rs 47 (about €0.35–€0.95), depending on the number of fare stages travelled. A trip within a town is Rs 17–30, Port Louis to Curepipe Rs 41–44, Port Louis to Grand Baie or Mahébourg Rs 44.

How do I pay for the bus in Mauritius?

In cash to the conductor after boarding. There are no ticket machines, cards, apps or contactless payment on buses. You receive a paper ticket; keep it for inspection.

Can I use the Metro Express card on buses?

No. The MECard is valid only on the Metro Express light rail. Buses and metro have separate fares and no combined ticket.

Is there a day pass or tourist pass?

No. Every bus ride is paid separately. Even so, a full day of buses rarely costs more than Rs 200.

Do children, students and seniors pay?

Students in uniform travel free to and from school on school days; Mauritian residents aged 60+ and persons with disabilities travel free with the government bus pass. Visitors pay the normal fare regardless of age; toddlers on a lap ride free.

Do I pay more on an air-conditioned bus?

Yes. A/C express buses (for example route 1 A/C or 215 A/C) have their own higher tariff; the conductor tells you the fare when you board.

Do I have to pay again when I change buses?

Yes. There are no transfers: each bus is a new ticket, so a journey with one change costs two fares.