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Updated: 23 October 2026
Building a home starts with a realistic budget. The cost depends on the site, floor area, structural design, specifications and what your contractor actually includes. A price per square foot is a starting point for discussion, not a complete project budget.
How much should you budget to build in 2026?
For an initial budget, use these rounded figures per square foot. The 2026 amounts are PropertyMap projections from our 2025 guide: approximately +6.3% for the shell and +5.8% for overall construction. They are not surveyed contractor prices.
| Completion level | 2025 reference / ft² | 2026 estimate / ft² |
|---|---|---|
| Structural shell | Rs 1,300 | About Rs 1,400 |
| Finished, unfurnished home | Rs 2,500 | About Rs 2,650 |
| Finished, furnished home — example | Rs 3,000 | About Rs 3,150 |
The furnished example adds an assumed Rs 500/ft² allowance for furniture, appliances and installation to the finished home. This allowance is held constant in both years; it is not a Statistics Mauritius figure and should be replaced with your own quotations.
For a 1,000 ft² house in 2026: about Rs 1.4 million for the shell, Rs 2.65 million finished and unfurnished, or Rs 3.15 million including the example furnishing allowance. These are alternative completion levels: do not add them together.
Allow separately for land, professional fees, approvals, connections, external works, financing and contingency where excluded from the quotation. For area comparisons, 1 m² is approximately 10.764 ft².
Construction cost per square metre and square foot
These figures use the estimates above. The square-metre rate is the square-foot rate multiplied by 10.764, then rounded. Both columns describe the same scope in different units.
| Scope | Estimate / sq ft | Estimate / m² |
|---|---|---|
| Structural shell | Rs 1,400 | Rs 15,100 |
| Finished, unfurnished | Rs 2,650 | Rs 28,500 |
| Finished, furnished — example | Rs 3,150 | Rs 33,900 |
Example budgets by house size
Multiply the built area by the rate for your chosen completion level. These are planning examples, not quotations, and exclude the additional costs explained above. The furnished column retains the illustrative Rs 500/sq ft allowance.
| Built area | Structural shell | Finished, unfurnished | Furnished — example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft (≈ 93 m²) | Rs 1,400,000 | Rs 2,650,000 | Rs 3,150,000 |
| 1,300 sq ft (≈ 121 m²) | Rs 1,820,000 | Rs 3,445,000 | Rs 4,095,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft (≈ 139 m²) | Rs 2,100,000 | Rs 3,975,000 | Rs 4,725,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft (≈ 167 m²) | Rs 2,520,000 | Rs 4,770,000 | Rs 5,670,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft (≈ 186 m²) | Rs 2,800,000 | Rs 5,300,000 | Rs 6,300,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft (≈ 232 m²) | Rs 3,500,000 | Rs 6,625,000 | Rs 7,875,000 |
For a three-bedroom house, use its total floor area: bedroom count alone is not enough to estimate the cost.
Already own the land?
Remove the land purchase price from your calculation, but keep site investigations, earthworks, access, connections and any retaining walls. The site itself can still affect your budget.
Labour only or materials included?
Ask whether the quotation is for labour alone or also includes materials. The indicative rates in this article relate to the described construction scope, not labour-only work. With a labour-only contract, add materials, deliveries, equipment hire and other exclusions.
Two-storey houses and extensions need their own estimate
For a ground-and-first-floor home, add the built areas of both levels. An extension above an existing home requires a structural assessment and a project-specific quotation; its cost cannot be read directly from a standard rate.
Pools, plans and additional equipment
A pool, building plans, technical studies, boundary works and landscaping need scope-specific prices. Request separate quotations so these costs are neither overlooked nor counted twice.
What changed between 2025 and 2026?
This table summarises the main stages and expenses from September 2025 to September 2026. An 8% rise means a Rs 100,000 item would become about Rs 108,000 for the same work. Inputs and work stages overlap: do not add the percentages together.
| Cost item | 2025–2026 change |
|---|---|
| Structural shell — overall | +6.3% |
| Earthworks | +8.8% |
| Concrete works | +9.3% |
| Steel reinforcement | +2.1% |
| Formwork | +6.2% |
| Blockwork | +4.7% |
| Wall and ceiling plastering | +5.5% |
| External doors and windows | +8.0% |
| Tiling | +4.1% |
| Painting | +2.3% |
| Kitchen fit-out | +1.1% |
| Bathroom fit-out | +6.1% |
| Electrical works | +4.3% |
| Plumbing and drainage | +4.3% |
| Labour | +2.2% |
| Equipment hire | +8.7% |
| Transport | +19.8% |
Changes calculated from rounded indices published by Statistics Mauritius .
Structural shell: understand the scope
The structural stage generally concerns the foundations, columns, beams, walls, slabs and stairs shown on the plans. Excavation, backfilling, waterproofing or plastering may be included or priced separately. Ask for a written schedule rather than relying on the label “gros œuvre”.
Finished house: define “turnkey” before signing
A finished-house offer may cover flooring, painting, electrical work, plumbing, sanitary fittings, doors and windows. The quality, quantities and installation details should be specified. Kitchen units, wardrobes, appliances, lights, air conditioning and external works are not automatically included.
What belongs in your total project budget?
| Budget item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Land and site preparation | Purchase costs where relevant, surveys, access, ground conditions, excavation and retaining works. |
| Design and professional services | Architectural and engineering services, quantity surveying and the scope of each appointment. |
| Approvals and connections | Applicable permissions, related fees and water, electricity or drainage connections. |
| Construction and finishes | Measured areas, quantities, materials, workmanship and applicable taxes. |
| External works and equipment | Boundary walls, gate, drainage, septic system where relevant, driveway, garden and equipment. |
| Financing and contingency | Loan-related costs, interest during construction and a reserve for unforeseen work. |
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A simple budget example
Assume your itemised construction quotation is Rs 3,000,000. An illustrative 10% contingency adds Rs 300,000, giving Rs 3,300,000 for that scope plus reserve. This is an example, not a market quotation or a recommended contingency for every project.
Rs 3,000,000 + Rs 300,000 = Rs 3,300,000
Add any excluded land costs, services, approvals, connections, external works and financing costs. Set the reserve with your project team according to the design stage and site risks.
How to compare contractor quotations
- Send the same drawings and specifications to each contractor.
- Ask for a breakdown of quantities, unit rates, allowances and exclusions.
- Confirm whether labour, materials, delivery, waste removal and taxes are included.
- Check quote validity, the programme and how price changes or variations will be handled.
- Agree on payment milestones, inspection arrangements and a written process for changes.
How to keep your budget under control
Resolve the main design choices before work starts. Compare alternative finishes against the same specification, track commitments as well as payments, and keep a written record of approved variations. If you build in stages, plan the technical sequence with your professionals so later work does not require expensive rework.
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Build or buy an existing home?
Compare the complete land-and-build budget with suitable existing houses. Building gives you choices over layout and finishes, while an existing home allows you to inspect what is already there. Include renovation needs, timeframes and temporary accommodation in the comparison.
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