Retiring in Réunion: where to settle?

Hi! I’m 76 and have traveled a lot in my life, and now I’m looking to settle in Réunion.

I’ve seen a retirement community in Saint-Pierre (Ravine des Cabris) and a residence called Village d’Or in Sainte-Clotilde. I have a feeling that living in Saint-Joseph might be better. I’ve submitted both applications and would love your thoughts—also if you know of any friendly small residences for rent, or if you have experience living there.

My pension is 1,460 €.

Thanks so much for your help! Looking forward to hearing from you—warm regards to everyone

hi there $1,460 in retirement income seems tight for living in Réunion—others can confirm or deny... don’t forget that in the overseas departments, the cost of living is a bit higher than in mainland France. Anyway, before moving, it’s best to take a trip and just stay there for 2 or 3 months

Hi Odette, My best friend, a big traveler, went to "finish" his life in Réunion two years ago. His retirement income is similar to yours. To be extra cautious, he teamed up with a retired neighbor to share expenses!!

You never know, maybe you’ll find some extra info here: https://vivre-a-la-reunion.fr/blog/cout-vie-la-reunion-2026/

Good evening and thank you for your reply! I’ve already been to the meet-up several times—I have a friend in Saint-Joseph. I know my budget is tight even in mainland France. I’m vegetarian, and I know there are plenty of veggies, but dairy is trickier. When I arrive on the island will mostly depend on the rent. I’ll also need to be close to buses and avoid having a car, otherwise my budget won’t work. Thanks again for your reply—have a good evening!

Good evening and thank you for your reply! A bit like your friend, I’m looking into *beguinages* and even better if I can find a residence with several apartments and a common room so we can live with conviviality, mutual aid, and shared subscriptions, etc. But it’s not easy to find. If you have any info on this, feel free to reach out! I checked out your link—great tip! I can confirm you’ve got to eat local, and as a vegetarian, it’s easier. I’ll have dairy every now and then. I’ve been to Réunion three times—once when I was younger—and did 3 weeks of hiking, but I can’t physically do that anymore. What a shame, it’s one of the island’s biggest draws! Someone told me we had to rent a car. There were three of us, and we got to the hiking trailheads by bus. Have a good evening, see you soon!

Good evening Odette, You know the island—I’ve never been there. Unfortunately, I lost touch with that friend because I was upset he left us, haha. Every year, he’d take me flying in an ultralight, and we shared a love for another country, Mauritania. But you can find his contact info here: https://basulm.ffplum.fr/PDF/LF0927.pdf

Good evening Since you're retired and don’t have to travel for work, look for a place to stay in Cilaos, Salazie, or even Plaine des Palmistes. It’s cooler there, but most importantly, the rents are cheaper.

hi there Yes, there are vegetables and fruits, but be careful—when it rains too much or there’s a storm or cyclone, you won’t find much, or prices skyrocket (for example, after Garance: months without tomatoes, then they came back at 15 euros per kilo... same thing with all the banana trees destroyed during the cyclone—it took months to see them on the shelves again, at outrageous prices). Right now, we’re in a severe drought, so fruits and veggies are suffering too...

According to INSEE, groceries cost a lot more on the island than in mainland France (+37%). Healthcare, communications, and leisure services are also pricier. On the other hand, transportation, housing-related expenses (water, electricity, etc.), and clothing are generally cheaper in Réunion.

I hope you never order anything online—between companies that don’t deliver here or the shipping/customs fees + *octroi de mer*, it’s enough to put you off buying anything.

Make sure to calculate your expenses carefully to see how much you’ll have left at the end of the month.

Hi there, I’ve been to Réunion several times. My two kids and grandkids live there. I’ve always been shocked by the price of groceries, especially vegetables that aren’t always very fresh—like tomatoes that were half-green at 9 € per kilo on my last trip! They grow lentils in Cilaos that cost as much as caviar!