For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,111 in Mozambique, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in China and in Mozambique actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $1,111 in Mozambique.
China $791
Mozambique $1,111
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $1,625 in Mozambique.
China $1,251
Mozambique $1,625
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $2,138 in Mozambique.
China $1,711
Mozambique $2,138
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Mozambique: monthly costs span $27 to $1,127, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in Mozambique.
🌍
Living in China costs about 29% less than in Mozambique on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: China 42% lower, Mozambique 18% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Mozambique
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98¥19.81
$10.28MZN 650
-71.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09¥147
$46.15MZN 2,919
-52.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.60
$7.33MZN 464
-29.06%
Cappuccino
$2.97¥19.74
$2.18MZN 138
36.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.19
$0.93MZN 58.6
-48.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.01
$0.62MZN 39.12
-51.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.18
$1.54MZN 97.5
-29.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28¥15.15
$2.41MZN 153
-5.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Mozambique
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥11.96
$1.59MZN 101
13.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68¥11.15
$0.85MZN 53.7
97.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.13
$1.48MZN 93.4
-37.84%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.73
$2.24MZN 141
-28.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38¥89.1
$13.51MZN 854
-0.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.28
$5.35MZN 339
-37.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35¥75.5
$5.23MZN 331
117.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.12
$2.49MZN 157
-26.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.69
$1.43MZN 90.5
-8.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥9.89
$2.12MZN 134
-29.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.47
$1.35MZN 85.1
-5.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.73
$1.25MZN 79.0
-43.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.21
$1.15MZN 73.0
-19.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.12
$0.89MZN 56.3
-30.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.74
$0.80MZN 50.7
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.15
$2.86MZN 181
32.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13¥80.7
$8.02MZN 507
51.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥5.54
$1.03MZN 65.2
-19.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.21
$1.35MZN 85.6
24.44%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Mozambique
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.92
$0.22MZN 13.88
31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.83¥119
$23.01MZN 1,455
-22.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49¥9.89
$1.58MZN 99.8
-5.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.49
$1.59MZN 101
-76.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥47.24
$24.44MZN 1,545
-70.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.37
$1.38MZN 87.1
-8.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.4K
$31.7KMZN 2.0M
-38.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.7K
$22.6KMZN 1.4M
-22.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Mozambique
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.6¥363
$78.9MZN 4,992
-30.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73¥58.1
$9.19MZN 581
-5.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07¥73.6
$97.7MZN 6,177
-88.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Mozambique
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.77¥271
$41.01MZN 2,594
-0.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48¥96.4
$26.01MZN 1,645
-44.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78¥45.12
$7.85MZN 496
-13.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Mozambique
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517¥3,438
$164MZN 10.3K
215.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥131.8K
$5,220MZN 330.1K
279.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Mozambique
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53¥310
$44.24MZN 2,798
5.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66¥237
$51.4MZN 3,252
-30.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥512
$74.3MZN 4,698
3.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3¥534
$73.2MZN 4,631
9.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Mozambique
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,567
$525MZN 33.2K
-26.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235¥1,561
$375MZN 23.7K
-37.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,469
$956MZN 60.5K
-14.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453¥3,015
$492MZN 31.1K
-7.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,697¥31.3K
$4,170MZN 263.7K
12.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372¥15.8K
$2,038MZN 128.9K
16.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Mozambique
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,093¥7,274
$322MZN 20.4K
239.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
25
-86.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Last update for Mozambique: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$235 29.6%
Mozambique
$375 33.8% ↑ 59.9%$141
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$210 26.5%
Mozambique
$202 18.1% ↓ 4%$8.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$108 13.6%
Mozambique
$109 9.9% ↑ 1.6%$1.7
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
Mozambique
$149 13.4% ↑ 69.3%$61
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74 9.4%
Mozambique
$186 16.7% ↑ 150%$111
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.9%
Mozambique
$57 5.1% ↑ 4.4%$2.4
🚌Getting Around
China
$22 2.8%
Mozambique
$33 3% ↑ 49.7%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$453 26.5%
Mozambique
$492 23% ↑ 8.6%$39
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$483 28.3%
Mozambique
$465 21.8% ↓ 3.7%$18
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$239 14%
Mozambique
$243 11.4% ↑ 1.6%$3.7
🍽Eating Out
China
$284 16.6%
Mozambique
$536 25.1% ↑ 89%$252
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.9%
Mozambique
$195 9.1% ↑ 135%$112
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
Mozambique
$139 6.5% ↑ 13.2%$16
🚌Getting Around
China
$45 2.6%
Mozambique
$67 3.2% ↑ 48.8%$22
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $504 in Mozambique. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $547 in Maputo.
💰National salary averages: $873 in China, $316 in Mozambique. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 69% higher in Mozambique.
⭐Dining out costs 168% more in Mozambique.
⭐Public transport is 33% more expensive in Mozambique.
⭐Salaries are about 2.8 times higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
China vs Mozambique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Mozambique?
At $791 per month in China and $1,111 in Mozambique, China comes out about 29% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between China and Mozambique?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $504 in Mozambique and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Mozambique?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.