Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Matola Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Matola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,145 per month in Maputo vs $1,013 in Matola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,752 per month in Maputo vs $1,513 in Matola, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,358 per month in Maputo vs $2,013 in Matola, rent included.

Maputo costs about 13% more than Matola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maputo and Matola are more affordable than the global median – Maputo 16% lower, Matola 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.25 MZN 648

$8.02 MZN 507

27.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.5 MZN 3,891

$63.5 MZN 4,015

-3.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 MZN 451

$7.41 MZN 468

-3.64%

Cappuccino

$2.27 MZN 143

$1.55 MZN 97.8

46.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MZN 52.3

$0.89 MZN 56.0

-6.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 MZN 42.92

$0.70 MZN 44.16

-2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 MZN 102

$1.20 MZN 75.9

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MZN 147

$1.53 MZN 96.6

52.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 MZN 100

$1.52 MZN 96.0

3.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MZN 65.2

$1.00 MZN 63.1

3.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 MZN 99.9

$1.60 MZN 102

-1.25%

Eggs

$2.49 MZN 157

$1.83 MZN 116

36.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.61 MZN 1,304

$13.22 MZN 836

55.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 MZN 356

$5.75 MZN 364

-2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 MZN 367

$4.63 MZN 293

25.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 MZN 124

$1.98 MZN 126

-0.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 MZN 50.7

$0.59 MZN 37.41

35.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 MZN 103

$1.63 MZN 103

-0.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 MZN 69.1

$1.04 MZN 66.0

4.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 MZN 65.4

$1.00 MZN 63.2

3.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 MZN 51.8

$0.82 MZN 51.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 MZN 62.3

$0.95 MZN 60.1

3.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 MZN 58.1

$0.53 MZN 33.52

73.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 MZN 177

$2.76 MZN 175

1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.11 MZN 639

$7.24 MZN 458

39.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MZN 64.5

$0.96 MZN 60.9

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 MZN 80.4

$1.21 MZN 76.8

4.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 MZN 25.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.29 MZN 1,473

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 MZN 101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MZN 72.0

$1.20 MZN 75.6

-5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.31 MZN 1,537

$24.78 MZN 1,568

-1.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 MZN 88.3

$1.33 MZN 84.1

5.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.7K MZN 2.0M

$31.1K MZN 2.0M

1.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.1K MZN 1.5M

$22.6K MZN 1.4M

1.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.6 MZN 4,467

$38.84 MZN 2,456

81.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.73 MZN 489

$7.69 MZN 487

0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.5 MZN 5,471

$76.9 MZN 4,863

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 MZN 2,685

$38.93 MZN 2,462

9.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 MZN 1,673

Cinema Ticket

$8.00 MZN 506

$7.71 MZN 487

3.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$129 MZN 8,176

$127 MZN 8,020

1.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 MZN 324.9K

$5,198 MZN 328.8K

-1.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.81 MZN 3,150

$50.8 MZN 3,212

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 MZN 3,524

$56.5 MZN 3,573

-1.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 MZN 4,980

$78.0 MZN 4,936

0.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 MZN 5,005

$79.7 MZN 5,043

-0.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 MZN 35.0K

$465 MZN 29.4K

19.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 MZN 24.2K

$393 MZN 24.8K

-2.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 MZN 67.9K

$714 MZN 45.2K

50.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$568 MZN 35.9K

$557 MZN 35.2K

1.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,174 MZN 264.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,072 MZN 131.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 MZN 21.1K

$309 MZN 19.6K

7.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maputo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Matola: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 in Maputo versus $465 in Matola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Maputo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Maputo versus $63.0 in Matola. Groceries tell a different story – $224 in Maputo vs $183 in Matola – so Matola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Maputo vs Matola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,145 in Maputo, $1,013 in Matola – roughly 13% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,718 per month in Maputo and $1,520 in Matola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,145 in Maputo and $1,013 in Matola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Maputo and $127 in Matola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matola, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Maputo at $1,145. In Matola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maputo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matola – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Matola. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maputo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.