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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,093 per month in Maputo vs $1,017 in Matola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Maputo vs $1,551 in Matola, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Maputo vs $2,084 in Matola, rent included.

Maputo costs about 8% more than Matola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Maputo and Matola are more affordable than the global median – Maputo 18% lower, Matola 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.58 MZN 606
$7.84 MZN 496
22.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.65 MZN 3,141
$49.99 MZN 3,162
-0.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.57 MZN 542
$7.63 MZN 482
12.32%
Cappuccino
$2.13 MZN 135
$1.59 MZN 100
33.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MZN 48.48
$0.82 MZN 51.8
-6.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MZN 36.41
$0.53 MZN 33.82
9.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 MZN 88.1
$1.15 MZN 73.0
20.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MZN 96.2
$1.54 MZN 97.1
-1.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MZN 98.8
$1.60 MZN 101
-2.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 MZN 69.4
$1.10 MZN 69.4
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 MZN 103
$1.61 MZN 102
0.62%
Eggs
$2.42 MZN 153
$1.91 MZN 121
26.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.16 MZN 959
$13.52 MZN 855
12.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 MZN 337
$5.26 MZN 333
1.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.18 MZN 327
$4.59 MZN 290
12.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 MZN 123
$1.96 MZN 124
-0.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 MZN 58.8
$0.59 MZN 37.01
57.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 MZN 87.7
$1.39 MZN 88.2
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 MZN 61.9
$0.93 MZN 58.6
5.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MZN 61.7
$0.92 MZN 58.1
6.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 MZN 42.72
$0.68 MZN 42.81
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 MZN 58.8
$0.92 MZN 58.0
1.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MZN 48.06
$0.53 MZN 33.57
43.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 MZN 167
$2.63 MZN 166
0.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MZN 561
$6.94 MZN 439
27.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 MZN 63.9
$0.96 MZN 60.7
5.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MZN 90.6
$1.22 MZN 77.1
17.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Maputo
Matola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MZN 21.34
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.25 MZN 838
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 MZN 97.4
$1.53 MZN 96.8
0.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 MZN 191
$2.98 MZN 189
1.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.17 MZN 1,529
$24.32 MZN 1,538
-0.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 MZN 86.7
$1.32 MZN 83.8
3.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MZN 2.2M
$34.5K MZN 2.2M
2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K MZN 1.3M
$19.6K MZN 1.2M
1.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.8 MZN 5,678
$39.61 MZN 2,505
126.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.28 MZN 903
$14.23 MZN 900
0.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108 MZN 6,810
$78.0 MZN 4,930
38.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.17 MZN 2,604
$39.51 MZN 2,499
4.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.70 MZN 1,625
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.62 MZN 482
$8.05 MZN 509
-5.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$181 MZN 11.5K
$180 MZN 11.4K
0.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,673 MZN 358.8K
$5,814 MZN 367.8K
-2.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.58 MZN 3,136
$49.24 MZN 3,114
0.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6 MZN 3,897
$61.0 MZN 3,858
1.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.7 MZN 5,167
$81.4 MZN 5,146
0.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 MZN 4,978
$80.4 MZN 5,083
-2.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maputo
Matola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 MZN 38.4K
$474 MZN 30.0K
28.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 MZN 21.4K
$394 MZN 24.9K
-14.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 MZN 70.7K
$782 MZN 49.5K
42.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MZN 39.4K
$581 MZN 36.8K
7.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,241 MZN 268.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,045 MZN 129.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maputo
Matola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$332 MZN 21.0K
$317 MZN 20.1K
4.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.33
24.33
-

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

Last update for Maputo: July 14, 2026

Last update for Matola: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Maputo versus $474 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 5% 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 $50.0 in Maputo versus $50.0 in Matola. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Maputo vs $180 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
How do living costs in Maputo and in Matola compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,093 in Maputo, $1,017 in Matola – roughly 8% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Maputo compared to Matola?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,640 per month in Maputo and $1,525 in Matola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Maputo and Matola?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maputo or Matola?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,093 in Maputo and $1,017 in Matola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Maputo and Matola?
Kindergarten costs $181 per month in Maputo and $180 in Matola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matola, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Maputo at $1,093. In Matola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maputo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Maputo or Matola?
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.
How do I decide between Maputo and Matola?
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.

Maputo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities