Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,145 per month in Maputo vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,752 per month in Maputo vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,358 per month in Maputo vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Maputo is about 31% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Maputo sits 16% below the global median, while Mexico City is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.25 MZN 648

$11.92 MX$206

-14.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.5 MZN 3,891

$51.6 MX$890

19.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 MZN 451

$11.41 MX$197

-37.42%

Cappuccino

$2.27 MZN 143

$3.99 MX$68.9

-43.11%

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

$0.83 MZN 52.3

$1.66 MX$28.61

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 MZN 42.92

$1.33 MX$22.87

-48.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 MZN 102

$3.47 MX$59.9

-53.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MZN 147

$5.90 MX$102

-60.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 MZN 100

$1.88 MX$32.36

-15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MZN 65.2

$3.25 MX$56.1

-68.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 MZN 99.9

$2.16 MX$37.26

-26.85%

Eggs

$2.49 MZN 157

$2.90 MX$49.94

-14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.61 MZN 1,304

$12.86 MX$222

60.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 MZN 356

$10.05 MX$173

-43.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 MZN 367

$15.86 MX$273

-63.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 MZN 124

$3.29 MX$56.8

-40.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 MZN 50.7

$2.01 MX$34.60

-60.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 MZN 103

$2.20 MX$37.93

-26.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 MZN 69.1

$2.36 MX$40.63

-53.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 MZN 65.4

$2.05 MX$35.43

-49.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 MZN 51.8

$1.90 MX$32.79

-56.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 MZN 62.3

$1.61 MX$27.68

-39.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 MZN 58.1

$1.40 MX$24.09

-34.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 MZN 177

$5.46 MX$94.2

-48.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.11 MZN 639

$17.65 MX$304

-42.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MZN 64.5

$2.06 MX$35.44

-50.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 MZN 80.4

$4.68 MX$80.8

-72.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 MZN 25.37

$0.34 MX$5.84

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.29 MZN 1,473

$20.81 MX$359

11.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 MZN 101

$2.10 MX$36.15

-23.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MZN 72.0

$0.56 MX$9.64

103.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.31 MZN 1,537

$5.81 MX$100

318.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 MZN 88.3

$1.61 MX$27.68

-13.04%

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

$31.7K MZN 2.0M

$22.8K MX$393.8K

38.88%

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

$23.1K MZN 1.5M

$26.8K MX$461.2K

-13.73%

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

$70.6 MZN 4,467

$65.2 MX$1,124

8.35%

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

$7.73 MZN 489

$30.09 MX$519

-74.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.5 MZN 5,471

$37.18 MX$641

132.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 MZN 2,685

$59.8 MX$1,030

-28.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 MZN 1,673

$26.55 MX$458

-0.38%

Cinema Ticket

$8.00 MZN 506

$7.04 MX$121

13.64%

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

$129 MZN 8,176

$465 MX$8,012

-72.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 MZN 324.9K

$13.3K MX$228.9K

-61.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.81 MZN 3,150

$75.9 MX$1,308

-34.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 MZN 3,524

$56.0 MX$965

-0.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 MZN 4,980

$112 MX$1,929

-29.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 MZN 5,005

$121 MX$2,078

-34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 MZN 35.0K

$1,103 MX$19.0K

-49.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 MZN 24.2K

$721 MX$12.4K

-46.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 MZN 67.9K

$2,530 MX$43.6K

-57.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$568 MZN 35.9K

$1,293 MX$22.3K

-56.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,174 MZN 264.0K

$3,991 MX$68.8K

4.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,072 MZN 131.1K

$2,090 MX$36.0K

-0.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 MZN 21.1K

$1,037 MX$17.9K

-67.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

121.24%

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

Last update for Maputo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 in Maputo versus $1,103 in Mexico City. 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 212% higher in Mexico City, 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 $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $224 in Maputo vs $345 in Mexico City – so Maputo 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,145 in Maputo, $1,660 in Mexico City – roughly 45% apart. Mexico City 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 $2,489 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Maputo and $465 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maputo, where all-in costs run around $1,145, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Maputo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,145 in Maputo to $1,660 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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