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 $1,093 per month in Maputo vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Maputo vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Maputo vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Maputo is about 25% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Maputo sits 18% below the global median, while Mexico City is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.58 MZN 606
$13.07 MX$229
-26.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.65 MZN 3,141
$53.8 MX$943
-7.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.57 MZN 542
$9.68 MX$170
-11.47%
Cappuccino
$2.13 MZN 135
$3.74 MX$65.6
-43.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MZN 48.48
$1.62 MX$28.34
-52.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MZN 36.41
$1.16 MX$20.37
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 MZN 88.1
$3.23 MX$56.6
-56.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MZN 96.2
$4.74 MX$83.1
-67.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MZN 98.8
$1.65 MX$28.89
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 MZN 69.4
$2.75 MX$48.30
-60.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 MZN 103
$1.87 MX$32.87
-13.37%
Eggs
$2.42 MZN 153
$2.50 MX$43.86
-3.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.16 MZN 959
$10.20 MX$179
48.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 MZN 337
$8.25 MX$145
-35.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.18 MZN 327
$11.82 MX$207
-56.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 MZN 123
$3.01 MX$52.8
-35.22%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 MZN 58.8
$1.81 MX$31.77
-48.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 MZN 87.7
$2.00 MX$35.07
-30.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 MZN 61.9
$2.00 MX$35.00
-51.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MZN 61.7
$2.08 MX$36.56
-52.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 MZN 42.72
$2.27 MX$39.85
-70.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 MZN 58.8
$1.46 MX$25.55
-36.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MZN 48.06
$1.08 MX$18.88
-29.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 MZN 167
$4.35 MX$76.3
-39.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MZN 561
$16.99 MX$298
-47.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 MZN 63.9
$1.73 MX$30.40
-41.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MZN 90.6
$3.58 MX$62.7
-60.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MZN 21.34
$0.39 MX$6.79
-12.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.25 MZN 838
$18.69 MX$328
-29.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 MZN 97.4
$1.33 MX$23.25
15.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 MZN 191
$0.28 MX$4.91
975.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.17 MZN 1,529
$5.25 MX$92.1
360.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 MZN 86.7
$1.34 MX$23.44
2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MZN 2.2M
$19.4K MX$340.5K
82.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K MZN 1.3M
$23.8K MX$418.0K
-15.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.8 MZN 5,678
$40.69 MX$714
120.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.28 MZN 903
$26.87 MX$471
-46.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108 MZN 6,810
$30.51 MX$535
252.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.17 MZN 2,604
$52.8 MX$926
-22.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.70 MZN 1,625
$26.65 MX$467
-3.56%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62 MZN 482
$6.51 MX$114
17.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$181 MZN 11.5K
$428 MX$7,508
-57.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,673 MZN 358.8K
$10.5K MX$184.2K
-45.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.58 MZN 3,136
$57.3 MX$1,004
-13.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6 MZN 3,897
$45.50 MX$798
35.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.7 MZN 5,167
$104 MX$1,825
-21.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 MZN 4,978
$108 MX$1,891
-27.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 MZN 38.4K
$1,003 MX$17.6K
-39.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 MZN 21.4K
$623 MX$10.9K
-45.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 MZN 70.7K
$2,109 MX$37.0K
-47.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MZN 39.4K
$1,218 MX$21.4K
-48.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,241 MZN 268.2K
$3,885 MX$68.1K
9.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,045 MZN 129.4K
$2,033 MX$35.7K
0.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maputo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$332 MZN 21.0K
$1,038 MX$18.2K
-68.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.33
11.34
114.55%

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

Last update for Maputo: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Maputo versus $1,003 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 213% 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 $50.0 in Maputo versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $292 – making Maputo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
How do living costs in Maputo and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,093 in Maputo, $1,456 in Mexico City – roughly 33% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Maputo compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,640 per month in Maputo and $2,185 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Maputo and Mexico City?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Maputo and Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $181 per month in Maputo and $428 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 47% 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maputo, where all-in costs run around $1,093, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Maputo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Maputo and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,093 in Maputo to $1,456 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Maputo and Mexico City?
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.

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