Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,121 per month in Maputo vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,697 per month in Maputo vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,273 per month in Maputo vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Maputo is about 11% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maputo and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Maputo 16% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.25 MZN 585
$4.70 ฿153
96.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.78 MZN 3,085
$45.37 ฿1,482
7.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.33 MZN 527
$8.43 ฿275
-1.19%
Cappuccino
$2.07 MZN 131
$2.93 ฿95.6
-29.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MZN 47.93
$0.69 ฿22.40
10.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MZN 36.75
$0.37 ฿11.99
56.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 MZN 89.9
$2.41 ฿78.6
-41.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 MZN 101
$3.72 ฿122
-57.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 MZN 100
$2.23 ฿72.9
-28.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 MZN 68.9
$1.83 ฿59.8
-40.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MZN 106
$2.17 ฿70.8
-22.58%
Eggs
$2.45 MZN 155
$2.21 ฿72.3
10.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.25 MZN 964
$19.74 ฿645
-22.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.22 MZN 330
$3.63 ฿119
43.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.17 MZN 327
$13.53 ฿442
-61.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 MZN 121
$3.28 ฿107
-41.46%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 MZN 58.3
$1.61 ฿52.6
-42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 MZN 84.1
$2.41 ฿78.6
-44.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 MZN 57.7
$2.08 ฿68.1
-56.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 MZN 58.0
$1.53 ฿49.93
-39.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 MZN 44.90
$1.48 ฿48.36
-52.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 MZN 58.6
$0.99 ฿32.29
-6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 MZN 49.88
$0.51 ฿16.67
54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 MZN 166
$4.41 ฿144
-40.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.24 MZN 584
$19.38 ฿633
-52.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 MZN 61.3
$1.78 ฿58.1
-45.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MZN 90.2
$2.71 ฿88.6
-47.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MZN 22.81
$1.37 ฿44.79
-73.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.19 MZN 834
$11.39 ฿372
15.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 MZN 100
$3.02 ฿98.6
-47.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 MZN 190
$0.99 ฿32.48
204.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.06 MZN 1,522
$14.10 ฿461
70.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 MZN 84.2
$1.36 ฿44.51
-2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MZN 2.2M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
25.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K MZN 1.2M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-40.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.0 MZN 5,689
$122 ฿3,975
-26.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.38 MZN 909
$13.57 ฿443
5.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106 MZN 6,681
$18.31 ฿598
477.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.51 MZN 2,625
$60.2 ฿1,967
-31.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MZN 1,663
$17.14 ฿560
53.44%
Cinema Ticket
$7.61 MZN 481
$8.69 ฿284
-12.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$183 MZN 11.6K
$693 ฿22.6K
-73.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 MZN 366.4K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-63.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.38 MZN 3,123
$59.5 ฿1,944
-17.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.8 MZN 3,969
$34.77 ฿1,136
80.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.6 MZN 5,226
$115 ฿3,743
-27.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 MZN 4,964
$83.3 ฿2,720
-5.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 MZN 38.2K
$613 ฿20.0K
-1.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 MZN 21.8K
$437 ฿14.3K
-21.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 MZN 72.0K
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-45.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MZN 39.4K
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-58.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,138 MZN 261.7K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
10.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,092 MZN 132.3K
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-20.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$329 MZN 20.8K
$508 ฿16.6K
-35.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.33
5.33
356.47%

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

Last update for Maputo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $604 in Maputo versus $613 in Phuket. 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 54% higher in Phuket, 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 $49.00 in Maputo versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Maputo vs $293 in Phuket – 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Maputo and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,121 in Maputo, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 13% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Maputo compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,682 per month in Maputo and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Maputo and Phuket?
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 Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $183 per month in Maputo and $693 in Phuket. 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 Phuket, 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 $1,121, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Maputo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Maputo and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,121 in Maputo to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Maputo or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Maputo and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Maputo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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