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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,093 per month in Maputo vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Maputo vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Maputo vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Maputo is about 13% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maputo and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Maputo 18% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.58 MZN 606
$4.55 ฿153
110.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.65 MZN 3,141
$46.18 ฿1,554
7.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.57 MZN 542
$8.84 ฿298
-3.05%
Cappuccino
$2.13 MZN 135
$3.06 ฿103
-30.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MZN 48.48
$0.73 ฿24.42
5.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MZN 36.41
$0.40 ฿13.40
45.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 MZN 88.1
$2.43 ฿81.8
-42.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MZN 96.2
$3.78 ฿127
-59.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MZN 98.8
$2.26 ฿76.0
-30.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 MZN 69.4
$1.81 ฿60.9
-39.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 MZN 103
$2.25 ฿75.8
-28.00%
Eggs
$2.42 MZN 153
$2.25 ฿75.6
7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.16 MZN 959
$19.51 ฿656
-22.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 MZN 337
$3.65 ฿123
46.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.18 MZN 327
$13.05 ฿439
-60.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 MZN 123
$3.23 ฿109
-39.63%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 MZN 58.8
$1.62 ฿54.4
-42.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 MZN 87.7
$2.38 ฿80.2
-41.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 MZN 61.9
$2.03 ฿68.2
-51.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MZN 61.7
$1.53 ฿51.6
-35.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 MZN 42.72
$1.50 ฿50.5
-54.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 MZN 58.8
$0.98 ฿32.93
-5.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MZN 48.06
$0.52 ฿17.40
46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 MZN 167
$4.44 ฿149
-40.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MZN 561
$18.32 ฿616
-51.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 MZN 63.9
$1.86 ฿62.7
-45.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MZN 90.6
$2.68 ฿90.2
-46.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MZN 21.34
$1.41 ฿47.49
-75.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.25 MZN 838
$11.70 ฿394
13.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 MZN 97.4
$3.11 ฿105
-50.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 MZN 191
$1.04 ฿35.08
189.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.17 MZN 1,529
$14.11 ฿475
71.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 MZN 86.7
$1.31 ฿44.13
4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MZN 2.2M
$27.8K ฿936.0K
27.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K MZN 1.3M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-39.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.8 MZN 5,678
$122 ฿4,120
-26.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.28 MZN 903
$13.59 ฿457
5.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108 MZN 6,810
$18.70 ฿629
475.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.17 MZN 2,604
$60.5 ฿2,035
-31.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.70 MZN 1,625
$16.98 ฿572
51.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62 MZN 482
$9.07 ฿305
-15.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$181 MZN 11.5K
$706 ฿23.8K
-74.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,673 MZN 358.8K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-64.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.58 MZN 3,136
$58.6 ฿1,970
-15.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6 MZN 3,897
$35.36 ฿1,190
74.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.7 MZN 5,167
$115 ฿3,885
-29.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 MZN 4,978
$83.7 ฿2,818
-6.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 MZN 38.4K
$626 ฿21.1K
-2.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 MZN 21.4K
$445 ฿15.0K
-23.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 MZN 70.7K
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-45.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MZN 39.4K
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-58.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,241 MZN 268.2K
$3,483 ฿117.2K
21.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,045 MZN 129.4K
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-20.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maputo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$332 MZN 21.0K
$500 ฿16.8K
-33.65%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Maputo versus $626 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 51% 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 $50.0 in Maputo versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Maputo vs $289 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 in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,093 in Maputo, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 14% 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 $1,640 per month in Maputo and $1,875 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 $181 per month in Maputo and $706 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 45% 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 $1,093, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $1,093 in Maputo to $1,250 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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