Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Xai-Xai Cost of Living Comparison Between Maputo and Xai-Xai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Maputo vs $708 in Xai-Xai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,704 per month in Maputo vs $1,129 in Xai-Xai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,323 per month in Maputo vs $1,550 in Xai-Xai, rent included.

Maputo costs about 53% more than Xai-Xai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Maputo and Xai-Xai are more affordable than the global median – Maputo 19% lower, Xai-Xai 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.11 MZN 576

$9.39 MZN 594

-2.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 MZN 3,181

$50.4 MZN 3,186

-0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 MZN 554

$8.30 MZN 525

5.42%

Cappuccino

$2.05 MZN 130

$2.15 MZN 136

-4.65%

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

$0.75 MZN 47.71

$0.81 MZN 51.5

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MZN 36.31

$0.58 MZN 36.50

-1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MZN 88.0

$1.35 MZN 85.2

2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 MZN 97.5

$1.60 MZN 101

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 MZN 99.9

$1.54 MZN 97.3

2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MZN 66.1

$1.04 MZN 65.8

0.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 MZN 107

$1.66 MZN 105

2.41%

Eggs

$2.44 MZN 154

$2.38 MZN 150

2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 MZN 950

$14.95 MZN 945

0.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 MZN 321

$5.28 MZN 334

-3.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.26 MZN 333

$5.16 MZN 326

1.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 MZN 126

$1.96 MZN 124

1.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 MZN 55.8

$0.91 MZN 57.9

-3.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 MZN 84.9

$1.40 MZN 88.8

-4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 MZN 62.2

$0.98 MZN 62.3

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MZN 59.0

$0.94 MZN 59.5

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MZN 45.66

$0.70 MZN 44.43

2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MZN 57.8

$0.95 MZN 60.2

-4.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MZN 50.3

$0.75 MZN 47.20

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 MZN 162

$2.56 MZN 162

-0.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.36 MZN 655

$10.06 MZN 636

2.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MZN 60.5

$0.98 MZN 61.7

-2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MZN 88.1

$1.37 MZN 86.8

1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MZN 23.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.37 MZN 846

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 MZN 96.5

$1.54 MZN 97.7

-0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 MZN 192

$3.00 MZN 189

1.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.44 MZN 1,546

$24.68 MZN 1,561

-0.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 MZN 84.1

$1.38 MZN 87.5

-3.62%

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

$34.8K MZN 2.2M

$34.7K MZN 2.2M

0.30%

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

$20.2K MZN 1.3M

$20.0K MZN 1.3M

0.92%

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

$91.2 MZN 5,767

$88.8 MZN 5,614

2.74%

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

$14.70 MZN 930

$14.30 MZN 905

2.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$108 MZN 6,827

$108 MZN 6,819

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.02 MZN 2,658

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.53 MZN 1,678

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 MZN 496

$7.72 MZN 488

1.55%

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

$179 MZN 11.3K

$183 MZN 11.6K

-2.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,883 MZN 372.1K

$5,708 MZN 361.0K

3.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.48 MZN 3,066

$49.14 MZN 3,108

-1.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 MZN 3,834

$61.9 MZN 3,914

-2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MZN 5,340

$83.5 MZN 5,279

1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 MZN 5,074

$78.0 MZN 4,933

2.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$600 MZN 37.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 MZN 21.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 MZN 72.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 MZN 38.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,244 MZN 268.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MZN 133.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 MZN 20.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.33

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

Last update for Maputo: July 19, 2026

Last update for Xai-Xai: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Maputo versus $50.0 in Xai-Xai. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Maputo vs $199 in Xai-Xai – so Xai-Xai 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 Xai-Xai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,086 in Maputo, $708 in Xai-Xai – roughly 53% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Maputo and $1,062 in Xai-Xai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,086 in Maputo and $708 in Xai-Xai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Maputo and $183 in Xai-Xai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Xai-Xai, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Maputo at $1,086. In Xai-Xai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maputo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Xai-Xai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Xai-Xai. 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.