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 $1,121 per month in Maputo vs $717 in Xai-Xai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,697 per month in Maputo vs $1,132 in Xai-Xai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,273 per month in Maputo vs $1,548 in Xai-Xai, rent included.

Maputo costs about 56% more than Xai-Xai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Maputo and Xai-Xai are more affordable than the global median – Maputo 16% lower, Xai-Xai 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.25 MZN 585

$9.28 MZN 587

-0.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.78 MZN 3,086

$49.66 MZN 3,141

-1.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 MZN 527

$8.56 MZN 542

-2.69%

Cappuccino

$2.07 MZN 131

$2.12 MZN 134

-2.36%

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

$0.76 MZN 47.93

$0.77 MZN 48.77

-1.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MZN 36.76

$0.54 MZN 33.94

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 MZN 89.9

$1.35 MZN 85.6

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MZN 101

$1.52 MZN 96.0

4.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 MZN 100

$1.53 MZN 96.5

3.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MZN 68.9

$1.09 MZN 69.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MZN 106

$1.62 MZN 102

3.70%

Eggs

$2.45 MZN 155

$2.33 MZN 148

5.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.25 MZN 964

$15.24 MZN 964

0.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 MZN 330

$5.11 MZN 323

2.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.17 MZN 327

$5.22 MZN 330

-0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 MZN 121

$1.92 MZN 122

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 MZN 58.3

$0.93 MZN 59.0

-1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 MZN 84.1

$1.36 MZN 85.9

-2.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 MZN 57.7

$0.94 MZN 59.2

-3.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MZN 58.0

$0.94 MZN 59.5

-2.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 MZN 44.90

$0.72 MZN 45.79

-1.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 MZN 58.6

$0.91 MZN 57.8

2.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MZN 49.88

$0.75 MZN 47.31

5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 MZN 166

$2.65 MZN 167

-0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.24 MZN 584

$8.97 MZN 567

3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MZN 61.3

$0.97 MZN 61.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MZN 90.2

$1.44 MZN 91.2

-0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MZN 22.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.19 MZN 834

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 MZN 100

$1.55 MZN 97.9

2.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.01 MZN 190

$2.90 MZN 183

3.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.06 MZN 1,522

$24.50 MZN 1,550

-1.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 MZN 84.2

$1.32 MZN 83.7

0.76%

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

$35.5K MZN 2.2M

$34.6K MZN 2.2M

2.61%

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

$19.6K MZN 1.2M

$20.1K MZN 1.3M

-2.80%

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

$90.0 MZN 5,689

$91.2 MZN 5,770

-1.40%

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

$14.38 MZN 909

$14.36 MZN 908

0.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$106 MZN 6,682

$107 MZN 6,788

-1.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.51 MZN 2,626

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MZN 1,663

Cinema Ticket

$7.61 MZN 481

$7.98 MZN 505

-4.64%

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

$183 MZN 11.6K

$179 MZN 11.3K

2.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 MZN 366.4K

$5,823 MZN 368.3K

-0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.38 MZN 3,123

$48.15 MZN 3,046

2.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.8 MZN 3,969

$61.4 MZN 3,884

2.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.6 MZN 5,227

$84.3 MZN 5,332

-1.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 MZN 4,965

$79.4 MZN 5,025

-1.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 MZN 38.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 MZN 21.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 MZN 72.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MZN 39.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,138 MZN 261.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,092 MZN 132.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$329 MZN 20.8K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Xai-Xai: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Maputo versus $50.0 in Xai-Xai. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Maputo vs $197 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: $1,121 in Maputo, $717 in Xai-Xai – roughly 56% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,682 per month in Maputo and $1,075 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 $1,121 in Maputo and $717 in Xai-Xai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $183 per month in Maputo and $179 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 $717, than in Maputo at $1,121. 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.