Cost of Living Comparison Between Matola and Maputo Cost of Living Comparison Between Matola and Maputo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Matola vs $1,136 in Maputo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,529 per month in Matola vs $1,735 in Maputo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Matola vs $2,333 in Maputo, rent included.

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

Both Matola and Maputo are more affordable than the global median – Matola 26% lower, Maputo 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.95 MZN 503

$10.03 MZN 635

-20.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 MZN 4,030

$62.8 MZN 3,974

1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 MZN 451

$7.19 MZN 455

-0.83%

Cappuccino

$1.54 MZN 97.6

$2.18 MZN 138

-29.36%

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

$0.84 MZN 53.0

$0.87 MZN 55.3

-3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 MZN 45.65

$0.70 MZN 44.19

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 MZN 72.8

$1.53 MZN 96.7

-24.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MZN 101

$2.37 MZN 150

-32.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 MZN 96.3

$1.54 MZN 97.3

-1.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MZN 62.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 MZN 101

$1.66 MZN 105

-3.61%

Eggs

$1.86 MZN 117

$2.42 MZN 153

-23.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.10 MZN 829

$20.49 MZN 1,296

-36.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 MZN 365

$5.82 MZN 368

-0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.70 MZN 297

$5.62 MZN 355

-16.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 MZN 124

$2.00 MZN 126

-1.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MZN 37.22

$0.81 MZN 51.5

-27.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 MZN 102

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 MZN 66.3

$1.03 MZN 65.1

1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 MZN 63.0

$1.00 MZN 63.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MZN 48.16

$0.80 MZN 50.6

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MZN 61.0

$0.98 MZN 61.9

-2.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MZN 36.36

$0.91 MZN 57.6

-37.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 MZN 173

$2.84 MZN 180

-3.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.92 MZN 438

$10.31 MZN 652

-32.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 MZN 58.1

$0.99 MZN 62.3

-7.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MZN 78.3

$1.27 MZN 80.6

-2.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MZN 23.60

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.18 MZN 1,466

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 MZN 101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 MZN 75.6

$1.18 MZN 74.7

0.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.02 MZN 1,583

$24.99 MZN 1,581

0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 MZN 87.7

$1.38 MZN 87.6

0.72%

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

$31.9K MZN 2.0M

$31.2K MZN 2.0M

2.49%

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

$22.7K MZN 1.4M

$22.8K MZN 1.4M

-0.30%

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

$39.46 MZN 2,496

$69.0 MZN 4,365

-42.82%

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

$7.97 MZN 504

$7.69 MZN 486

3.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.4 MZN 5,020

$88.7 MZN 5,607

-10.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.49 MZN 2,434

$42.58 MZN 2,693

-9.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.37 MZN 1,668

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 MZN 499

$8.00 MZN 506

-1.38%

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

$128 MZN 8,072

$128 MZN 8,085

-0.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,170 MZN 327.0K

$5,173 MZN 327.2K

-0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.42 MZN 3,126

$49.81 MZN 3,150

-0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MZN 3,603

$55.1 MZN 3,488

3.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 MZN 4,954

$79.2 MZN 5,008

-1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 MZN 5,072

$78.4 MZN 4,959

2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 MZN 29.9K

$534 MZN 33.8K

-11.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 MZN 25.1K

$378 MZN 23.9K

5.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$715 MZN 45.2K

$1,064 MZN 67.3K

-32.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 MZN 34.2K

$577 MZN 36.5K

-6.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,167 MZN 263.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,043 MZN 129.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$311 MZN 19.6K

$332 MZN 21.0K

-6.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Matola: August 31, 2026

Last update for Maputo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Matola versus $534 in Maputo. 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 7% higher in Maputo, 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 $64.0 in Matola versus $63.0 in Maputo. Groceries tell a different story – $183 in Matola vs $223 in Maputo – so Matola 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

Matola vs Maputo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,014 in Matola, $1,136 in Maputo – roughly 12% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Matola and $1,704 in Maputo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Matola and $1,136 in Maputo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $128 per month in Matola and $128 in Maputo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matola, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Maputo at $1,136. In Matola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maputo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matola – 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 Matola. 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.