🙂A single person spends $295 per month in Nampula vs $717 in Xai-Xai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $477 per month in Nampula vs $1,132 in Xai-Xai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $659 per month in Nampula vs $1,548 in Xai-Xai, rent included.
🙂Nampula is about 59% cheaper than Xai-Xai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Nampula and Xai-Xai are more affordable than the global median – Nampula78% lower, Xai-Xai47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40MZN 279
$9.28MZN 587
-52.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$49.66MZN 3,141
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.56MZN 542
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.12MZN 134
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MZN 57.0
$0.77MZN 48.77
16.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MZN 38.97
$0.54MZN 33.94
14.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.23MZN 77.5
$1.35MZN 85.6
-8.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53MZN 96.9
$1.52MZN 96.0
0.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74MZN 110
$1.53MZN 96.5
13.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45MZN 28.45
$1.09MZN 69.1
-58.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06MZN 67.2
$1.62MZN 102
-34.57%
Eggs
$2.78MZN 176
$2.33MZN 148
19.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15MZN 642
$15.24MZN 964
-33.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.36MZN 212
$5.11MZN 323
-34.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.76MZN 238
$5.22MZN 330
-27.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.55MZN 161
$1.92MZN 122
32.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33MZN 147
$0.93MZN 59.0
150.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93MZN 122
$1.36MZN 85.9
41.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52MZN 96.1
$0.94MZN 59.2
61.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47MZN 93.3
$0.94MZN 59.5
56.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69MZN 107
$0.72MZN 45.79
134.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74MZN 46.54
$0.91MZN 57.8
-18.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88MZN 55.9
$0.75MZN 47.31
17.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.65MZN 167
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.42MZN 406
$8.97MZN 567
-28.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41MZN 153
$0.97MZN 61.6
148.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44MZN 91.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15MZN 9.34
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53MZN 97.1
$1.55MZN 97.9
-1.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MZN 152
$2.90MZN 183
-16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$24.50MZN 1,550
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56MZN 99.0
$1.32MZN 83.7
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.6KMZN 2.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.1KMZN 1.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$91.2MZN 5,770
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.36MZN 908
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$107MZN 6,788
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.98MZN 505
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$179MZN 11.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,823MZN 368.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$48.15MZN 3,046
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$61.4MZN 3,884
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3MZN 5,904
$84.3MZN 5,332
10.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$79.4MZN 5,025
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952MZN 60.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Xai-Xai
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
24.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nampula: June 2, 2026
Last update for Xai-Xai: June 1, 2026
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
Nampula vs Xai-Xai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xai-Xai cheaper than Nampula?
Yes – Xai-Xai is pricier by about 143%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $443 per month in Nampula and $1,075 in Xai-Xai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Nampula vs Xai-Xai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $295 in Nampula and $717 in Xai-Xai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Nampula and Xai-Xai?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Xai-Xai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 enough for either Nampula or Xai-Xai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $295 in Nampula and $717 in Xai-Xai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Nampula or Xai-Xai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nampula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nampula. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Xai-Xai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.