For one person, living is cheaper in Mozambique: $1,111 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Mozambique
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Mozambique actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $1,111 in Mozambique, rent included.
United States $2,734
Mozambique $1,111
A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $1,625 in Mozambique, rent included.
United States $3,985
Mozambique $1,625
A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $2,138 in Mozambique, rent included.
United States $5,235
Mozambique $2,138
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Mozambique ($27–$1,127), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 146% higher than in Mozambique on average.
📊
The United States sits 101% above the global median, while Mozambique is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03$20.03
$10.28MZN 650
94.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0$80.0
$46.15MZN 2,919
73.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80$11.80
$7.33MZN 464
60.98%
Cappuccino
$5.55$5.55
$2.18MZN 138
154.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
$0.93MZN 58.6
186.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$0.62MZN 39.12
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12$6.12
$1.54MZN 97.5
297.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94$7.94
$2.41MZN 153
229.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.59MZN 101
-34.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59$3.59
$0.85MZN 53.7
322.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.52$4.52
$1.48MZN 93.4
205.41%
Eggs
$4.28$4.28
$2.24MZN 141
91.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22$13.22
$13.51MZN 854
-2.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.60$12.60
$5.35MZN 339
135.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.60$17.60
$5.23MZN 331
236.52%
Apples(1kg)
$5.30$5.30
$2.49MZN 157
112.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$1.43MZN 90.5
18.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$2.12MZN 134
109.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$1.35MZN 85.1
253.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$1.25MZN 79.0
137.60%
Onion(1kg)
$3.15$3.15
$1.15MZN 73.0
173.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20$2.20
$0.89MZN 56.3
147.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$0.80MZN 50.7
193.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98$10.98
$2.86MZN 181
283.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.05$15.05
$8.02MZN 507
87.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.03MZN 65.2
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79$3.79
$1.35MZN 85.6
180.74%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Mozambique
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$0.22MZN 13.88
781.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.4$59.4
$23.01MZN 1,455
158.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$1.58MZN 99.8
126.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88$1.88
$1.59MZN 101
18.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.84$29.84
$24.44MZN 1,545
22.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.38MZN 87.1
-26.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K$28.8K
$31.7KMZN 2.0M
-9.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$22.6KMZN 1.4M
15.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218$218
$78.9MZN 4,992
176.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5$62.5
$9.19MZN 581
579.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5$74.5
$97.7MZN 6,177
-23.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.86$41.86
$41.01MZN 2,594
2.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81$22.81
$26.01MZN 1,645
-12.30%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70$14.70
$7.85MZN 496
87.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,489$1,489
$164MZN 10.3K
810.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.3K$25.3K
$5,220MZN 330.1K
383.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3$54.3
$44.24MZN 2,798
22.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71$42.71
$51.4MZN 3,252
-16.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1$94.1
$74.3MZN 4,698
26.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$73.2MZN 4,631
55.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Mozambique
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,659$1,659
$525MZN 33.2K
215.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,348$1,348
$375MZN 23.7K
259.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,682$2,682
$956MZN 60.5K
180.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,169$2,169
$492MZN 31.1K
340.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,283$3,283
$4,170MZN 263.7K
-21.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,482$2,482
$2,038MZN 128.9K
21.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Mozambique
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,296$4,296
$322MZN 20.4K
1233.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
25
-73.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026
Last update for Mozambique: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K 49.3%
Mozambique
$375 33.8% ↓ 72.2%$973
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$415 15.2%
Mozambique
$202 18.1% ↓ 51.5%$214
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355 13%
Mozambique
$186 16.7% ↓ 47.6%$169
🍽Eating Out
United States
$328 12%
Mozambique
$149 13.4% ↓ 54.5%$179
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
Mozambique
$109 9.9% ↓ 20.2%$28
🚌Getting Around
United States
$80 2.9%
Mozambique
$33 3% ↓ 58.3%$47
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71 2.6%
Mozambique
$57 5.1% ↓ 20.4%$15
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.4%
Mozambique
$492 23% ↓ 77.3%$1.7K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$953 18.2%
Mozambique
$465 21.8% ↓ 51.2%$487
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$417 8%
Mozambique
$195 9.1% ↓ 53.3%$222
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
Mozambique
$536 25.1% ↓ 49.6%$527
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$305 5.8%
Mozambique
$243 11.4% ↓ 20.2%$61
🚌Getting Around
United States
$164 3.1%
Mozambique
$67 3.2% ↓ 59%$97
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$165 3.2%
Mozambique
$139 6.5% ↓ 15.7%$26
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $504 in Mozambique. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $547 in Maputo.
💰Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $316 in Mozambique. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 221% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 27% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 163% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 14 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→Mozambique14,240 km≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
Mozambique
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United States vs Mozambique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Mozambique and the United States compare in cost of living?
Mozambique is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 59% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Mozambique and the United States?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $504 in Mozambique.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Mozambique or the United States?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Mozambique – part of why living there is about 59% cheaper overall.
How far does $2,000 go in Mozambique compared to the United States?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Mozambique, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Mozambique and in the United States?
Mozambique is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared