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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $708 per month in Xai-Xai vs $1,093 in Maputo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,119 per month in Xai-Xai vs $1,692 in Maputo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,531 per month in Xai-Xai vs $2,291 in Maputo, rent included.

Xai-Xai is about 35% cheaper than Maputo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Xai-Xai and Maputo are more affordable than the global median – Xai-Xai 47% lower, Maputo 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.13 MZN 577

$9.58 MZN 606

-4.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.45 MZN 3,126

$49.65 MZN 3,139

-0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 MZN 525

$8.57 MZN 542

-3.03%

Cappuccino

$2.05 MZN 129

$2.13 MZN 134

-3.76%

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

$0.75 MZN 47.60

$0.77 MZN 48.46

-2.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MZN 36.96

$0.58 MZN 36.40

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 MZN 85.8

$1.39 MZN 88.1

-2.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MZN 96.0

$1.52 MZN 96.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 MZN 95.7

$1.56 MZN 98.8

-3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MZN 66.9

$1.10 MZN 69.4

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MZN 103

$1.62 MZN 103

1.23%

Eggs

$2.38 MZN 150

$2.42 MZN 153

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 MZN 949

$15.16 MZN 958

-0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MZN 331

$5.33 MZN 337

-1.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.42 MZN 343

$5.18 MZN 327

4.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 MZN 124

$1.95 MZN 123

1.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 MZN 55.8

$0.93 MZN 58.8

-5.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 MZN 88.9

$1.39 MZN 87.7

1.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 MZN 58.8

$0.98 MZN 61.9

-5.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 MZN 60.0

$0.98 MZN 61.7

-3.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 MZN 42.77

$0.68 MZN 42.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MZN 56.9

$0.93 MZN 58.8

-3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 MZN 46.33

$0.76 MZN 48.04

-3.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 MZN 166

$2.65 MZN 167

-1.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.83 MZN 558

$8.86 MZN 560

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MZN 64.4

$1.01 MZN 63.9

0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MZN 90.6

$1.43 MZN 90.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MZN 21.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.25 MZN 838

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 MZN 101

$1.54 MZN 97.3

3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.92 MZN 185

$3.01 MZN 190

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.28 MZN 1,535

$24.17 MZN 1,528

0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MZN 82.8

$1.37 MZN 86.6

-4.38%

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

$35.7K MZN 2.3M

$35.5K MZN 2.2M

0.70%

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

$20.3K MZN 1.3M

$20.0K MZN 1.3M

1.44%

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

$91.2 MZN 5,763

$89.8 MZN 5,675

1.54%

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

$14.49 MZN 916

$14.28 MZN 903

1.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$106 MZN 6,684

$108 MZN 6,807

-1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.17 MZN 2,603

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.70 MZN 1,625

Cinema Ticket

$7.94 MZN 502

$7.62 MZN 482

4.20%

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

$178 MZN 11.3K

$181 MZN 11.4K

-1.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,805 MZN 367.0K

$5,673 MZN 358.6K

2.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.82 MZN 3,150

$49.58 MZN 3,134

0.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 MZN 3,959

$61.6 MZN 3,895

1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MZN 5,245

$81.7 MZN 5,165

1.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 MZN 5,019

$78.7 MZN 4,976

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 MZN 38.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 MZN 21.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 MZN 70.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MZN 39.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,241 MZN 268.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,045 MZN 129.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$332 MZN 21.0K

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 Xai-Xai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Maputo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Xai-Xai versus $50.0 in Maputo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $199 – making Xai-Xai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Xai-Xai vs Maputo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $708 in Xai-Xai, $1,093 in Maputo – roughly 54% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,062 per month in Xai-Xai and $1,640 in Maputo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $708 in Xai-Xai and $1,093 in Maputo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Xai-Xai and $181 in Maputo. 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 $1,093. 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.