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

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

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

Xai-Xai is about 36% 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 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.28 MZN 587

$9.25 MZN 585

0.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.66 MZN 3,141

$48.78 MZN 3,086

1.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 MZN 542

$8.33 MZN 527

2.76%

Cappuccino

$2.12 MZN 134

$2.07 MZN 131

2.42%

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

$0.77 MZN 48.77

$0.76 MZN 47.93

1.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 MZN 33.94

$0.58 MZN 36.76

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 MZN 85.6

$1.42 MZN 89.9

-4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MZN 96.0

$1.59 MZN 101

-4.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 MZN 96.5

$1.59 MZN 100

-3.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MZN 69.1

$1.09 MZN 68.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 MZN 102

$1.68 MZN 106

-3.57%

Eggs

$2.33 MZN 148

$2.45 MZN 155

-4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.24 MZN 964

$15.25 MZN 964

-0.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 MZN 323

$5.22 MZN 330

-2.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 MZN 330

$5.17 MZN 327

0.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 MZN 122

$1.92 MZN 121

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 MZN 59.0

$0.92 MZN 58.3

1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 MZN 85.9

$1.33 MZN 84.1

2.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 MZN 59.2

$0.91 MZN 57.7

3.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MZN 59.5

$0.92 MZN 58.0

2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MZN 45.79

$0.71 MZN 44.90

1.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MZN 57.8

$0.93 MZN 58.6

-2.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 MZN 47.31

$0.79 MZN 49.88

-5.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 MZN 167

$2.63 MZN 166

0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 MZN 567

$9.24 MZN 584

-2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MZN 61.6

$0.97 MZN 61.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 MZN 91.2

$1.43 MZN 90.2

0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MZN 22.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.19 MZN 834

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 MZN 97.9

$1.59 MZN 100

-2.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.90 MZN 183

$3.01 MZN 190

-3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.50 MZN 1,550

$24.06 MZN 1,522

1.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MZN 83.7

$1.33 MZN 84.2

-0.75%

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

$34.6K MZN 2.2M

$35.5K MZN 2.2M

-2.54%

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

$20.1K MZN 1.3M

$19.6K MZN 1.2M

2.88%

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

$91.2 MZN 5,770

$90.0 MZN 5,689

1.42%

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

$14.36 MZN 908

$14.38 MZN 909

-0.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$107 MZN 6,788

$106 MZN 6,682

1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.51 MZN 2,626

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MZN 1,663

Cinema Ticket

$7.98 MZN 505

$7.61 MZN 481

4.86%

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

$179 MZN 11.3K

$183 MZN 11.6K

-2.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,823 MZN 368.3K

$5,793 MZN 366.4K

0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.15 MZN 3,046

$49.38 MZN 3,123

-2.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.4 MZN 3,884

$62.8 MZN 3,969

-2.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 MZN 5,332

$82.6 MZN 5,227

2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 MZN 5,025

$78.5 MZN 4,965

1.21%

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 Xai-Xai: June 1, 2026

Last update for Maputo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Xai-Xai versus $49.00 in Maputo. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Xai-Xai vs $199 in Maputo – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $717 in Xai-Xai, $1,121 in Maputo – roughly 56% apart. Maputo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,075 per month in Xai-Xai and $1,682 in Maputo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $717 in Xai-Xai and $1,121 in Maputo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Xai-Xai and $183 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 $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.