😐A single person spends $683 per month in Xai-Xai vs $529 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Xai-Xai vs $708 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,583 per month in Xai-Xai vs $887 in Nampula, rent included.
😐Xai-Xai costs about 29% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Xai-Xai and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Xai-Xai50% lower, Nampula61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.08MZN 638
$5.63MZN 356
79.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7MZN 4,029
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42MZN 469
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.17MZN 137
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87MZN 55.0
$0.80MZN 50.7
8.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67MZN 42.69
$0.41MZN 25.81
63.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54MZN 97.6
$1.57MZN 99.6
-1.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34MZN 148
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60MZN 101
$1.78MZN 113
-10.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MZN 65.3
$0.49MZN 31.14
110.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65MZN 104
$1.10MZN 69.7
50.00%
Eggs
$2.49MZN 157
$2.82MZN 178
-11.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.69MZN 1,308
$10.01MZN 633
106.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.85MZN 370
$3.42MZN 217
71.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.67MZN 358
$3.93MZN 248
44.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00MZN 126
$2.62MZN 166
-23.66%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82MZN 51.7
$2.32MZN 147
-64.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68MZN 106
$1.95MZN 123
-13.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08MZN 68.0
$1.52MZN 96.2
-28.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00MZN 63.3
$1.41MZN 89.4
-29.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81MZN 51.3
$1.69MZN 107
-52.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92MZN 58.5
$0.79MZN 49.81
16.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85MZN 53.7
$0.85MZN 53.5
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77MZN 175
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MZN 650
$6.36MZN 402
61.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98MZN 62.0
$2.39MZN 151
-59.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MZN 84.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.17MZN 10.45
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52MZN 96.2
$1.54MZN 97.4
-1.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15MZN 72.7
$2.42MZN 153
-52.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.95MZN 1,578
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MZN 87.8
$1.50MZN 95.0
-7.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KMZN 2.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KMZN 1.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3MZN 4,508
$120MZN 7,577
-40.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.61MZN 482
$33.82MZN 2,139
-77.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.7MZN 5,481
$125MZN 7,905
-30.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$7.70MZN 487
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131MZN 8,278
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,141MZN 325.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.88MZN 3,155
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MZN 3,500
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4MZN 4,956
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5MZN 5,028
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$927MZN 58.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xai-Xai: September 12, 2026
Last update for Nampula: September 14, 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
Xai-Xai vs Nampula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nampula cheaper than Xai-Xai?
Yes – Xai-Xai is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,024 per month in Xai-Xai and $794 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Xai-Xai and in Nampula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $683 in Xai-Xai and $529 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Xai-Xai and in Nampula?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 Xai-Xai or Nampula?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $683 in Xai-Xai and $529 in Nampula, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Xai-Xai or Nampula 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.