😐A single person spends $683 per month in Xai-Xai vs $528 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,132 per month in Xai-Xai vs $706 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,580 per month in Xai-Xai vs $884 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, Nampula62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.30MZN 652
$5.61MZN 355
83.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.1MZN 3,927
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12MZN 451
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.20MZN 139
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MZN 51.1
$0.80MZN 50.4
1.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73MZN 46.39
$0.41MZN 25.89
78.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53MZN 97.0
$1.59MZN 100
-3.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39MZN 151
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56MZN 98.5
$1.80MZN 114
-13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MZN 65.1
$0.48MZN 30.47
114.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58MZN 100
$1.06MZN 66.9
49.06%
Eggs
$2.52MZN 159
$2.73MZN 173
-7.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.59MZN 1,303
$9.88MZN 625
108.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76MZN 364
$3.42MZN 216
68.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.52MZN 349
$3.76MZN 238
46.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MZN 131
$2.57MZN 162
-19.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76MZN 48.35
$2.37MZN 150
-67.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63MZN 103
$2.02MZN 128
-19.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04MZN 65.7
$1.58MZN 100.0
-34.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05MZN 66.2
$1.43MZN 90.2
-26.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82MZN 51.6
$1.77MZN 112
-53.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97MZN 61.6
$0.81MZN 50.9
19.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92MZN 58.0
$0.89MZN 56.1
3.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87MZN 181
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.25MZN 648
$6.13MZN 388
67.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MZN 64.1
$2.32MZN 147
-56.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30MZN 82.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.17MZN 10.65
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.56MZN 98.6
$1.59MZN 100
-1.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19MZN 75.2
$2.38MZN 151
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.72MZN 1,563
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33MZN 84.0
$1.48MZN 93.9
-10.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KMZN 2.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMZN 1.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.8MZN 4,479
$119MZN 7,525
-40.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.72MZN 488
$33.53MZN 2,121
-76.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.9MZN 5,436
$124MZN 7,843
-30.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$7.76MZN 491
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130MZN 8,208
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,071MZN 320.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.56MZN 3,134
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5MZN 3,509
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MZN 4,966
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9MZN 5,051
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xai-Xai
Nampula
Difference
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$941MZN 59.5K
-
💵 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: August 30, 2026
Last update for Nampula: August 31, 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 $792 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 $528 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 $528 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.