Living in Matola, Mozambique

Matola is a large coastal city in Maputo Province, Mozambique (1 to 5 million people in the city proper). It has a warm climate, averaging 23°C over the year with about 686 mm of rain. We estimate a couple needs about €2,449 a month to live centrally. For foreigners, long-term residency in Mozambique is possible, with conditions.

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Est. cost: €2,449; a month for a couple
Climate: 23°C; 686 mm rain a year
Size: Large; 1 to 5 million people
Safety: 38/100; country-level
Residency: Possible, with conditions; for most foreigners

Limited data for Mozambique. Figures for safety, healthcare, cost of living and political stability in Mozambique are country-level estimates from World Bank indicators, each named with its year. We have no tax, English, social openness or internet speed figures for Mozambique, so the quiz scores those factors conservatively and this page leaves them out.

What stands out about Matola

On or near the sea

Healthcare

Mozambique scores 42 out of 100 for healthcare, stronger than 2% of the cities we compare.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Mozambique: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024) and current health spending per person in US dollars (SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD, 2023), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Safety and stability

Mozambique scores 38 out of 100 on safety, safer than 3% of the cities we compare. Its estimated democracy score is 4.1 out of 10.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Mozambique: Worldwide Governance Indicators Political Stability and Absence of Violence estimate (GOV_WGI_PV.EST, 2025) and life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables (higher is safer). Stability: Worldwide Governance Indicators Voice and Accountability estimate (GOV_WGI_VA.EST, 2025), calibrated to the EIU Democracy Index scale. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Cost of living

We estimate a couple needs about €2,449 a month to live centrally in Matola, 10% below the €2,729 median across the 900 cities we compare. That makes it more affordable than 74% of them.

Source: OurNextCity model from the price level of GDP relative to the United States, from GDP per person in US dollars and at purchasing power parity (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD, 2025), calibrated to our country-level cost index (New York = 100) and scaled up for larger cities. An estimate for comparing cities, not a budget. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Residency and visas

Possible, with conditions. Long-term residency runs mainly through an employer-sponsored work permit (DIRE) or, since the February 2026 e-Visa platform launch, a high-threshold investor residence visa; there is no passive-income or retirement route.

The cheapest self-funded routes we track for Mozambique:

Investment: about $500k (Mozambique investor residence visa, US$500,000 CPI-approved investment project for a 5-year permit (US$5,000,000 for 10 years); as of June 2026)

For short visits, 37 of 198 passports can enter visa-free and 161 can get an e-visa or visa on arrival.

Source: OurNextCity residency dataset, hand-reviewed approximations researched against published immigration rules, figures as of June 2026. Not legal advice: check the official source before you apply. Short-stay entry from the passport-index dataset (ilyankou, MIT).

Climate

Matola averages 23°C across the year with about 686 mm of rain, which makes it warm and moderately wet. It is warmer than 63% of the 1225 cities we track, and it sits on the coast.

Source: Temperature from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive, daily means for 2019 to 2023; rainfall from TerraClimate (University of Idaho) 1991 to 2020 normals. Annual averages; monthly breakdowns are not in our dataset yet.

Questions couples ask about Matola

Is Matola a good place to live for couples?

It depends on what the two of you weigh most. Compared with the other cities we track, Matola scores well on affordability. It is weaker on safety and healthcare. Our figures for Mozambique are partial: no tax, English, social openness or internet speed data, and country-level World Bank estimates for the rest. Expect a warm, moderately wet climate (23°C average). OurNextCity has each partner answer 12 questions privately, then ranks 915 cities for both of you at once.

How much does it cost a couple to live in Matola?

We estimate about €2,449 a month for a couple living centrally, 10% below the €2,729 median across the cities we compare. It is a model estimate from the World Bank price level of GDP for Mozambique, calibrated to our country-level cost index adjusted for city size, so use it to compare cities rather than to set a budget.

Can foreigners live in Mozambique long term?

Our assessment: possible, with conditions. Long-term residency runs mainly through an employer-sponsored work permit (DIRE) or, since the February 2026 e-Visa platform launch, a high-threshold investor residence visa; there is no passive-income or retirement route. The cheapest self-funded routes we track: investment, about $500k (as of 2026-06).

What is the weather like in Matola?

Matola averages 23°C across the year with about 686 mm of rain, which makes it warm and moderately wet. It is warmer than 63% of the cities we track.