Mozambique Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Mozambique uses the Mozambican metical (MZN), written locally as MT or meticais, and cash remains essential beyond Maputo and major tourist centres. As of 26 October 2026, 1 SGD was approximately 49.99 MZN, although live rates change constantly, so check before exchanging or withdrawing.

Use a mixed payment strategy: carry meticais for markets, minibuses, small restaurants, fuel and rural travel; use Visa or Mastercard at established hotels, lodges and larger restaurants; and withdraw cash in major cities before travelling to remote beaches or islands. Mozambique’s tourism authority says cards are accepted at most tourist establishments, ATMs are found in major towns, and a 10% tip is generally welcomed.

For a simpler trip budget, the Hello app can scan receipts, categorise spending and track expenses in multiple currencies with automatic exchange-rate conversion. Hello’s eSIM plans also provide connectivity in Mozambique, so travellers can check rates, locate banks and record expenses while moving between destinations: Hello eSIM for Mozambique.

The metical is Mozambique’s only official currency, and travellers should budget in MZN rather than assuming US dollars will work everywhere. The practical rule is simple: use meticais for daily purchases, reserve foreign currency for selected lodges or tour operators, and confirm the live Mozambique exchange rate immediately before changing money.

The Mozambique currency is the metical, abbreviated MZN internationally and often shown as MT in shops. Notes commonly used by travellers include 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 meticais, while coins are less useful for many larger purchases. On 26 October 2026, exchange-rate services listed roughly 1 SGD = 49.99 MZN; another converter showed 49.83 MZN, demonstrating why rates should be treated as estimates rather than fixed prices.

Amount	Approximate value at 1 SGD = 49.99 MZN
100 MZN	S$2.00
500 MZN	S$10.00
1,000 MZN	S$20.00
5,000 MZN	S$100.00

Rates at airports, hotels and card terminals may include a margin. The Hello app’s automatic exchange-rate conversion is useful for checking whether a quoted price, receipt or shared bill looks reasonable without manually converting every amount.

The safest places to exchange money in Mozambique are licensed banks, recognised exchange bureaus and official airport counters, while informal street exchanges create unnecessary security and counting risks. Exchange only what you need initially, retain receipts, and compare the final metical amount after all fees rather than focusing on the advertised rate alone.

Mozambique’s tourism authority identifies banks, international airports and currency-exchange bureaus as legitimate exchange locations. In Maputo, travellers generally have the widest choice, while exchange facilities become less frequent in smaller towns and remote coastal destinations. South African rand, US dollars and euros are accepted or exchangeable in many tourist areas, but Singapore dollars are less convenient, so carrying a small amount of USD or rand can provide a backup.

Practical Mozambique money tips include:

• Exchange a modest amount at the airport for transport and the first meal, then compare rates in central Maputo or another major town.
• Count cash at the counter and keep larger notes separate from everyday spending money.
• Avoid exchanging with individuals offering unusually attractive rates outside banks or airports.
• Do not rely on foreign currency for taxis, markets or local transport; small metical notes are much easier.
• Ask whether a quoted price is in MZN, USD or rand before agreeing to a tour, transfer or accommodation upgrade.

Remote lodges may accept foreign currency but can apply their own conversion rate, so confirm the total before payment.

Cards are practical in Maputo, established hotels, supermarkets, fuel stations, larger restaurants and many lodges, but Mozambique is still a predominantly cash-based destination outside major centres. Carry a working Visa card, a backup card, and enough meticais to cover at least one or two days when travelling beyond cities.

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most tourist establishments, according to Mozambique’s tourism authority, although local travel guidance commonly describes Visa as the more consistently accepted network. Contactless payment may work at newer terminals, particularly in upmarket businesses, but it should be treated as a convenience rather than a guarantee. Smaller restaurants, markets, chapa minibuses, beach vendors and independent guides usually expect cash.

ATMs operate in Maputo and major towns, with banks such as BCI, Millennium BIM and Standard Bank commonly used by visitors. Machines can have withdrawal limits, intermittent availability or empty cash cassettes, so withdraw before a long transfer to Tofo, Vilanculos, Pemba, the Quirimbas or an island lodge. Travel guidance for 2026 reports typical limits around 5,000–10,000 MZN and possible local fees of approximately 150–250 MZN, in addition to charges from the traveller’s bank.

• Decline dynamic currency conversion and choose to be charged in MZN.
• Notify your bank about Mozambique travel.
• Use ATMs inside bank branches or busy, well-lit areas.
• Make fewer, larger withdrawals when safe, because fixed fees can add up.
• Keep emergency cash separately from your wallet.

Tipping in Mozambique is customary in tourist areas but is not usually compulsory, with around 10% appropriate for good restaurant service when a service charge is absent. Small cash tips in meticais are generally more useful than foreign notes because staff can spend them locally without finding an exchange counter.

Mozambique’s tourism authority says a 10% gratuity is kindly accepted and notes that tipping is normal for hotel and restaurant employees. In a restaurant, check the bill first: if a service charge has already been added, an additional small amount is optional. For informal cafés and everyday local meals, rounding up or leaving a modest amount is enough.

Typical 2026 tipping examples in tourist areas include:

Service	Suggested tip
Restaurant without service charge	About 10%
Hotel housekeeping	100–200 MZN per night
Porter	50–100 MZN per bag
Private transfer driver	200–500 MZN, depending on distance
Day-trip boat crew	200–400 MZN per guest
Guide on a private or full-day tour	200–500 MZN or more for exceptional service

These are flexible guidelines, not fixed prices. Tip guides and boat crews separately where possible, especially on island excursions. Leave housekeeping money daily rather than only at the end of a stay, since staff may change. The Hello app can record tips alongside meals and excursions, making it easier to see the real cost of a trip rather than underestimating service-related spending.

Mozambique has growing digital-payment use, but international visitors should not assume that WeChat Pay, PayPay or other overseas wallets will work widely. Cash, cards and a reliable offline backup remain more dependable than planning an entire trip around mobile payments.

Some businesses may accept local mobile-money services or QR-based payments, but availability depends on the merchant, phone number, account type and network. WeChat Pay and PayPay are not standard payment methods across Mozambique’s tourism economy, so travellers should ask before ordering and keep meticais available. A Hello eSIM helps with online banking alerts, map access and rate checks while travelling, and plans can be activated before departure through Hello eSIM for Mozambique.

Common money risks include:

• Street exchange offers involving counterfeit notes or rapid-counting distractions.
• Taxi or tour prices changing after the journey because the currency was not confirmed.
• Card terminals displaying a home-currency conversion with an unfavourable rate.
• ATM helpers offering unsolicited assistance or asking to see a PIN.
• Overcharging at tourist markets when prices are not agreed in advance.

To save money, eat at busy local restaurants, negotiate markets politely, compare lodge transfer prices, share private vehicles with other travellers, and withdraw cash in larger cities. Mozambique’s VAT is 17%, according to the national tourism authority, so ask whether quoted accommodation or activity prices include tax. The Hello app’s receipt scanning, bank-statement import and AI categorisation can also reveal where the budget is actually going.

Most Mozambique money questions have the same practical answer: bring meticais, keep a card backup, and do not depend on foreign cash or digital wallets outside established tourist businesses. Planning for payment limitations is especially important on long coastal journeys and island transfers.

What currency is used in Mozambique? The official currency is the Mozambican metical, coded MZN and commonly written as MT. Use it for ordinary purchases, transport, tips and markets.

Can I use Singapore dollars in Mozambique? Singapore dollars are not a convenient everyday payment currency. Exchange them through a bank or licensed bureau, or carry a small backup amount of USD or South African rand for tourist areas.

Is Mozambique expensive for travellers? Costs vary sharply. A 2026 travel guide estimates roughly US$30 per day for budget travel and US$120 or more for lodge-based travel, with Maputo and island properties typically costing more than inland towns. Accommodation, transfers and diving can dominate the budget, while local meals and markets are comparatively affordable.

Should I bring cash to Mozambique? Yes. Carry enough meticais for transport, meals and activities between ATM stops, especially around Tofo, Vilanculos, Pemba and remote islands.

Do restaurants in Mozambique expect tips? A tip of about 10% is customary in tourist restaurants when service is good and no service charge is included.

What is the best way to track spending? Use Hello’s multi-currency budget tracker to scan receipts, split costs with friends and convert expenses automatically as the Mozambique exchange rate changes.