Currency

content from HfH Mozambique Handbook, wikipedia, and previous visitors

The local currency in Mozambique is the Metical. In Maputo City and tourist locations it is possible to use US$ and South African Rands but you will likely receive Meticais in change. For up to date currency exchange rates look at www.xe.com or www.oanda.com.  Credit cards such as VISA and MASTERCARD are accepted in shops and restaurants especially in major cities and ATM’s are also abundant. It is not advisable to bring travelers cheques as they are not widely accepted and difficult to cash without paying $20 or more in fees.

Note: Previous vistors to Xai-Xai reported that credit cards were common in Kruger and most places in Maputo. There was an an exchange place in Maputo airport to buy meticais and they also used a 'cambio' or money exchange in Xai-Xai.  They did report difficulty in exchanging US dollars that were older than 2006, and that Canadian dollars were not readily accepted. 

Banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 meticais

Coins: 50 centavos, 1, 2, 5, 10 meticais
(obsolete: 1, 5, 10, 20 centavos)




Current Rates for meticais (MZN) and rand (ZAR) are approximately:
25 MZN = 1 $CDN, so that meal that costs 200 MZN is around 8 $CDN
7 ZAR = 1$CDN, so that lovely trinket that costs 35 ZAR is around 5 $CDN