Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Mbabane Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Mbabane

🙂 Solo nomad: Big Bend is 64.3% cheaper than Mbabane without rent, and 79.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Big Bend is 61.6% cheaper than Mbabane without rent, and 74.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.7 SZL 30.16
$3.07 SZL 54.7
-44.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.69 SZL 350
$28.44 SZL 506
-30.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 SZL 70.8
$2.34 SZL 41.66
70.09%
Cappuccino
$1.44 SZL 25.63
$1.89 SZL 33.56
-23.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 SZL 12.17
$0.9 SZL 15.98
-24.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 SZL 6.6
$0.58 SZL 10.39
-36.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 SZL 20.19
$1.67 SZL 29.7
-32.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 SZL 18.5
$1.66 SZL 29.6
-37.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.08 SZL 19.13
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 SZL 14.41
$0.79 SZL 13.97
2.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.28 SZL 22.75
-
Eggs
$2.19 SZL 38.95
$1.67 SZL 29.7
31.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.1 SZL 162
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.05 SZL 89.8
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$5.25 SZL 93.4
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.48 SZL 26.28
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$0.71 SZL 12.68
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$0.9 SZL 16.1
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.4 SZL 24.83
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.02 SZL 18.09
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.27 SZL 22.6
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 SZL 15.15
$0.52 SZL 9.25
63.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 SZL 15.27
$0.77 SZL 13.63
11.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.63 SZL 46.72
-
Wine (Bottle)
$3.47 SZL 61.7
$5.78 SZL 103
-39.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.49 SZL 26.56
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.36 SZL 24.21
-
🚌 Getting Around
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.13 SZL 20.12
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.93 SZL 515
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.41 SZL 60.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.67 SZL 47.58
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.35 SZL 59.6
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.13 SZL 20.06
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17K SZL 302.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.8K SZL 370.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$75 SZL 1,335
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$34.9 SZL 621
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$28.11 SZL 500
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$27.52 SZL 490
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.09 SZL 90.5
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.68 SZL 65.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$107 SZL 1,905
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,619 SZL 82.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.94 SZL 586
$44.66 SZL 794
-26.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.62 SZL 402
$23.2 SZL 413
-2.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.25 SZL 609
$71.6 SZL 1,273
-52.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.79 SZL 886
$81.7 SZL 1,452
-39.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$261 SZL 4,648
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$185 SZL 3,295
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$496 SZL 8,818
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$367 SZL 6,522
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$354 SZL 6,298
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$267 SZL 4,750
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Big Bend
Mbabane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$461 SZL 8,194
$753 SZL 13.4K
-38.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
11.62
-22.55%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Big Bend: October 26, 2025

Last update for Mbabane: October 29, 2025

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