Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Manzini Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Manzini

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $319 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $472 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Manzini, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 172% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Manzini are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Manzini 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.13 SZL 18.42

51.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.89 SZL 14.60

83.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.70 SZL 27.81

-32.94%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.11 SZL 18.13

73.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.70 SZL 109

141.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.82 SZL 46.14

10.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$1.70 SZL 27.84

541.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.23 SZL 20.10

123.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.54 SZL 8.87

124.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.70 SZL 11.46

131.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.44 SZL 7.11

261.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.58 SZL 9.49

141.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.44 SZL 7.14

165.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.38 SZL 6.19

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.59 SZL 9.71

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.74 SZL 44.77

71.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$3.38 SZL 55.2

452.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.53 SZL 8.70

239.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.75 SZL 12.18

330.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.58 SZL 9.47

55.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.21 SZL 19.70

4.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$16.0K SZL 260.9K

33.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$14.9K SZL 242.7K

49.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,258

$67.4 SZL 1,100

2.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$11.17 SZL 182

26.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.54 SZL 450

-34.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.46 SZL 56.5

71.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,775

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$153 SZL 2,503

179.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$99.2 SZL 1,621

139.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$341 SZL 5,567

135.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$251 SZL 4,107

105.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$407 SZL 6,654

51.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manzini: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $153 in Manzini. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Chiang Mai vs Manzini: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 172% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $478 in Manzini. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manzini, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $319 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 130% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $319 in Manzini, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $319 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Manzini. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.