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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22.6% more expensive than Mbabane without rent, and 16.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 12.3% more expensive than Mbabane without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$3.07 SZL 54.7
-34.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$28.44 SZL 506
-33.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$2.34 SZL 41.66
227.78%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.89 SZL 33.56
4.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.9 SZL 15.98
-8.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.58 SZL 10.39
-43.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.67 SZL 29.7
26.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$1.66 SZL 29.6
124.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.08 SZL 19.13
51.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.79 SZL 13.97
98.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.28 SZL 22.75
-7.03%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.67 SZL 29.7
18.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.1 SZL 162
75.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.05 SZL 89.8
-38.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$5.25 SZL 93.4
112.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$1.48 SZL 26.28
86.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.71 SZL 12.68
71.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$0.9 SZL 16.1
90.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.4 SZL 24.83
10.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.02 SZL 18.09
31.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.27 SZL 22.6
-4.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.52 SZL 9.25
38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.77 SZL 13.63
-31.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.63 SZL 46.72
79.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$5.78 SZL 103
218.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.49 SZL 26.56
20.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.36 SZL 24.21
136.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.13 SZL 20.12
-16.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$28.93 SZL 515
-34.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.41 SZL 60.7
-58.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$2.67 SZL 47.58
-49.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$3.35 SZL 59.6
134.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.13 SZL 20.06
10.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$17K SZL 302.1K
24.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$20.8K SZL 370.1K
4.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$75 SZL 1,335
-5.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$34.9 SZL 621
-60.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$28.11 SZL 500
-37.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$27.52 SZL 490
51.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$5.09 SZL 90.5
35.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.68 SZL 65.5
57.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$107 SZL 1,905
187.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$4,619 SZL 82.2K
218.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$44.66 SZL 794
24.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$23.2 SZL 413
13.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$71.6 SZL 1,273
18.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$81.7 SZL 1,452
-12.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$261 SZL 4,648
66.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$185 SZL 3,295
26.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$496 SZL 8,818
65.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$367 SZL 6,522
35.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$354 SZL 6,298
515.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$267 SZL 4,750
477.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$753 SZL 13.4K
-6.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.62
-56.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mbabane: October 29, 2025

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