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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22.3% more expensive than Mbabane without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 4.2% more expensive than Mbabane without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$3.10 SZL 51.1
-34.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$28.65 SZL 472
-35.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$2.37 SZL 38.99
215.61%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.95 SZL 32.13
2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.98 SZL 16.19
-13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.55 SZL 9.02
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.64 SZL 27.06
34.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$1.71 SZL 28.25
119.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.04 SZL 17.09
65.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$0.72 SZL 11.88
126.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$1.24 SZL 20.35
-6.45%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$1.66 SZL 27.28
19.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$8.81 SZL 145
80.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$4.85 SZL 79.9
-34.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$5.06 SZL 83.4
115.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$1.55 SZL 25.60
70.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$0.75 SZL 12.29
62.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$0.90 SZL 14.91
88.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$1.39 SZL 22.96
14.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$1.02 SZL 16.74
29.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.22 SZL 20.10
-4.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.56 SZL 9.15
21.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.74 SZL 12.15
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.63 SZL 43.26
71.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$6.29 SZL 104
203.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.45 SZL 23.82
22.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$1.41 SZL 23.30
125.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$1.15 SZL 19.00
-16.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$29.32 SZL 483
-35.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$3.26 SZL 53.7
-58.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$2.70 SZL 44.44
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$3.30 SZL 54.3
143.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.13 SZL 18.70
9.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$16.8K SZL 277.6K
25.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$20.6K SZL 339.6K
5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$76.6 SZL 1,263
-7.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$34.52 SZL 569
-59.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$27.80 SZL 458
-37.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$28.23 SZL 465
49.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$5.07 SZL 83.6
35.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$3.59 SZL 59.2
65.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$105 SZL 1,731
192.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$4,528 SZL 74.6K
226.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$44.63 SZL 736
24.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$23.18 SZL 382
15.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$73.0 SZL 1,203
14.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$81.3 SZL 1,339
-13.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$264 SZL 4,358
61.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$179 SZL 2,944
32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$492 SZL 8,106
62.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$367 SZL 6,042
37.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$376 SZL 6,193
448.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$273 SZL 4,498
461.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$789 SZL 13.0K
-17.10%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Mbabane: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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