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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 30.4% more expensive than Mbabane without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 3.6% cheaper than Mbabane without rent, and 13.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$2.98 SZL 48.57
-32.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$28.93 SZL 472
-36.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$2.36 SZL 38.48
224.15%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.87 SZL 30.47
2.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.90 SZL 14.71
-6.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.58 SZL 9.48
-37.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.73 SZL 28.21
26.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$1.63 SZL 26.64
132.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.07 SZL 17.50
53.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.77 SZL 12.63
110.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.26 SZL 20.55
-8.73%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.66 SZL 27.11
16.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$9.18 SZL 150
73.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$5.07 SZL 82.7
-38.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$5.20 SZL 84.9
112.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$1.47 SZL 24.01
84.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$0.72 SZL 11.69
63.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$0.94 SZL 15.34
81.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.41 SZL 23.05
14.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$1.06 SZL 17.27
31.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.21 SZL 19.80
-4.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.52 SZL 8.50
36.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.71 SZL 11.65
-22.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$2.56 SZL 41.77
78.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$6.26 SZL 102
201.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.45 SZL 23.58
25.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.37 SZL 22.33
134.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$1.10 SZL 17.93
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$29.87 SZL 487
-36.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$3.39 SZL 55.4
-58.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$2.69 SZL 43.85
-51.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$3.31 SZL 53.9
147.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.14 SZL 18.66
7.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$16.5K SZL 269.8K
28.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$20.9K SZL 340.7K
6.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$76.5 SZL 1,248
-8.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$35.09 SZL 572
-59.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$28.06 SZL 458
-36.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$28.26 SZL 461
46.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$4.99 SZL 81.3
34.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$3.62 SZL 59.1
58.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$107 SZL 1,746
179.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$4,577 SZL 74.7K
227.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$44.82 SZL 731
22.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$23.38 SZL 381
12.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$72.6 SZL 1,184
16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$81.0 SZL 1,320
-13.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$260 SZL 4,235
64.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$181 SZL 2,955
32.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$489 SZL 7,977
65.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$365 SZL 5,961
36.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$491 SZL 8,016
311.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$361 SZL 5,880
322.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbabane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$662 SZL 10.8K
-3.41%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Mbabane: April 13, 2026

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

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