🙂A single person spends $373 per month in Eswatini vs $2,547 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $647 per month in Eswatini vs $3,678 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $921 per month in Eswatini vs $4,808 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Eswatini is roughly 85% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Eswatini sits 73% below the global median, while Australia is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96SZL 95.2
$17.74A$24.56
-66.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.93SZL 526
$86.9A$120
-62.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.14SZL 98.1
$11.35A$15.71
-45.90%
Cappuccino
$2.20SZL 35.08
$3.99A$5.53
-44.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04SZL 16.54
$2.97A$4.11
-64.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55SZL 8.74
$2.51A$3.47
-78.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89SZL 30.24
$7.75A$10.73
-75.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02SZL 32.20
$8.07A$11.17
-74.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23SZL 19.64
$1.76A$2.44
-30.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92SZL 14.64
$2.87A$3.97
-67.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71SZL 27.25
$2.37A$3.28
-27.85%
Eggs
$1.66SZL 26.44
$5.11A$7.08
-67.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.51SZL 216
$10.13A$14.03
33.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.05SZL 113
$9.57A$13.25
-26.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.14SZL 82.0
$15.59A$21.59
-67.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34SZL 37.41
$3.83A$5.30
-38.90%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69SZL 10.98
$3.13A$4.33
-77.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52SZL 24.33
$3.35A$4.64
-54.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35SZL 21.57
$4.88A$6.75
-72.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SZL 26.47
$2.92A$4.04
-43.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60SZL 25.59
$2.36A$3.27
-32.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73SZL 11.67
$2.46A$3.40
-70.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82SZL 13.17
$1.70A$2.36
-51.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05SZL 48.69
$39.46A$54.6
-92.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.38SZL 86.0
$14.69A$20.34
-63.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93SZL 14.88
$5.07A$7.02
-81.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49SZL 23.75
$5.36A$7.43
-72.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73SZL 11.60
$2.84A$3.93
-74.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.05SZL 400
$97.3A$135
-74.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.86SZL 29.65
$3.56A$4.93
-47.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SZL 25.45
$1.68A$2.33
-5.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.37SZL 53.7
$40.94A$56.7
-91.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34SZL 21.42
$1.35A$1.87
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.8KSZL 236.0K
$29.1KA$40.2K
-49.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2KSZL 274.5K
$29.5KA$40.8K
-41.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.7SZL 1,353
$207A$287
-59.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15SZL 577
$29.34A$40.62
23.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33SZL 452
$60.0A$83.1
-52.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.19SZL 354
$59.3A$82.1
-62.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.74SZL 43.84
$20.28A$28.07
-86.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.86SZL 61.7
$16.04A$22.21
-75.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$2,194A$3,037
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,492SZL 103.7K
$18.6KA$25.8K
-65.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.30SZL 580
$81.1A$112
-55.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.16SZL 322
$56.9A$78.8
-64.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.5SZL 1,173
$119A$164
-38.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.1SZL 896
$126A$175
-55.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$197SZL 3,139
$1,637A$2,266
-87.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136SZL 2,178
$1,306A$1,808
-89.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450SZL 7,183
$2,589A$3,584
-82.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348SZL 5,562
$1,963A$2,717
-82.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$349SZL 5,568
$8,394A$11.6K
-95.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$260SZL 4,153
$6,140A$8,500
-95.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eswatini
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$636SZL 10.2K
$4,067A$5,631
-84.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.12
5.93
53.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eswatini: September 7, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $115 in Eswatini vs $1,426 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $287 in Mbabane and $1,845 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $611 in Eswatini vs $3,945 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1140% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 554% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 1500% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 546% higher in Australia.
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
Eswatini vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Eswatini?
Eswatini is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 479% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Eswatini, contributing to the overall 479% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or in Eswatini?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Eswatini, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Eswatini?
Eswatini is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.