Cost of Living Comparison Between Eswatini and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Eswatini and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $239 per month in Eswatini vs $2,644 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $383 per month in Eswatini vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $527 per month in Eswatini vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Eswatini is roughly 91% cheaper than United States on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Eswatini sits 82% below the global median, while United States is 96% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,313–$5,207) than Eswatini ($0–$725), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 SZL 28.29

$20.36 $20.36

-91.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.47 SZL 466

$74.3 $74.3

-61.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.31 SZL 37.83

$11.42 $11.42

-79.77%

Cappuccino

$1.67 SZL 27.30

$5.21 $5.21

-67.95%

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

$0.80 SZL 13.12

$2.62 $2.62

-69.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 SZL 7.97

$2.15 $2.15

-77.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 SZL 24.82

$5.84 $5.84

-73.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 SZL 27.07

$7.18 $7.18

-77.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 SZL 17.22

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 SZL 12.20

$3.59 $3.59

-79.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 SZL 20.13

$4.71 $4.71

-73.89%

Eggs

$1.49 SZL 24.36

$4.38 $4.38

-65.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.79 SZL 144

$12.67 $12.67

-30.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 SZL 65.6

$12.40 $12.40

-67.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 SZL 75.7

$16.39 $16.39

-71.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 SZL 21.75

$5.16 $5.16

-74.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 SZL 13.01

$1.72 $1.72

-54.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 SZL 17.85

$4.47 $4.47

-75.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 SZL 23.11

$5.01 $5.01

-71.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 SZL 15.77

$2.91 $2.91

-67.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 SZL 16.25

$3.06 $3.06

-67.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 SZL 8.64

$2.16 $2.16

-75.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 SZL 12.14

$2.21 $2.21

-66.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 SZL 43.47

$9.93 $9.93

-73.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.91 SZL 80.3

$14.94 $14.94

-67.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SZL 16.86

$1.91 $1.91

-46.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SZL 23.41

$3.70 $3.70

-61.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SZL 15.07

$2.55 $2.55

-63.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.94 SZL 490

$65.0 $65.0

-53.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 SZL 56.0

$3.69 $3.69

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 SZL 44.09

$1.78 $1.78

51.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 SZL 55.2

$30.24 $30.24

-88.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 SZL 19.87

$0.95 $0.95

27.37%

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

$17.1K SZL 279.8K

$29.7K $29.7K

-42.47%

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

$18.7K SZL 305.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

-28.84%

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

$75.0 SZL 1,227

$210 $210

-64.19%

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

$26.78 SZL 438

$58.3 $58.3

-54.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.48 SZL 466

$72.1 $72.1

-60.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.48 SZL 450

$45.90 $45.90

-40.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.93 SZL 80.6

$22.20 $22.20

-77.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 SZL 54.5

$14.25 $14.25

-76.63%

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

$107 SZL 1,755

$1,367 $1,367

-92.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,682 SZL 76.6K

$22.8K $22.8K

-79.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.09 SZL 689

$53.0 $53.0

-20.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.58 SZL 435

$42.96 $42.96

-38.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 SZL 1,042

$89.4 $89.4

-28.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 SZL 1,198

$113 $113

-35.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 SZL 3,948

$1,766 $1,766

-86.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 SZL 2,296

$1,460 $1,460

-90.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 SZL 7,101

$2,865 $2,865

-84.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 SZL 5,378

$2,360 $2,360

-86.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$342 SZL 5,589

$3,427 $3,427

-90.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$254 SZL 4,150

$2,624 $2,624

-90.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 SZL 8,220

$4,306 $4,306

-88.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.12

6.51

40.09%

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

Last update for Eswatini: April 12, 2026

Last update for United States: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $82 in Eswatini vs $1,636 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $260 in Mbabane and $2,562 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $614 in Eswatini vs $4,492 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1895% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 630% more in United States.

Public transport is 317% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 632% higher in United States, giving Eswatini stronger purchasing power.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eswatini is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 799% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Eswatini, contributing to the overall 799% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Eswatini, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.