Cost of Living Comparison Between Manzini and Big Bend Cost of Living Comparison Between Manzini and Big Bend

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $349 per month in Manzini vs $723 in Big Bend, rent included.

A couple spends around $523 per month in Manzini vs $1,455 in Big Bend, rent included.

A family of three spends $697 per month in Manzini vs $2,186 in Big Bend, rent included.

Manzini is about 52% cheaper than Big Bend, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manzini and Big Bend are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 75% lower, Big Bend 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 SZL 66.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.76 SZL 449

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 SZL 83.8

Cappuccino

$1.58 SZL 25.52

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

$0.76 SZL 12.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 SZL 6.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 SZL 24.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SZL 26.19

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 SZL 20.08

$1.21 SZL 19.60

2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 SZL 15.08

$0.84 SZL 13.60

10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 SZL 29.43

$1.58 SZL 25.52

15.19%

Eggs

$1.17 SZL 18.90

$4.89 SZL 79.0

-76.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.25 SZL 117

$18.96 SZL 306

-61.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 SZL 49.77

$12.40 SZL 200

-75.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.91 SZL 30.91

$4.88 SZL 78.9

-60.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 SZL 23.11

$4.32 SZL 69.8

-66.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 SZL 9.55

$0.59 SZL 9.53

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 SZL 13.47

$1.88 SZL 30.39

-55.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 SZL 7.68

$1.21 SZL 19.62

-60.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 SZL 9.68

$2.42 SZL 39.10

-75.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 SZL 8.25

$2.20 SZL 35.49

-76.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SZL 6.69

$0.92 SZL 14.84

-55.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 SZL 10.59

$0.94 SZL 15.23

-29.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 SZL 50.8

$5.94 SZL 96.0

-47.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.44 SZL 55.6

$3.75 SZL 60.5

-8.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 SZL 10.35

$0.65 SZL 10.46

-1.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 SZL 13.54

$0.90 SZL 14.51

-6.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 SZL 10.26

$1.27 SZL 20.59

-50.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.01 SZL 404

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 SZL 30.89

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 SZL 25.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 SZL 59.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 SZL 21.63

$1.15 SZL 18.62

16.52%

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

$17.2K SZL 278.2K

$12.5K SZL 201.7K

37.91%

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

$16.2K SZL 262.2K

$18.8K SZL 303.5K

-13.59%

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

$73.8 SZL 1,192

$132 SZL 2,138

-44.25%

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

$12.36 SZL 200

$24.39 SZL 394

-49.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.80 SZL 498

$25.14 SZL 406

22.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.37 SZL 297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.54 SZL 41.03

Cinema Ticket

$3.68 SZL 59.4

$3.05 SZL 49.36

20.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.76 SZL 594

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 SZL 408

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.70 SZL 609

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 SZL 887

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 SZL 2,762

$113 SZL 1,831

50.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 SZL 1,757

$75.0 SZL 1,211

45.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 SZL 5,949

$1,110 SZL 17.9K

-66.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 SZL 4,476

$760 SZL 12.3K

-63.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$199 SZL 3,215

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$144 SZL 2,326

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$410 SZL 6,619

$795 SZL 12.8K

-48.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.11%

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

Last update for Manzini: September 1, 2026

Last update for Big Bend: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $171 in Manzini versus $113 in Big Bend. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 94% higher in Big Bend, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Manzini vs Big Bend: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $349 in Manzini, $723 in Big Bend – roughly 107% apart. Big Bend costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $524 per month in Manzini and $1,085 in Big Bend. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manzini, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $349 in Manzini and $723 in Big Bend. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Big Bend, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $349 in Manzini and $723 in Big Bend, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Manzini – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Manzini. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Big Bend makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.