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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $349 per month in Manzini vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $523 per month in Manzini vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $697 per month in Manzini vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Manzini is about 63% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manzini and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 75% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿654

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

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

$0.71 ฿23.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 SZL 20.08

$1.96 ฿65.2

-36.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 SZL 15.08

$1.50 ฿50.0

-38.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 SZL 29.43

$1.34 ฿44.49

35.82%

Eggs

$1.17 SZL 18.90

$2.26 ฿75.4

-48.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.25 SZL 117

$16.26 ฿541

-55.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 SZL 49.77

$2.95 ฿98.4

4.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.91 SZL 30.91

$9.94 ฿331

-80.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 SZL 23.11

$2.57 ฿85.7

-44.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 SZL 9.55

$1.06 ฿35.18

-44.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 SZL 13.47

$1.61 ฿53.7

-48.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 SZL 7.68

$1.52 ฿50.6

-68.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 SZL 9.68

$1.27 ฿42.30

-52.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 SZL 8.25

$1.07 ฿35.51

-52.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SZL 6.69

$0.72 ฿23.98

-43.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 SZL 10.59

$0.51 ฿16.94

29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 SZL 50.8

$4.19 ฿140

-25.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.44 SZL 55.6

$17.87 ฿595

-80.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 SZL 10.35

$1.69 ฿56.4

-62.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 SZL 13.54

$2.84 ฿94.5

-70.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 SZL 10.26

$0.93 ฿30.82

-32.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿41.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 SZL 21.63

$1.41 ฿47.03

-4.96%

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

$17.2K SZL 278.2K

$21.4K ฿714.1K

-19.70%

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

$16.2K SZL 262.2K

$27.3K ฿910.2K

-40.62%

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

$73.8 SZL 1,192

$63.7 ฿2,120

15.88%

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

$12.36 SZL 200

$12.85 ฿428

-3.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.80 SZL 498

$20.22 ฿673

52.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,290

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$3.68 SZL 59.4

$6.74 ฿224

-45.40%

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

$778 ฿25.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿486.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿847

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,141

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,446

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 SZL 2,762

$490 ฿16.3K

-65.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 SZL 1,757

$289 ฿9,634

-62.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 SZL 5,949

$894 ฿29.8K

-58.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 SZL 4,476

$517 ฿17.2K

-46.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$410 SZL 6,619

$602 ฿20.0K

-31.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

79.53%

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

Last update for Manzini: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $171 in Manzini versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 47% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 171% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $524 per month in Manzini and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. 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 $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manzini, where all-in costs run around $349, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Manzini it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $349 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.