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 $324 per month in Manzini vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $485 per month in Manzini vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $645 per month in Manzini vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Manzini is about 62% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manzini and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 76% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 SZL 19.31

$1.65 ฿55.4

-29.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 SZL 14.52

$1.57 ฿52.6

-43.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 SZL 28.39

$1.19 ฿39.95

44.54%

Eggs

$1.06 SZL 17.40

$1.94 ฿65.0

-45.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 SZL 112

$16.19 ฿544

-57.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 SZL 45.04

$2.99 ฿100

-8.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.69 SZL 27.86

$10.94 ฿367

-84.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 SZL 20.20

$2.71 ฿91.0

-54.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 SZL 9.66

$1.17 ฿39.18

-49.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.70

$1.69 ฿56.6

-57.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 SZL 7.63

$1.60 ฿53.9

-71.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 SZL 8.96

$1.38 ฿46.45

-60.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 SZL 7.59

$1.20 ฿40.38

-61.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 SZL 6.17

$0.67 ฿22.46

-44.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SZL 10.43

$0.56 ฿18.70

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 SZL 45.66

$4.64 ฿156

-40.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.38 SZL 55.7

$17.62 ฿591

-80.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SZL 8.77

$1.86 ฿62.4

-71.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 SZL 11.66

$3.30 ฿111

-78.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 SZL 9.62

$0.88 ฿29.63

-34.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 SZL 20.67

$1.22 ฿41.11

3.28%

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

$15.7K SZL 258.6K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

-26.44%

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

$14.7K SZL 241.9K

$22.5K ฿756.3K

-34.79%

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

$67.3 SZL 1,108

$70.7 ฿2,372

-4.78%

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

$11.36 SZL 187

$14.04 ฿471

-19.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.52 SZL 453

$17.49 ฿587

57.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 SZL 55.9

$5.92 ฿199

-42.74%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 SZL 2,533

$432 ฿14.5K

-64.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.2 SZL 1,601

$239 ฿8,020

-59.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 SZL 5,574

$822 ฿27.6K

-58.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 SZL 4,128

$512 ฿17.2K

-51.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$398 SZL 6,559

$579 ฿19.4K

-31.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100.00%

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

Last update for Manzini: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $154 in Manzini versus $432 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 45% 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 165% 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 $487 per month in Manzini and $1,292 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 $324 in Manzini and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 125% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $324 in Manzini and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $324 versus $861 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.