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 $319 per month in Manzini vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $472 per month in Manzini vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $625 per month in Manzini vs $1,835 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 76% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 SZL 18.42

$1.71 ฿56.0

-33.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 SZL 14.60

$1.63 ฿53.3

-45.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SZL 27.81

$1.14 ฿37.18

49.12%

Eggs

$1.11 SZL 18.13

$1.93 ฿63.2

-42.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 SZL 109

$16.21 ฿530

-58.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.82 SZL 46.14

$3.12 ฿102

-9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.70 SZL 27.84

$10.90 ฿356

-84.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 SZL 20.10

$2.75 ฿90.1

-55.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 SZL 8.87

$1.21 ฿39.56

-55.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 SZL 11.46

$1.62 ฿53.0

-56.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 SZL 7.11

$1.59 ฿51.9

-72.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 SZL 9.49

$1.40 ฿45.75

-58.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 SZL 7.14

$1.17 ฿38.20

-62.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SZL 6.19

$0.66 ฿21.62

-42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.71

$0.53 ฿17.24

11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 SZL 44.77

$4.69 ฿153

-41.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.38 SZL 55.2

$18.66 ฿610

-81.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SZL 8.70

$1.80 ฿58.8

-70.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 SZL 12.18

$3.23 ฿106

-76.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 SZL 9.47

$0.90 ฿29.28

-35.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 SZL 19.70

$1.27 ฿41.62

-4.72%

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

$16.0K SZL 260.9K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

-24.93%

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

$14.9K SZL 242.7K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

-33.12%

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

$67.4 SZL 1,100

$69.1 ฿2,258

-2.49%

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

$11.17 SZL 182

$14.08 ฿460

-20.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.54 SZL 450

$18.00 ฿588

53.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$3.46 SZL 56.5

$5.92 ฿193

-41.55%

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

$299 ฿9,775

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 SZL 2,503

$428 ฿14.0K

-64.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.2 SZL 1,621

$237 ฿7,759

-58.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 SZL 5,567

$801 ฿26.2K

-57.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 SZL 4,107

$515 ฿16.9K

-51.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$407 SZL 6,654

$617 ฿20.2K

-34.03%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Manzini versus $428 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 52% 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 172% 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 $478 per month in Manzini and $1,300 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 $319 in Manzini and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 130% 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 $319 in Manzini and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $319 versus $866 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.