Cost of Living Comparison Between Manzini and Mbabane Cost of Living Comparison Between Manzini and Mbabane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $319 per month in Manzini vs $735 in Mbabane, rent included.

A couple spends around $472 per month in Manzini vs $1,154 in Mbabane, rent included.

A family of three spends $625 per month in Manzini vs $1,572 in Mbabane, rent included.

Manzini is about 57% cheaper than Mbabane, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manzini and Mbabane are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 76% lower, Mbabane 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 SZL 48.22

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.32 SZL 460

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.25 SZL 36.55

Cappuccino

$1.97 SZL 32.07

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

$0.92 SZL 14.95

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 SZL 9.47

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 SZL 28.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 SZL 28.02

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 SZL 18.31

$1.07 SZL 17.36

5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 SZL 14.51

$0.74 SZL 12.00

20.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SZL 27.65

$1.22 SZL 19.81

39.34%

Eggs

$1.11 SZL 18.02

$1.71 SZL 27.72

-35.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 SZL 109

$8.95 SZL 145

-25.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.82 SZL 45.86

$4.87 SZL 79.1

-42.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.70 SZL 27.68

$5.32 SZL 86.4

-68.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 SZL 19.98

$1.47 SZL 23.83

-16.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 SZL 8.82

$0.75 SZL 12.19

-28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 SZL 11.39

$0.95 SZL 15.36

-26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 SZL 7.07

$1.42 SZL 23.03

-69.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 SZL 9.43

$1.06 SZL 17.18

-45.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 SZL 7.10

$1.26 SZL 20.50

-65.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SZL 6.15

$0.52 SZL 8.48

-26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.65

$0.72 SZL 11.76

-18.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 SZL 44.50

$2.56 SZL 41.64

7.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.38 SZL 54.8

$5.99 SZL 97.3

-43.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SZL 8.65

$1.45 SZL 23.53

-63.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 SZL 12.11

$1.43 SZL 23.24

-47.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 SZL 9.41

$1.10 SZL 17.78

-47.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.05 SZL 472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 SZL 54.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 SZL 42.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 SZL 55.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 SZL 19.58

$1.13 SZL 18.30

7.08%

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

$16.0K SZL 259.3K

$16.8K SZL 273.5K

-5.16%

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

$14.9K SZL 241.2K

$21.1K SZL 342.3K

-29.53%

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

$67.4 SZL 1,094

$75.4 SZL 1,224

-10.63%

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

$11.17 SZL 181

$35.62 SZL 578

-68.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.54 SZL 447

$27.46 SZL 446

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.82 SZL 452

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 SZL 83.4

Cinema Ticket

$3.46 SZL 56.2

$3.58 SZL 58.2

-3.35%

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

$106 SZL 1,713

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,619 SZL 75.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.99 SZL 731

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.48 SZL 381

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 SZL 1,171

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 SZL 1,332

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 SZL 2,488

$264 SZL 4,283

-41.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.2 SZL 1,611

$186 SZL 3,014

-46.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 SZL 5,533

$496 SZL 8,061

-31.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 SZL 4,082

$367 SZL 5,959

-31.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$492 SZL 7,997

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 SZL 5,871

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$407 SZL 6,614

$687 SZL 11.1K

-40.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

-13.94%

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

Last update for Manzini: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mbabane: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Manzini versus $264 in Mbabane. 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 69% higher in Mbabane, 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 Mbabane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mbabane costs about 131% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,103 in Mbabane. 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 $735 in Mbabane. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Mbabane, 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 $735 in Mbabane, 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, Mbabane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.