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

🙂 Solo nomad: Mbabane is 18.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 14.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mbabane is 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 SZL 54.7
$2.02 ฿65.3
51.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.44 SZL 506
$18.78 ฿608
51.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.34 SZL 41.66
$7.67 ฿248
-69.49%
Cappuccino
$1.89 SZL 33.56
$1.98 ฿64.2
-4.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.9 SZL 15.98
$0.82 ฿26.64
9.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 SZL 10.39
$0.33 ฿10.58
75.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 SZL 29.7
$2.12 ฿68.6
-21.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 SZL 29.6
$3.73 ฿121
-55.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 SZL 19.13
$1.64 ฿53.2
-34.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 SZL 13.97
$1.57 ฿50.9
-49.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 SZL 22.75
$1.19 ฿38.62
7.56%
Eggs
$1.67 SZL 29.7
$1.98 ฿64.1
-15.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.1 SZL 162
$15.99 ฿517
-43.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 SZL 89.8
$3.12 ฿101
61.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.25 SZL 93.4
$11.16 ฿361
-52.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.48 SZL 26.28
$2.76 ฿89.2
-46.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.71 SZL 12.68
$1.22 ฿39.5
-41.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.9 SZL 16.1
$1.71 ฿55.4
-47.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 SZL 24.83
$1.55 ฿50.2
-9.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 SZL 18.09
$1.34 ฿43.21
-23.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 SZL 22.6
$1.21 ฿39.23
4.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 SZL 9.25
$0.72 ฿23.2
-27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 SZL 13.63
$0.53 ฿17.05
45.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 SZL 46.72
$4.72 ฿153
-44.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 SZL 103
$18.39 ฿595
-68.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 SZL 26.56
$1.79 ฿57.9
-16.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 SZL 24.21
$3.21 ฿104
-57.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.13 SZL 20.12
$0.94 ฿30.44
20.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.93 SZL 515
$18.9 ฿612
53.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 SZL 60.7
$1.42 ฿46.08
140.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 SZL 47.58
$1.35 ฿43.53
97.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 SZL 59.6
$7.85 ฿254
-57.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 SZL 20.06
$1.25 ฿40.4
-9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17K SZL 302.1K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-19.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K SZL 370.1K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-4.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75 SZL 1,335
$70.6 ฿2,285
6.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.9 SZL 621
$13.72 ฿444
154.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.11 SZL 500
$17.56 ฿568
60.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.52 SZL 490
$41.64 ฿1,347
-33.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.09 SZL 90.5
$6.9 ฿223
-26.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.68 SZL 65.5
$5.8 ฿188
-36.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 SZL 1,905
$308 ฿9,963
-65.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,619 SZL 82.2K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-68.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.66 SZL 794
$55.4 ฿1,793
-19.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.2 SZL 413
$26.4 ฿854
-12.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.6 SZL 1,273
$85.1 ฿2,755
-15.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 SZL 1,452
$71.8 ฿2,323
13.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 SZL 4,648
$434 ฿14K
-39.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 SZL 3,295
$235 ฿7,610
-21.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$496 SZL 8,818
$821 ฿26.6K
-39.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 SZL 6,522
$498 ฿16.1K
-26.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$354 SZL 6,298
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-83.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$267 SZL 4,750
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-82.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$753 SZL 13.4K
$703 ฿22.8K
7.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.62
5
132.40%

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

Last update for Mbabane: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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