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

🙂 Solo nomad: Mbabane is 23.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 16.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mbabane is 3.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98 SZL 48.57
$2.01 ฿64.4
48.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.93 SZL 472
$18.23 ฿583
58.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.36 SZL 38.48
$7.65 ฿244
-69.15%
Cappuccino
$1.87 SZL 30.47
$1.92 ฿61.3
-2.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 SZL 14.71
$0.84 ฿26.90
7.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 SZL 9.48
$0.36 ฿11.39
61.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 SZL 28.21
$2.19 ฿70.0
-21.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 SZL 26.64
$3.79 ฿121
-56.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 SZL 17.50
$1.64 ฿52.4
-34.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 SZL 12.63
$1.62 ฿51.8
-52.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 SZL 20.55
$1.15 ฿36.88
9.57%
Eggs
$1.66 SZL 27.11
$1.94 ฿62.0
-14.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 SZL 150
$15.94 ฿510
-42.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 SZL 82.7
$3.10 ฿99.2
63.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.20 SZL 84.9
$11.07 ฿354
-53.03%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 SZL 24.01
$2.71 ฿86.5
-45.76%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 SZL 11.69
$1.18 ฿37.69
-38.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 SZL 15.34
$1.71 ฿54.5
-45.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 SZL 23.05
$1.61 ฿51.3
-12.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 SZL 17.27
$1.39 ฿44.53
-23.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 SZL 19.80
$1.15 ฿36.70
5.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 SZL 8.50
$0.71 ฿22.76
-26.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 SZL 11.65
$0.55 ฿17.60
29.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 SZL 41.77
$4.57 ฿146
-43.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.26 SZL 102
$18.87 ฿603
-66.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 SZL 23.58
$1.82 ฿58.2
-20.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 SZL 22.33
$3.21 ฿103
-57.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 SZL 17.93
$0.88 ฿28.16
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.87 SZL 487
$18.89 ฿604
58.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 SZL 55.4
$1.41 ฿45.17
140.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.69 SZL 43.85
$1.30 ฿41.59
106.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 SZL 53.9
$8.20 ฿262
-59.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 SZL 18.66
$1.23 ฿39.18
-7.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5K SZL 269.8K
$21.2K ฿677.0K
-21.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K SZL 340.7K
$22.3K ฿713.3K
-6.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.5 SZL 1,248
$69.9 ฿2,234
9.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.09 SZL 572
$14.07 ฿450
149.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.06 SZL 458
$17.70 ฿566
58.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.26 SZL 461
$41.41 ฿1,324
-31.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.99 SZL 81.3
$6.69 ฿214
-25.41%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62 SZL 59.1
$5.74 ฿184
-36.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 SZL 1,746
$299 ฿9,566
-64.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,577 SZL 74.7K
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-69.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.82 SZL 731
$54.8 ฿1,753
-18.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.38 SZL 381
$26.35 ฿842
-11.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 SZL 1,184
$84.7 ฿2,706
-14.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0 SZL 1,320
$69.7 ฿2,229
16.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 SZL 4,235
$427 ฿13.6K
-39.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 SZL 2,955
$241 ฿7,697
-24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 SZL 7,977
$811 ฿25.9K
-39.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 SZL 5,961
$498 ฿15.9K
-26.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$491 SZL 8,016
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-75.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$361 SZL 5,880
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-76.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbabane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$662 SZL 10.8K
$639 ฿20.4K
3.53%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

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