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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Mbabane costs about 131% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

$1.07 SZL 17.36

$1.13 SZL 18.31

-5.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 SZL 12.00

$0.89 SZL 14.51

-16.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 SZL 19.81

$1.70 SZL 27.65

-28.24%

Eggs

$1.71 SZL 27.72

$1.11 SZL 18.02

54.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.95 SZL 145

$6.70 SZL 109

33.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 SZL 79.1

$2.82 SZL 45.86

72.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.32 SZL 86.4

$1.70 SZL 27.68

212.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 SZL 23.83

$1.23 SZL 19.98

19.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 SZL 12.19

$0.54 SZL 8.82

38.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 SZL 15.36

$0.70 SZL 11.39

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 SZL 23.03

$0.44 SZL 7.07

222.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 SZL 17.18

$0.58 SZL 9.43

82.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SZL 20.50

$0.44 SZL 7.10

186.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SZL 8.48

$0.38 SZL 6.15

36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 SZL 11.76

$0.59 SZL 9.65

22.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 SZL 41.64

$2.74 SZL 44.50

-6.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.99 SZL 97.3

$3.38 SZL 54.8

77.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SZL 23.53

$0.53 SZL 8.65

173.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SZL 23.24

$0.75 SZL 12.11

90.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SZL 17.78

$0.58 SZL 9.41

89.66%

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)

$1.13 SZL 18.30

$1.21 SZL 19.58

-6.61%

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

$16.8K SZL 273.5K

$16.0K SZL 259.3K

5.44%

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

$21.1K SZL 342.3K

$14.9K SZL 241.2K

41.90%

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

$75.4 SZL 1,224

$67.4 SZL 1,094

11.89%

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

$35.62 SZL 578

$11.17 SZL 181

218.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.46 SZL 446

$27.54 SZL 447

-0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.82 SZL 452

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 SZL 83.4

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 SZL 58.2

$3.46 SZL 56.2

3.47%

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)

$264 SZL 4,283

$153 SZL 2,488

72.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 SZL 3,014

$99.2 SZL 1,611

87.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 SZL 8,061

$341 SZL 5,533

45.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 SZL 5,959

$251 SZL 4,082

45.99%

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)

$687 SZL 11.1K

$407 SZL 6,614

68.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

16.20%

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

Last update for Mbabane: May 30, 2026

Last update for Manzini: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $264 in Mbabane versus $153 in Manzini. 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

Mbabane vs Manzini: 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 $1,103 per month in Mbabane and $478 in Manzini. 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 $735 in Mbabane and $319 in Manzini. 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 $735 in Mbabane and $319 in Manzini, 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.