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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Mbabane vs $324 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,171 per month in Mbabane vs $485 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,604 per month in Mbabane vs $645 in Manzini, rent included.

Mbabane costs about 128% 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

$3.06 SZL 50.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.45 SZL 471

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.23 SZL 36.92

Cappuccino

$1.90 SZL 31.46

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

$0.93 SZL 15.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 SZL 9.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SZL 28.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 SZL 28.32

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 SZL 17.10

$1.17 SZL 19.40

-11.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 SZL 12.03

$0.88 SZL 14.59

-17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 SZL 20.23

$1.72 SZL 28.53

-29.07%

Eggs

$1.71 SZL 28.22

$1.06 SZL 17.48

61.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 SZL 152

$6.82 SZL 113

34.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 SZL 80.4

$2.74 SZL 45.25

77.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.26 SZL 87.0

$1.69 SZL 27.99

211.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 SZL 24.76

$1.23 SZL 20.29

21.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.81

$0.59 SZL 9.70

20.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 SZL 15.86

$0.71 SZL 11.76

35.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SZL 22.60

$0.46 SZL 7.67

197.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 SZL 16.72

$0.54 SZL 9.00

87.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 SZL 21.19

$0.46 SZL 7.63

178.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 SZL 8.74

$0.37 SZL 6.20

43.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 SZL 12.60

$0.63 SZL 10.47

20.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 SZL 42.73

$2.77 SZL 45.87

-6.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 SZL 98.0

$3.38 SZL 55.9

75.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SZL 24.62

$0.53 SZL 8.81

181.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 SZL 22.86

$0.71 SZL 11.71

94.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 SZL 18.75

$0.58 SZL 9.66

94.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.44 SZL 487

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 SZL 56.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 SZL 44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 SZL 56.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 SZL 18.65

$1.26 SZL 20.77

-10.32%

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

$16.9K SZL 279.6K

$15.7K SZL 259.8K

7.61%

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

$21.3K SZL 351.6K

$14.7K SZL 243.0K

44.68%

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

$75.8 SZL 1,254

$67.3 SZL 1,113

12.62%

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

$34.48 SZL 570

$11.36 SZL 188

203.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 SZL 465

$27.52 SZL 455

2.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.68 SZL 458

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.00 SZL 82.8

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 SZL 58.4

$3.39 SZL 56.2

4.13%

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

$109 SZL 1,796

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,599 SZL 76.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.28 SZL 749

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.57 SZL 390

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 SZL 1,183

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 SZL 1,384

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 SZL 4,346

$154 SZL 2,545

70.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 SZL 2,979

$97.2 SZL 1,609

85.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 SZL 8,312

$338 SZL 5,600

48.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 SZL 6,240

$251 SZL 4,147

50.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$486 SZL 8,045

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$365 SZL 6,034

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 SZL 11.1K

$398 SZL 6,590

68.93%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Manzini: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Mbabane versus $154 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 128% 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 $1,109 per month in Mbabane and $487 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 $739 in Mbabane and $324 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $739 in Mbabane and $324 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.