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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $789 per month in Mbabane vs $355 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,281 per month in Mbabane vs $527 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,772 per month in Mbabane vs $698 in Manzini, rent included.

Mbabane costs about 122% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbabane and Manzini are more affordable than the global median – Mbabane 43% lower, Manzini 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.81 SZL 174

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.66 SZL 558

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 SZL 96.2

Cappuccino

$2.73 SZL 43.90

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

$1.12 SZL 18.09

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 SZL 10.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 SZL 35.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 SZL 39.46

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 SZL 25.99

$1.30 SZL 20.95

24.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 SZL 14.22

$0.98 SZL 15.73

-10.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 SZL 29.01

$1.84 SZL 29.61

-2.17%

Eggs

$1.91 SZL 30.73

$1.22 SZL 19.58

56.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 SZL 180

$7.50 SZL 121

49.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.00 SZL 96.5

$3.13 SZL 50.3

91.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.35 SZL 86.1

$1.89 SZL 30.38

183.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 SZL 28.80

$1.43 SZL 22.99

25.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 SZL 11.00

$0.60 SZL 9.70

13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 SZL 20.87

$0.83 SZL 13.38

56.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 SZL 23.85

$0.49 SZL 7.86

202.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 SZL 21.01

$0.60 SZL 9.58

118.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 SZL 26.23

$0.48 SZL 7.73

239.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 SZL 11.84

$0.42 SZL 6.71

76.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 SZL 13.49

$0.70 SZL 11.20

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 SZL 47.15

$3.04 SZL 48.88

-3.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.35 SZL 102

$3.26 SZL 52.4

94.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SZL 26.96

$0.60 SZL 9.69

180.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 SZL 27.01

$0.78 SZL 12.57

115.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 SZL 11.56

$0.63 SZL 10.19

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 SZL 24.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 SZL 51.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 SZL 20.39

$1.34 SZL 21.64

-5.22%

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

$17.5K SZL 281.7K

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

$16.3K SZL 262.3K

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

$65.5 SZL 1,054

$74.0 SZL 1,190

-11.39%

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

$38.82 SZL 625

$12.63 SZL 203

207.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.63 SZL 461

$30.77 SZL 495

-6.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.39 SZL 376

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.08 SZL 49.59

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 SZL 60.5

$3.64 SZL 58.5

3.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,482 SZL 104.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.36 SZL 569

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.33 SZL 247

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 SZL 1,185

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.3 SZL 906

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 SZL 4,616

$173 SZL 2,782

65.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 SZL 2,987

$107 SZL 1,717

73.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 SZL 7,622

$370 SZL 5,945

28.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 SZL 5,808

$279 SZL 4,486

29.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$500 SZL 8,046

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$378 SZL 6,076

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$399 SZL 6,420

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.25

-27.50%

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

Last update for Mbabane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Manzini: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Mbabane versus $173 in Manzini. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 122% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,183 per month in Mbabane and $533 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 $789 in Mbabane and $355 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 59% 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 $789 in Mbabane and $355 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.