Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manzini Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manzini

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $320 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $471 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $623 in Manzini, rent included.

Phuket costs about 294% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Manzini are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Manzini 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.14 SZL 18.38

91.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.83 SZL 13.39

128.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.70 SZL 27.41

29.41%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.06 SZL 17.13

109.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$6.83 SZL 110

192.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.74 SZL 44.20

33.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$1.70 SZL 27.41

679.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.23 SZL 19.82

162.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$0.54 SZL 8.70

214.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.71 SZL 11.53

236.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.43 SZL 7.02

383.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.53 SZL 8.61

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.43 SZL 6.97

244.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.37 SZL 6.01

178.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.60 SZL 9.76

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$2.84 SZL 45.96

49.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$3.20 SZL 51.7

487.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$0.54 SZL 8.78

225.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$0.70 SZL 11.30

294.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.55 SZL 8.83

147.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.20 SZL 19.33

11.67%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$15.5K SZL 250.9K

78.18%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$14.8K SZL 239.8K

128.09%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$66.3 SZL 1,071

86.35%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$11.42 SZL 185

18.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$28.32 SZL 458

-34.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$3.44 SZL 55.6

165.70%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$152 SZL 2,455

307.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$97.9 SZL 1,582

341.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$342 SZL 5,523

503.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$251 SZL 4,061

501.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$400 SZL 6,458

26.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-46.70%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Manzini: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $152 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 27% higher in Phuket, 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

Phuket vs Manzini: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 294% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $480 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $320 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 176% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manzini, where all-in costs run around $320, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Manzini it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $320 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.