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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $349 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $526 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $703 in Manzini, rent included.

Phuket costs about 253% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Manzini are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Manzini 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.24 SZL 20.25

50.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.93 SZL 15.23

58.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.79 SZL 29.37

-13.41%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.15 SZL 18.75

82.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$7.37 SZL 121

165.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.14 SZL 51.4

8.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$1.80 SZL 29.45

532.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.40 SZL 22.88

112.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$0.63 SZL 10.39

166.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.84 SZL 13.69

163.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$0.47 SZL 7.72

359.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.63 SZL 10.33

141.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$0.47 SZL 7.72

185.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.41 SZL 6.78

175.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.67 SZL 10.93

-17.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.13 SZL 51.2

36.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$3.38 SZL 55.4

464.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$0.65 SZL 10.63

173.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$0.82 SZL 13.38

239.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.61 SZL 9.96

265.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.31 SZL 21.49

13.74%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$17.4K SZL 284.2K

53.07%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$15.9K SZL 259.8K

70.25%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$72.5 SZL 1,187

41.32%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$12.16 SZL 199

-6.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$30.84 SZL 505

-43.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$3.61 SZL 59.0

113.02%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$169 SZL 2,769

336.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$108 SZL 1,773

345.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$363 SZL 5,934

480.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$280 SZL 4,589

337.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$407 SZL 6,661

21.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-44.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Manzini: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $169 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 21% 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 253% 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $523 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $349 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 133% 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 $349, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $349 versus $1,232 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.