Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Eswatini Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Eswatini

Name: Eswatini
Address: SZ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $242 in Eswatini, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $382 in Eswatini, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $522 in Eswatini, rent included.

United States costs about 992% more than Eswatini on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Eswatini is 82% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$1.73 SZL 28.57

1058.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$27.50 SZL 455

176.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$2.33 SZL 38.59

390.13%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$1.65 SZL 27.34

226.67%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.79 SZL 13.11

222.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.48 SZL 7.86

325.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$1.52 SZL 25.13

303.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$1.69 SZL 27.99

324.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 SZL 16.74

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.73 SZL 12.12

400.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.27 SZL 21.07

272.44%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$1.47 SZL 24.38

197.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$8.76 SZL 145

45.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$3.86 SZL 63.8

221.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$4.48 SZL 74.0

266.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.32 SZL 21.86

310.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.74 SZL 12.23

122.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.08 SZL 17.86

325.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.34 SZL 22.22

266.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.96 SZL 15.83

204.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.03 SZL 17.01

203.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.56 SZL 9.29

303.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.74 SZL 12.31

210.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$2.62 SZL 43.33

277.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$5.09 SZL 84.1

196.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.04 SZL 17.17

83.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.43 SZL 23.65

155.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.94 SZL 15.53

163.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$29.28 SZL 484

121.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.30 SZL 54.5

16.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.69 SZL 44.55

-34.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$3.37 SZL 55.8

807.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.22 SZL 20.14

-21.31%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$16.8K SZL 277.6K

81.61%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$19.1K SZL 316.5K

37.83%

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

$204 $204

$74.3 SZL 1,228

174.98%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$26.96 SZL 446

112.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$27.59 SZL 456

158.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$27.60 SZL 456

69.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$5.12 SZL 84.7

332.03%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$3.32 SZL 54.9

316.87%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$108 SZL 1,791

1177.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$4,512 SZL 74.6K

403.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$41.64 SZL 689

27.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$25.80 SZL 427

67.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$62.3 SZL 1,031

45.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$75.2 SZL 1,244

51.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$239 SZL 3,947

640.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$142 SZL 2,346

928.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$432 SZL 7,150

555.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$329 SZL 5,438

633.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$345 SZL 5,712

851.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$255 SZL 4,218

939.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$509 SZL 8,413

760.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

9.12

-28.62%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Eswatini: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $83.0 in Eswatini. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $264 in Mbabane.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $635 in Eswatini. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1872% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 630% more in United States.

Public transport is 317% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 609% higher in United States, giving Eswatini stronger purchasing power.

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

United States vs Eswatini: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eswatini is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 774% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Eswatini, contributing to the overall 774% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Eswatini, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Eswatini is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.