MigrantoCost of living in Eswatini
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
SZL 2,250
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
SZL 717richest 20%
SZL 11,800
Eswatini is a small kingdom that buys most of what fills its shelves from its much bigger neighbor next door, so day-to-day prices tend to follow what they cost across that border rather than anything set at home. It's an affordable place to fund a life on the whole, but the distance between a comfortable household and one just scraping by is about as wide as it gets — what your money covers depends heavily on where you land.
Where people spend money in Eswatini
Groceries take the biggest bite of a typical month here, with getting around and a place to live close behind. Food is the cost you can't really sidestep, while housing sits lighter than you'd expect — so much of where your money goes is the steady, everyday stuff rather than rent.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Eswatini
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Cost of living in Eswatini
SZL 717/mo
vs SZL 13,000 in your country
Take-home
SZL 4,100
vs SZL 19,500 in your country
Potential savings
SZL 3,380
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Eswatini compare
Set against the rest of the world, Eswatini is one of the cheaper places to live; measured against the rest of Africa, it lands somewhere in the middle. For someone weighing a move, that makes it gentle on the wallet by global standards without being the rock-bottom bargain some of its neighbors are.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2023 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Eswatini?
A typical person in Eswatini spends about SZL 2,250 a month — around SZL 27,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Eswatini in US dollars?
The cost of living in Eswatini is about $138 a month, or roughly $1,656 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Eswatini?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about SZL 717 a month per person, a typical one around SZL 2,250, and a comfortable life around SZL 3,650. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Eswatini?
The biggest expense is groceries, at about SZL 733 a month (33% of spending). Then come transport (SZL 277, 12%) and housing (SZL 228, 10%).
Is the average salary in Eswatini enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about SZL 2,250 a month, while the average take-home pay in Eswatini is about SZL 5,830. For more on incomes, see salaries in Eswatini.
Is Eswatini an expensive country to live in?
No. Eswatini is more expensive than 23% of countries worldwide and ranks 19th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
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Living in Eswatini
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