Africa · Mbabane
Cost of living in Eswatini
Eswatini is 66% cheaper than the US, ranking #151 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Eswatini, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (96), while housing & utilities is the most affordable (56).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $33,500 in Eswatini.
Quality of life
52/100 · #167 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Eswatini
A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings, including MSWATI II, a 19th century ruler whose name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group. European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders during the late-19th century, and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution that came into effect in 2005 included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy.
Read the full background
King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new prime minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Eswatini expensive to live in?
Eswatini is 66% cheaper than the US, ranking #151 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; housing & utilities costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Eswatini?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $33,500 in Eswatini, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Eswatini cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 33.6, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Eswatini?
Eswatini scores 52 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#167 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 64 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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