Cost of Living in Botswana - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Botswana
Address: BW

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $596 (excluding rent), and $831 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,389 (excluding rent), and $1,760 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 P 101

$3.81 P 50.7

$15.25 P 203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.1 P 401

$18.82 P 250

$60.2 P 801

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 P 81.6

$5.57 P 74.2

$8.92 P 119

Cappuccino

$2.19 P 29.2

$0.95 P 12.7

$3.67 P 48.84

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

$0.85 P 11.26

$0.64 P 8.57

$1.43 P 19.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 P 7.09

$0.38 P 5.05

$0.77 P 10.23

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 P 29.01

$1.09 P 14.51

$3.27 P 43.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3 P 39.88

$2.25 P 29.97

$3.75 P 49.91

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 P 18.36

$1.1 P 14.68

$1.83 P 24.39

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 P 11.54

$0.49 P 6.54

$1.48 P 19.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 P 24.49

$1.15 P 15.32

$2.3 P 30.65

Eggs

$2.18 P 29.04

$1.46 P 19.49

$2.93 P 38.99

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 P 101

$3.4 P 45.22

$12.06 P 161

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 P 70

$3.01 P 40.09

$7.54 P 100

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.65 P 75.3

$3.8 P 50.6

$6.76 P 90

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 P 23.26

$0.92 P 12.24

$2.29 P 30.47

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 P 18.05

$0.96 P 12.78

$1.84 P 24.51

Oranges (1kg)

$1.8 P 23.91

$1.15 P 15.3

$3.06 P 40.71

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 P 20.23

$1.16 P 15.43

$2.18 P 29.05

Potato (1kg)

$1.4 P 18.6

$0.61 P 8.15

$1.67 P 22.27

Onion (1kg)

$1.3 P 17.3

$0.77 P 10.22

$2.29 P 30.52

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 P 15.55

$0.76 P 10.14

$1.97 P 26.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 P 12.42

$0.7 P 9.35

$1.17 P 15.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.72 P 49.57

$3.43 P 45.63

$5.79 P 77

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 P 67.5

$3.76 P 49.99

$7.5 P 99.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 P 21.2

$1.09 P 14.57

$2.19 P 29.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 P 26.8

$1.32 P 17.6

$2.94 P 39.15

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.5 P 6.67

$0.58 P 7.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.55 P 380

$15.19 P 202

$45.55 P 606

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 P 8.18

$0.53 P 7.09

$0.69 P 9.13

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 P 36.28

$2.46 P 32.72

$4.47 P 59.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 P 40.19

$3.78 P 50.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.1 P 14.65

$1.04 P 13.87

$1.23 P 16.35

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

$22.2K P 295.2K

$12.6K P 167.3K

$28K P 372.9K

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

$17K P 226.5K

$15.1K P 201.3K

$22.7K P 302K

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

$65.5 P 872

$33.79 P 450

$102 P 1,359

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

$26.73 P 356

$18.98 P 253

$45.53 P 606

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 P 1,041

$37.75 P 502

$151 P 2,010

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.93 P 425

$25.69 P 342

$44.04 P 586

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.64 P 142

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 P 88.5

$5.17 P 68.9

$10.35 P 138

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

$165 P 2,201

$111 P 1,472

$295 P 3,925

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,510 P 46.7K

$1,769 P 23.6K

$5,161 P 68.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.42 P 591

$26.16 P 348

$59.8 P 796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.72 P 289

$11.29 P 150

$45.15 P 601

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 P 991

$43.88 P 584

$146 P 1,947

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 P 1,142

$36.77 P 489

$147 P 1,958

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 P 3,160

$185 P 2,463

$333 P 4,433

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 P 1,934

$110 P 1,467

$184 P 2,445

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 P 6,865

$374 P 4,973

$747 P 9,945

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 P 4,553

$259 P 3,452

$556 P 7,398

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,994 P 26.5K

$1,173 P 15.6K

$2,199 P 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 P 17.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$852 P 11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.12

7.5

10.5

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

Last update: November 24, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Botswana - Frequently Asked Questions

Botswana offers a balanced blend of value and quality for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. In major cities you'll find reliable services and solid connectivity, but living costs scale with urban amenities. The Cost of Living in Botswana remains reasonable for everyday needs when you lean into local options and choose housing outside the prime districts. You'll maximize value by sharing housing, shopping at markets, cooking at home, and using public transport or teleworking from walkable neighborhoods. If you prioritize safety, stable infrastructure, and a supportive community, you'll often find good value relative to many destinations in the region. Tip: Map out a few neighborhoods that balance comfort with cost and test the vibe before committing.

Daily life in Botswana blends markets, modern services, and outdoor rhythm. In cities you can choose from shared flats to private apartments in growing neighborhoods, with quiet blocks that suit remote work. Food options range from fresh produce markets and bakeries to affordable eateries and supermarkets. For transport, you'll rely on a mix of public buses, minivans, ride-hailing where available, and very walkable centers. Errands and coworking go smoothly in town centers with Wi-Fi hubs, but rural areas require planning. Botswana living cost varies by location and season, so your plan should adapt to local options and your work needs. Tip: cluster errands by neighborhood to reduce trips and save time.

Budgeting for a comfortable life in Botswana starts with a flexible framework. Group your expenses into housing, food, transport, and leisure, then set practical limits based on your work setup. Botswana experiences a warm, dry season and a rainy period; plan outdoor activities and energy use around these patterns to save on cooling and lighting. Neighborhood fit matters: a calmer district near shops and clinics can reduce transport time and stress. Practical savings include cooking at home, buying in-season produce, choosing public transit, and leveraging coworking days to minimize office costs. Tip: trial short stays in a few neighborhoods to feel the rhythm before committing.