Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Gaborone Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Gaborone

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,288 per month in Bali vs $836 in Gaborone, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,328 per month in Bali vs $1,311 in Gaborone, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,367 per month in Bali vs $1,786 in Gaborone, rent included.

Bali costs about 54% more than Gaborone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Gaborone are more affordable than the global median – Bali 4% lower, Gaborone 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 Rp 53.2K
$7.33 P 96.2
-59.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.53 Rp 475.6K
$29.91 P 392
-11.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 Rp 73.3K
$5.92 P 77.7
-30.91%
Cappuccino
$2.25 Rp 40.3K
$2.25 P 29.45
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 Rp 20.5K
$0.89 P 11.70
28.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
$0.51 P 6.65
21.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 Rp 43.4K
$2.19 P 28.68
10.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 Rp 59.1K
$2.99 P 39.29
10.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
$1.40 P 18.34
23.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 Rp 43.3K
$0.86 P 11.32
181.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$1.74 P 22.86
-33.91%
Eggs
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$2.28 P 29.97
1.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.70 Rp 245.6K
$7.64 P 100
79.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.13 Rp 74.1K
$4.98 P 65.4
-17.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 Rp 203.1K
$5.47 P 71.8
107.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.45 Rp 61.9K
$1.83 P 24.02
88.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 Rp 27.3K
$1.37 P 18.01
11.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 48.4K
$1.84 P 24.19
46.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 Rp 38.5K
$1.57 P 20.57
36.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
$1.42 P 18.65
28.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 Rp 38.2K
$1.20 P 15.70
77.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
$1.17 P 15.37
-16.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Rp 12.1K
$0.92 P 12.04
-27.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16 Rp 56.7K
$3.65 P 47.87
-13.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.80 Rp 408.7K
$4.24 P 55.7
437.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 Rp 47.5K
$1.60 P 20.94
65.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 48.8K
$2.09 P 27.39
30.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,801
$0.53 P 6.99
-49.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.46 Rp 151.7K
$30.23 P 397
-72.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,191
$0.58 P 7.60
-20.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,207
$2.72 P 35.73
-83.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.00 Rp 107.6K
$2.94 P 38.59
104.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
$1.14 P 14.94
-28.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 466.0M
$22.7K P 297.2K
14.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 571.2M
$17.1K P 223.8K
86.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.7 Rp 1.4M
$70.9 P 931
12.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.92 Rp 70.3K
$25.80 P 338
-84.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 Rp 436.6K
$78.3 P 1,027
-68.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
$33.13 P 435
148.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.30 Rp 94.9K
$15.22 P 200
-65.18%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44 Rp 61.7K
$6.62 P 86.9
-48.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$267 Rp 4.8M
$185 P 2,427
44.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,920 Rp 106.1M
$3,837 P 50.3K
54.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 Rp 914.4K
$41.61 P 546
22.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.67 Rp 657.3K
$24.02 P 315
52.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
$74.9 P 982
12.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8 Rp 1.3M
$98.5 P 1,292
-24.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$854 Rp 15.3M
$244 P 3,199
250.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 Rp 10.3M
$144 P 1,882
299.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,981 Rp 53.4M
$530 P 6,955
462.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,784 Rp 32.0M
$337 P 4,425
428.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,374 Rp 42.6M
$2,011 P 26.4K
18.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,973 Rp 35.4M
$1,299 P 17.0K
51.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 4.0M
$452 P 5,928
-50.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.12
45.61%

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

Last update for Bali: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gaborone: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $854 in Bali versus $244 in Gaborone. 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 103% higher in Gaborone, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bali versus $30.00 in Gaborone. Groceries tell a different story – $285 in Bali vs $179 in Gaborone – so Gaborone wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Bali vs Gaborone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Gaborone?
Bali costs about 54% more than Gaborone, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali vs Gaborone?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,932 per month in Bali and $1,254 in Gaborone. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Gaborone?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gaborone, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bali vs Gaborone?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bali and $30.00 in Gaborone. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Gaborone?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,288 in Bali and $836 in Gaborone. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bali or Gaborone?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gaborone, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Bali at $1,288. In Gaborone it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bali or Gaborone?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gaborone costs $836 versus $1,288 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Gaborone?
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.
Should I move to Bali or Gaborone?
If budget matters most, go with Gaborone. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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