🙂A single person spends $262 per month in Botswana vs $2,547 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $415 per month in Botswana vs $3,678 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $568 per month in Botswana vs $4,808 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Botswana is roughly 90% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Botswana sits 81% below the global median, while Australia is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.45P 137
$17.74A$24.73
-41.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.72P 390
$86.9A$121
-65.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.04P 79.4
$11.35A$15.82
-46.78%
Cappuccino
$2.33P 30.64
$3.99A$5.57
-41.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83P 10.89
$2.97A$4.14
-72.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46P 6.07
$2.51A$3.50
-81.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97P 25.94
$7.75A$10.80
-74.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48P 32.58
$8.07A$11.25
-69.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51P 19.79
$1.76A$2.46
-14.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86P 11.27
$2.87A$4.00
-70.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93P 25.36
$2.37A$3.31
-18.57%
Eggs
$2.47P 32.41
$5.11A$7.13
-51.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.22P 81.7
$10.13A$14.13
-38.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.12P 67.3
$9.57A$13.35
-46.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.02P 66.0
$15.59A$21.74
-67.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53P 20.12
$3.83A$5.34
-60.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44P 18.92
$3.13A$4.36
-53.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91P 25.14
$3.35A$4.67
-42.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61P 21.18
$4.88A$6.80
-67.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47P 19.29
$2.92A$4.07
-49.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26P 16.59
$2.36A$3.29
-46.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21P 15.96
$2.46A$3.43
-50.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90P 11.82
$1.70A$2.38
-47.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.66P 48.01
$39.46A$55.0
-90.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.36P 57.2
$14.69A$20.48
-70.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44P 18.87
$5.07A$7.07
-71.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77P 23.27
$5.36A$7.48
-66.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Botswana
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59P 7.71
$2.84A$3.96
-79.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.52P 401
$97.3A$136
-68.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.62P 8.16
$3.56A$4.96
-82.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69P 35.27
$1.68A$2.34
60.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07P 40.36
$40.94A$57.1
-92.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36P 17.91
$1.35A$1.88
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KP 268.9K
$29.1KA$40.5K
-29.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KP 272.7K
$29.5KA$41.1K
-29.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.7P 810
$207A$289
-70.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67P 258
$29.34A$40.91
-32.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52P 545
$60.0A$83.7
-30.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.49P 453
$59.3A$82.6
-41.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.59P 218
$20.28A$28.27
-18.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.25P 82.1
$16.04A$22.36
-61.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145P 1,901
$2,194A$3,059
-93.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,331P 30.6K
$18.6KA$26.0K
-87.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.17P 633
$81.1A$113
-40.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.02P 276
$56.9A$79.3
-63.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.4P 965
$119A$165
-38.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0P 1,050
$126A$176
-36.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Botswana
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$292P 3,840
$1,637A$2,282
-82.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184P 2,420
$1,306A$1,821
-85.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464P 6,089
$2,589A$3,609
-82.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331P 4,349
$1,963A$2,737
-83.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,031P 26.7K
$8,394A$11.7K
-75.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,300P 17.1K
$6,140A$8,560
-78.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Botswana
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$855P 11.2K
$4,067A$5,670
-78.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.67
5.93
96.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Botswana: September 6, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $34.00 in Botswana vs $1,426 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $310 in Gaborone and $1,845 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $955 in Botswana vs $3,945 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 4094% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 673% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 3900% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 313% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Botswana.
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
Botswana vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Botswana?
Botswana is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 431% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Botswana, contributing to the overall 431% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or in Botswana?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Botswana, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Botswana?
Botswana 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.