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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Gaborone vs $1,275 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,303 per month in Gaborone vs $2,093 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,745 per month in Gaborone vs $2,912 in Bali, rent included.

Gaborone is about 33% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gaborone and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Gaborone 38% lower, Bali 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38 P 149
$2.78 Rp 49.0K
309.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.78 P 391
$30.58 Rp 538.3K
-2.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.12 P 80.4
$4.71 Rp 83.0K
29.94%
Cappuccino
$2.33 P 30.64
$2.34 Rp 41.1K
-0.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 P 10.27
$1.52 Rp 26.7K
-48.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 P 5.86
$0.67 Rp 11.8K
-32.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 P 27.11
$2.56 Rp 45.1K
-19.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 P 33.51
$3.67 Rp 64.6K
-30.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 P 20.12
$1.52 Rp 26.7K
0.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 P 11.99
$2.12 Rp 37.3K
-57.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 P 24.28
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
66.67%
Eggs
$2.54 P 33.36
$2.02 Rp 35.5K
25.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.89 P 77.4
$16.67 Rp 293.5K
-64.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 P 62.4
$3.75 Rp 66.0K
26.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.12 P 67.2
$11.85 Rp 208.7K
-56.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.65 P 21.65
$3.51 Rp 61.9K
-52.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 P 18.37
$1.54 Rp 27.1K
-9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 P 27.40
$2.25 Rp 39.6K
-7.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.72 P 22.53
$1.92 Rp 33.7K
-10.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 P 18.78
$1.73 Rp 30.5K
-17.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 P 16.05
$2.30 Rp 40.5K
-46.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 P 19.18
$1.01 Rp 17.7K
44.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 P 12.08
$0.51 Rp 9,046
80.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.67 P 48.19
$2.13 Rp 37.4K
72.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.38 P 57.5
$21.59 Rp 380.1K
-79.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 P 19.02
$2.20 Rp 38.8K
-34.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 P 23.16
$2.86 Rp 50.3K
-38.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 P 8.07
$0.25 Rp 4,377
144.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.13 P 396
$8.22 Rp 144.6K
266.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 P 8.63
$0.49 Rp 8,567
34.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.59 P 34.02
$0.48 Rp 8,392
439.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 P 39.76
$5.52 Rp 97.1K
-45.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 P 19.02
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
79.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K P 270.4K
$24.7K Rp 435.2M
-16.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K P 274.3K
$31.8K Rp 559.5M
-34.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.7 P 810
$82.8 Rp 1.5M
-25.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.96 P 262
$6.49 Rp 114.3K
207.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.97 P 551
$19.04 Rp 335.1K
120.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.10 P 474
$47.52 Rp 836.6K
-24.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.99 P 223
$15.14 Rp 266.6K
12.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 P 85.4
$3.77 Rp 66.3K
72.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 P 1,696
$446 Rp 7.9M
-71.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,565 P 33.7K
$5,332 Rp 93.9M
-51.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.58 P 612
$44.63 Rp 785.8K
4.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.63 P 232
$33.69 Rp 593.1K
-47.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.1 P 908
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
-10.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 P 972
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
-4.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$310 P 4,067
$1,003 Rp 17.7M
-69.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 P 2,807
$610 Rp 10.7M
-64.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 P 6,349
$3,095 Rp 54.5M
-84.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 P 4,276
$1,500 Rp 26.4M
-78.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,079 P 27.3K
$2,478 Rp 43.6M
-16.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,269 P 16.7K
$1,968 Rp 34.7M
-35.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gaborone
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$455 P 5,980
$220 Rp 3.9M
106.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.67
13.78
-15.31%

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

Last update for Gaborone: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bali: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $310 in Gaborone versus $1,003 in Bali. 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 107% 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 $30.00 in Gaborone versus $31.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $278 – making Gaborone the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Gaborone vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gaborone or Bali?
Bali costs about 48% 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 Gaborone and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,291 per month in Gaborone and $1,913 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gaborone or Bali?
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 Gaborone and in Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Gaborone and $31.00 in Bali. 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 Gaborone compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Gaborone and $1,275 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gaborone or in Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gaborone, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Bali at $1,275. 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, Gaborone or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gaborone costs $861 versus $1,275 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gaborone compared to Bali?
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 Gaborone or to Bali?
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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