Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaborone and Maun Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaborone and Maun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Gaborone versus $3.03 in Maun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Gaborone versus $5.00 in Maun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,745 in Gaborone versus $6.93 in Maun.

Living in Gaborone is roughly 28306% more expensive than in Maun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gaborone 38% lower, Maun 100% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.38 P 149

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.78 P 391

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 P 80.4

Cappuccino

$2.33 P 30.64

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

$0.78 P 10.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 P 5.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 P 27.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 P 33.51

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 P 20.12

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 P 11.99

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 P 24.28

Eggs

$2.54 P 33.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 P 77.4

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 P 62.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 P 67.2

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 P 21.65

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 P 18.37

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 P 27.40

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 P 22.53

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 P 18.78

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 P 16.05

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 P 19.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 P 12.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 P 48.19

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 P 57.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 P 19.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 P 23.16

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 P 8.07

$0.58 P 7.61

5.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.13 P 396

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 P 8.63

$0.62 P 8.09

6.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 P 34.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 P 39.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 P 19.02

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

$20.6K P 270.4K

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

$20.9K P 274.3K

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

$61.7 P 810

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

$19.96 P 262

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.97 P 551

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 P 474

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 P 223

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 P 85.4

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

$129 P 1,696

$297 P 3,905

-56.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,565 P 33.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.58 P 612

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.63 P 232

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 P 908

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 P 972

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 P 4,067

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 P 2,807

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$483 P 6,349

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 P 4,276

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,079 P 27.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,269 P 16.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$455 P 5,980

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.67

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

Last update for Gaborone: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maun: September 8, 2026

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 Maun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 28306% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,291 in Gaborone and $4.55 in Maun to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $129 in Gaborone versus $297 in Maun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Gaborone versus $3.03 in Maun – a 28306% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maun gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Gaborone and Maun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Maun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28306% less than in Gaborone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.