Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaborone and Pilikwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaborone and Pilikwe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Gaborone versus $578 in Pilikwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Gaborone versus $911 in Pilikwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,745 in Gaborone versus $1,245 in Pilikwe.

Living in Gaborone is roughly 49% more expensive than in Pilikwe, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gaborone 38% lower, Pilikwe 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.38 P 149

$11.26 P 148

1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.78 P 391

$29.59 P 389

0.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 P 80.4

$5.82 P 76.5

5.15%

Cappuccino

$2.33 P 30.64

$2.43 P 31.98

-4.12%

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

$0.78 P 10.27

$0.78 P 10.18

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 P 5.86

$0.45 P 5.85

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 P 27.11

$2.08 P 27.38

-0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 P 33.51

$2.55 P 33.50

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 P 20.12

$1.53 P 20.05

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 P 11.99

$0.84 P 11.01

8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 P 24.28

$1.82 P 23.96

1.65%

Eggs

$2.54 P 33.36

$2.43 P 31.98

4.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 P 77.4

$6.04 P 79.4

-2.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 P 62.4

$4.67 P 61.4

1.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 P 67.2

$4.88 P 64.1

4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 P 21.65

$1.57 P 20.61

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 P 18.37

$1.46 P 19.20

-4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 P 27.40

$1.98 P 26.00

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 P 22.53

$1.63 P 21.46

5.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 P 18.78

$1.41 P 18.47

1.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 P 16.05

$1.22 P 16.01

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 P 19.18

$1.46 P 19.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 P 12.08

$0.85 P 11.21

8.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 P 48.19

$3.77 P 49.52

-2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 P 57.5

$4.47 P 58.8

-2.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 P 19.02

$1.42 P 18.61

2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 P 23.16

$1.69 P 22.23

4.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 P 8.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.13 P 396

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 P 8.63

$0.60 P 7.93

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 P 34.02

$2.53 P 33.23

2.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 P 39.76

$2.96 P 38.87

2.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 P 19.02

$1.37 P 18.00

5.84%

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

$20.6K P 270.4K

$20.1K P 264.7K

2.17%

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

$20.9K P 274.3K

$21.0K P 276.4K

-0.79%

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

$61.7 P 810

$61.6 P 810

0.08%

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

$19.96 P 262

$20.05 P 263

-0.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.97 P 551

$41.86 P 550

0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 P 474

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 P 223

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 P 85.4

$6.45 P 84.8

0.78%

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

$129 P 1,696

$130 P 1,708

-0.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,565 P 33.7K

$2,531 P 33.2K

1.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.58 P 612

$47.39 P 623

-1.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.63 P 232

$17.10 P 225

3.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 P 908

$67.2 P 882

2.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 P 972

$73.8 P 970

0.24%

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 Pilikwe: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Gaborone vs $30.00 in Pilikwe. Groceries flip the comparison at $175 vs $172, with Pilikwe cheaper for home cooking.

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 Pilikwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pilikwe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,291 in Gaborone and $867 in Pilikwe 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Gaborone. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Gaborone versus $578 in Pilikwe – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pilikwe 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 Pilikwe 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 Pilikwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Gaborone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.