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: $836 in Gaborone versus $616 in Pilikwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in Gaborone versus $958 in Pilikwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in Gaborone versus $1,301 in Pilikwe.

Living in Gaborone is roughly 36% more expensive than Pilikwe, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gaborone 38% lower, Pilikwe 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 P 95.8

$7.30 P 95.4

0.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 P 391

$30.37 P 397

-1.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.92 P 77.4

$5.95 P 77.7

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$2.25 P 29.34

$2.21 P 28.86

1.81%

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

$0.89 P 11.65

$0.82 P 10.67

8.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 P 6.63

$0.48 P 6.26

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 P 28.57

$2.26 P 29.49

-3.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 P 39.13

$2.93 P 38.24

2.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 P 18.27

$1.40 P 18.25

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 P 11.28

$0.81 P 10.61

6.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 P 22.77

$1.83 P 23.95

-4.92%

Eggs

$2.28 P 29.85

$2.29 P 29.97

-0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 P 99.8

$7.59 P 99.2

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 P 65.1

$5.13 P 67.0

-2.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 P 71.5

$5.48 P 71.6

-0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 P 23.93

$1.83 P 23.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 P 17.94

$1.45 P 18.92

-5.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 P 24.10

$1.87 P 24.50

-1.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 P 20.49

$1.56 P 20.33

0.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 P 18.57

$1.41 P 18.39

0.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 P 15.64

$1.21 P 15.87

-0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 P 15.31

$1.18 P 15.46

-0.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 P 11.99

$0.85 P 11.16

8.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.65 P 47.68

$3.56 P 46.46

2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.24 P 55.4

$4.16 P 54.4

1.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 P 20.85

$1.63 P 21.29

-1.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 P 27.29

$2.18 P 28.51

-4.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 P 6.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.23 P 395

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 P 7.57

$0.62 P 8.14

-6.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.72 P 35.59

$2.60 P 34.04

4.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 P 38.43

$2.94 P 38.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 P 14.88

$1.15 P 14.96

-0.87%

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

$22.7K P 296.0K

$22.5K P 294.5K

0.51%

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

$17.1K P 223.0K

$16.8K P 219.7K

1.49%

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

$70.9 P 927

$70.2 P 917

1.04%

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

$25.80 P 337

$26.02 P 340

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.3 P 1,023

$78.0 P 1,019

0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.13 P 433

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.22 P 199

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 P 86.5

$6.66 P 87.0

-0.60%

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

$185 P 2,417

$187 P 2,438

-0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,837 P 50.1K

$3,818 P 49.9K

0.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.61 P 544

$42.54 P 556

-2.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.02 P 314

$24.31 P 318

-1.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 P 978

$74.2 P 969

0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 P 1,287

$97.9 P 1,279

0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 P 3,186

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 P 1,875

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 P 6,927

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 P 4,407

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,011 P 26.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,299 P 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 P 5,905

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.12

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

Last update for Gaborone: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pilikwe: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Gaborone vs $30.00 in Pilikwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $179 per month, with Gaborone cheaper across the board.

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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,254 in Gaborone and $924 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.

Shoppers in Gaborone pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Gaborone versus $616 in Pilikwe – a 36% 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 36% less than in Gaborone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.