Cost of Living Comparison Between Serowe and Gaborone Cost of Living Comparison Between Serowe and Gaborone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $81.3 in Serowe versus $820 in Gaborone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $145 in Serowe versus $1,295 in Gaborone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $209 in Serowe versus $1,770 in Gaborone.

Living in Serowe costs roughly 90% less than in Gaborone, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Serowe 94% lower, Gaborone 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.44 P 97.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.33 P 385

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 P 78.8

Cappuccino

$2.19 P 28.74

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

$0.84 P 10.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 P 6.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 P 28.86

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 P 39.84

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 P 18.77

$1.47 P 19.30

-2.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 P 14.43

$0.85 P 11.16

29.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 P 23.91

Eggs

$1.83 P 23.95

$2.41 P 31.57

-24.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.75 P 102

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.03 P 65.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.12 P 54.0

$5.70 P 74.8

-27.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 P 17.75

$1.76 P 23.05

-23.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 P 13.88

$1.37 P 18.03

-22.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 P 25.08

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 P 21.74

$1.56 P 20.49

6.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 P 19.94

$1.47 P 19.29

3.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 P 18.00

$1.25 P 16.41

9.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 P 15.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 P 9.75

$0.93 P 12.19

-20.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.65 P 47.83

Wine (Bottle)

$4.13 P 54.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 P 21.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 P 28.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 P 6.58

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.78 P 404

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 P 8.25

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 P 34.33

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 P 38.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 P 14.83

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

$22.1K P 290.0K

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

$16.6K P 218.3K

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

$69.6 P 913

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

$26.66 P 350

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.6 P 1,019

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.42 P 425

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 P 198

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 P 86.5

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

$112 P 1,468

$181 P 2,379

-38.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,807 P 23.7K

$3,802 P 49.9K

-52.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.63 P 559

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.66 P 324

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 P 966

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 P 1,296

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 P 3,123

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 P 1,882

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 P 6,953

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 P 4,455

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,041 P 26.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 P 16.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$444 P 5,831

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 Serowe: June 7, 2026

Last update for Gaborone: June 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

Serowe vs Gaborone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Serowe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 908% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $122 in Serowe and $1,229 in Gaborone 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 120% higher in Gaborone. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $112 in Serowe versus $181 in Gaborone. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Serowe 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, Serowe and Gaborone 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 Serowe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 908% less than in Gaborone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.