Cost of Living in Lesotho - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Lesotho
Address: LS

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $544 (excluding rent), and $861 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,510 (excluding rent), and $1,740 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.88 LSL 162

$3.39 LSL 55.5

$14.11 LSL 231

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.12 LSL 461

$22.50 LSL 369

$28.12 LSL 461

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 LSL 141

$5.72 LSL 93.8

$11.44 LSL 188

Cappuccino

$1.77 LSL 29.07

$1.13 LSL 18.60

$2.55 LSL 41.86

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

$1.32 LSL 21.59

$0.86 LSL 14.06

$1.71 LSL 28.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 LSL 12.40

$0.66 LSL 10.79

$0.82 LSL 13.53

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 LSL 29.18

$1.09 LSL 17.96

$2.74 LSL 44.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 LSL 36.13

$1.93 LSL 31.61

$3.30 LSL 54.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 LSL 17.10

$0.75 LSL 12.24

$1.14 LSL 18.77

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LSL 13.32

$0.58 LSL 9.56

$0.87 LSL 14.34

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 LSL 32.73

$0.86 LSL 14.03

$3.42 LSL 56.1

Eggs

$1.35 LSL 22.15

$1.02 LSL 16.70

$1.58 LSL 25.95

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 LSL 98.1

$2.50 LSL 41.08

$8.35 LSL 137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 LSL 93.7

$4.74 LSL 77.7

$6.69 LSL 110

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.01 LSL 82.2

$3.29 LSL 54.0

$6.04 LSL 99.0

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 LSL 27.05

$0.86 LSL 14.11

$2.29 LSL 37.63

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 LSL 28.06

$1.16 LSL 19.03

$2.75 LSL 45.16

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 LSL 36.48

$0.56 LSL 9.12

$3.34 LSL 54.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 LSL 37.14

$1.13 LSL 18.57

$2.55 LSL 41.78

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 LSL 24.29

$0.46 LSL 7.59

$2.02 LSL 33.07

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 LSL 18.62

$0.44 LSL 7.29

$2.49 LSL 40.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 LSL 23.97

$1.14 LSL 18.64

$1.71 LSL 27.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 LSL 12.88

$0.54 LSL 8.79

$1.07 LSL 17.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 LSL 76.6

Wine (Bottle)

$4.85 LSL 79.6

$3.63 LSL 59.5

$9.70 LSL 159

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 LSL 21.15

$0.82 LSL 13.46

$1.95 LSL 32.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 LSL 25.96

$1.44 LSL 23.60

$1.73 LSL 28.32

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 LSL 11.74

$0.66 LSL 10.78

$0.72 LSL 11.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.60 LSL 453

$22.08 LSL 362

$34.44 LSL 565

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 LSL 11.50

$0.60 LSL 9.76

$0.70 LSL 11.50

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 LSL 10.20

$0.57 LSL 9.42

$0.67 LSL 10.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 LSL 168

$3.42 LSL 56.1

$17.10 LSL 280

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 LSL 20.02

$1.04 LSL 17.12

$1.38 LSL 22.61

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

$19.5K LSL 319.2K

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

$14.9K LSL 244.7K

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

$193 LSL 3,160

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

$18.95 LSL 311

$5.57 LSL 91.4

$27.86 LSL 457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.16 LSL 527

$22.38 LSL 367

$36.37 LSL 596

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.78 LSL 488

$19.39 LSL 318

$55.4 LSL 909

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

$64.0 LSL 1,050

$27.84 LSL 457

$111 LSL 1,826

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,363 LSL 22.4K

$1,136 LSL 18.6K

$1,817 LSL 29.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 LSL 888

$25.65 LSL 421

$85.5 LSL 1,402

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 LSL 642

$13.98 LSL 229

$67.1 LSL 1,101

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 LSL 1,866

$45.51 LSL 746

$142 LSL 2,332

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 LSL 2,127

$83.4 LSL 1,367

$195 LSL 3,190

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 LSL 2,479

$56.7 LSL 930

$255 LSL 4,183

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.9 LSL 1,277

$38.93 LSL 638

$111 LSL 1,824

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 LSL 6,601

$253 LSL 4,145

$674 LSL 11.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 LSL 2,643

$114 LSL 1,866

$199 LSL 3,265

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$387 LSL 6,341

$122 LSL 1,998

$651 LSL 10.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 LSL 8,760

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$760 LSL 12.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update: January 13, 2026

By City in Lesotho

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Maseru	227880	34	$593	$664	$1,562	$1,515	51.53	46.33
2	Teyateyaneng	75115		$481	$672	$856	$1,240	91.22	38.16

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Lesotho - Frequently Asked Questions

Lesotho tends to feel like good value for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, especially when you compare urban centers with rural towns. Rural areas offer affordable basics, while Maseru provides more services with modest price differences. The Cost of Living in Lesotho is shaped by local markets, import reliance, and wage patterns, but you can stretch a budget by choosing guesthouses, cooking at home, and using local transport. Seasonal demand and travel plans can shift rates in busy periods, so plan accordingly. Tip: Start with a simple budget focused on housing, food, and transport, then adjust as you settle into your preferred area.

Housing searches in Lesotho vary by area: expect simple apartments or guesthouses in Maseru and hillside homes in smaller towns. Rural options can be very affordable, but availability is seasonal. Food choices span fresh market produce, legumes, and staple maize meal, with supermarkets offering a broader range. Transport relies on public minibuses, shared taxis, and private vehicles; walking is common in compact neighborhoods and hills. For work or study, you may find a few cafes or coworking spaces with wifi. Lesotho living cost tends to be lower outside the capital, but service levels and options rise in urban centers. Tip: Build a practical weekly routine that clusters errands, meals, and transport to save trips.

Quality of life in Lesotho often comes from a slower tempo, outdoor spaces, and close community ties. A simple budgeting framework works for you: divide your month into housing, groceries, transport, and leisure; track flexible spending against a basic plan. You can save by cooking at home, buying in bulk at markets, and choosing smaller towns for longer stays. Seasonality affects heating needs, rain can impact travel routes, and energy reliability may vary by area; plan back-up options. For neighborhood fit, consider Maseru’s central areas for access to services or hillside suburbs for quieter mornings and panoramic views. Tip: Test a few neighborhoods during different days to feel the vibe before committing.