Cost of Living in Lesotho - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Lesotho
Address: LS

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $621 (excluding rent), and $866 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,183 (excluding rent), and $1,697 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.02 LSL 165

$3.44 LSL 56.4

$14.32 LSL 235

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.03 LSL 460

$22.43 LSL 368

$28.03 LSL 460

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 LSL 142

$5.76 LSL 94.5

$11.51 LSL 189

Cappuccino

$1.79 LSL 29.45

$1.15 LSL 18.85

$2.58 LSL 42.41

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

$1.32 LSL 21.71

$0.86 LSL 14.14

$1.72 LSL 28.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 LSL 13.20

$0.70 LSL 11.48

$0.88 LSL 14.40

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 LSL 30.31

$1.14 LSL 18.65

$2.84 LSL 46.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 LSL 36.24

$1.93 LSL 31.71

$3.31 LSL 54.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 LSL 16.41

$0.72 LSL 11.75

$1.10 LSL 18.02

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 LSL 13.45

$0.59 LSL 9.65

$0.88 LSL 14.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 LSL 31.53

$0.82 LSL 13.51

$3.29 LSL 54.1

Eggs

$1.32 LSL 21.63

$0.99 LSL 16.31

$1.54 LSL 25.35

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 LSL 100

$2.56 LSL 42.05

$8.54 LSL 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 LSL 95.9

$4.84 LSL 79.5

$6.84 LSL 112

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 LSL 85.2

$3.41 LSL 56.0

$6.26 LSL 103

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 LSL 26.16

$0.83 LSL 13.65

$2.22 LSL 36.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 LSL 29.18

$1.20 LSL 19.79

$2.86 LSL 46.95

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 LSL 37.41

$0.57 LSL 9.35

$3.42 LSL 56.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 LSL 36.19

$1.10 LSL 18.10

$2.48 LSL 40.71

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 LSL 23.26

$0.44 LSL 7.27

$1.93 LSL 31.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 LSL 19.20

$0.46 LSL 7.51

$2.56 LSL 42.07

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 LSL 24.12

$1.14 LSL 18.76

$1.71 LSL 28.14

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 LSL 13.12

$0.55 LSL 8.96

$1.09 LSL 17.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.62 LSL 75.9

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 LSL 78.5

$3.59 LSL 59.0

$9.57 LSL 157

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 LSL 22.10

$0.86 LSL 14.06

$2.04 LSL 33.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 LSL 24.79

$1.37 LSL 22.53

$1.65 LSL 27.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 LSL 12.27

$0.69 LSL 11.26

$0.75 LSL 12.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.57 LSL 453

$22.06 LSL 362

$34.41 LSL 565

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 LSL 11.73

$0.61 LSL 9.96

$0.71 LSL 11.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 LSL 10.25

$0.58 LSL 9.46

$0.67 LSL 11.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 LSL 168

$3.42 LSL 56.1

$17.09 LSL 281

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 LSL 20.91

$1.09 LSL 17.87

$1.44 LSL 23.61

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

$19.6K LSL 321.7K

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

$15.0K LSL 245.6K

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

$197 LSL 3,229

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

$19.37 LSL 318

$5.69 LSL 93.5

$28.48 LSL 468

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.18 LSL 528

$22.39 LSL 368

$36.38 LSL 597

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 LSL 491

$19.47 LSL 320

$55.6 LSL 913

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

$64.6 LSL 1,061

$28.10 LSL 461

$112 LSL 1,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,323 LSL 21.7K

$1,102 LSL 18.1K

$1,764 LSL 29.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 LSL 864

$24.93 LSL 409

$83.1 LSL 1,365

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.32 LSL 646

$14.04 LSL 231

$67.4 LSL 1,107

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 LSL 1,848

$45.02 LSL 739

$141 LSL 2,310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 LSL 2,160

$84.6 LSL 1,389

$197 LSL 3,240

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 LSL 2,493

$56.9 LSL 935

$256 LSL 4,207

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.6 LSL 1,291

$39.33 LSL 646

$112 LSL 1,845

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 LSL 6,601

$252 LSL 4,145

$673 LSL 11.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 LSL 2,587

$111 LSL 1,826

$195 LSL 3,195

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$378 LSL 6,213

$119 LSL 1,957

$638 LSL 10.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$517 LSL 8,493

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 LSL 12.6K

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 19, 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	$565	$669	$1,478	$1,523	51.53	46.33
2	Teyateyaneng	75115		$448	$664	$1,024	$1,200	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.