Cost of living comparison
Botswana is 2.2% more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 9.4% less in Botswana
- Groceries
-
pay 4.7% more in Botswana
- Transportation
-
pay 19.2% more in Botswana
- Housing
-
pay 1.8% less in Botswana
- Childcare
-
pay 1.9% less in Botswana
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 14.5% more in Botswana
- Clothing
-
pay 9.9% less in Botswana
The cost of transportation, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Botswana are more expensive than in South Africa. Expenses including clothing, restaurants, childcare, and housing are lower in Botswana.
If you lived in Botswana instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 9.4% less for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR164.10
|
$7.50
BWP102.39
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR87.25
|
$6.00
BWP81.91
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR17.46
|
$0.83
BWP11.37
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR13.55
|
$0.49
BWP6.67
|
|
pay 4.7% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.12
|
$0.81
BWP11.10
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR67.22
|
$3.37
BWP46.01
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR76.79
|
$5.06
BWP69.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR40.73
|
$2.29
BWP31.29
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR37.10
|
$2.27
BWP31.06
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.38
|
$0.77
BWP10.57
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.29
|
$0.62
BWP8.46
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR11.74
|
$0.88
BWP12.07
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR12.78
|
$0.65
BWP8.82
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.13
|
$0.60
BWP8.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.13
|
$0.55
BWP7.48
|
|
pay 19.2% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR91.24
|
$4.27
BWP58.37
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR956.77
|
$28.18
BWP385.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR376,916.06
|
$22,486.26
BWP307,179.73
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR156.36
|
$19.49
BWP266.22
|
|
pay 1.8% less for housing
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR756.65
|
$90.60
BWP1,237.68
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR6,996.91
|
$254.84
BWP3,481.37
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR5,968.89
|
$149.91
BWP2,047.86
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,470.48
|
$49.21
BWP672.27
|
|
pay 1.9% less for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,184.59
|
$180.24
BWP2,462.24
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR73,773.21
|
$3,740.68
BWP51,100.63
|
|
pay 14.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR38.55
|
$2.25
BWP30.72
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR34.44
|
$2.37
BWP32.37
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR53.12
|
$3.75
BWP51.20
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR539.56
|
$32.19
BWP439.72
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR121.10
|
$6.75
BWP92.15
|
|
pay 9.9% less for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR872.71
|
$44.14
BWP602.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR586.36
|
$22.17
BWP302.79
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,653.21
|
$76.20
BWP1,041.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,488.20
|
$93.16
BWP1,272.60
|
|
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