Cost of living comparison
Botswana is 20.7% more expensive than Zambia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.2% more in Botswana
- Groceries
-
pay 4.8% less in Botswana
- Transportation
-
pay 51.9% more in Botswana
- Housing
-
pay 5.0% less in Botswana
- Childcare
-
pay 20.6% less in Botswana
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 53.7% more in Botswana
- Clothing
-
pay 38.6% more in Botswana
The cost of entertainment and sports, transportation, clothing, and restaurants in Botswana are more expensive than in Zambia. Expenses including childcare, housing, and groceries are lower in Botswana.
If you lived in Botswana instead of Zambia, you would:
pay 31.2% more for restaurants
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW207.16
|
$7.50
BWP102.39
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW109.78
|
$6.00
BWP81.91
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW20.50
|
$0.83
BWP11.37
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW9.50
|
$0.49
BWP6.67
|
|
pay 4.8% less for groceries
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW21.25
|
$0.81
BWP11.10
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW104.44
|
$3.37
BWP46.01
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW139.39
|
$5.06
BWP69.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW55.29
|
$2.29
BWP31.29
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW51.61
|
$2.27
BWP31.06
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW34.50
|
$0.77
BWP10.57
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW17.34
|
$0.62
BWP8.46
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW36.35
|
$0.88
BWP12.07
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW16.18
|
$0.65
BWP8.82
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW27.46
|
$0.60
BWP8.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW19.36
|
$0.55
BWP7.48
|
|
pay 51.9% more for transportation
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW136.90
|
$4.27
BWP58.37
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW1,063.96
|
$28.18
BWP385.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW229,954.14
|
$22,486.26
BWP307,179.73
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW348.46
|
$19.49
BWP266.22
|
|
pay 5.0% less for housing
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW3,617.41
|
$90.60
BWP1,237.68
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW6,159.94
|
$254.84
BWP3,481.37
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW3,302.53
|
$149.91
BWP2,047.86
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW2,398.84
|
$49.21
BWP672.27
|
|
pay 20.6% less for childcare
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW5,078.81
|
$180.24
BWP2,462.24
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW188,755.18
|
$3,740.68
BWP51,100.63
|
|
pay 53.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW27.78
|
$2.25
BWP30.72
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW59.57
|
$2.37
BWP32.37
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW71.51
|
$3.75
BWP51.20
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW1,183.94
|
$32.19
BWP439.72
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW100.53
|
$6.75
BWP92.15
|
|
pay 38.6% more for clothing
|
Zambia
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW529.60
|
$44.14
BWP602.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW539.63
|
$22.17
BWP302.79
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,590.59
|
$76.20
BWP1,041.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW2,377.57
|
$93.16
BWP1,272.60
|
|
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