Cost of Living Comparison Between Botswana and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 18.9% higher than in Botswana (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 29.9% higher than in Botswana | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 97.7% higher than in Botswana | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 16.3% higher than in Botswana | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 12.8% higher than in Botswana | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 67.9% higher than in Botswana | |
Restaurants | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
P137.50 (R167.79) |
P147.51 (R180.00) |
+7.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
P400.00 (R488.10) |
P573.65 (R700.00) |
+43.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
P80.00 (R97.62) |
P77.85 (R95.00) |
-2.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
P26.00 (R31.73) |
P32.78 (R40.00) |
+26.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
P32.50 (R39.66) |
P40.97 (R50.00) |
+26.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
P32.07 (R39.14) |
P31.60 (R38.56) |
-1.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
P10.56 (R12.88) |
P15.38 (R18.76) |
+45.7 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
P6.00 (R7.32) |
P12.04 (R14.69) |
+100.6 % |
Markets | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
P19.99 (R24.39) |
P16.34 (R19.94) |
-18.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
P10.88 (R13.28) |
P13.51 (R16.49) |
+24.2 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
P11.39 (R13.90) |
P10.93 (R13.34) |
-4.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
P32.97 (R40.24) |
P34.21 (R41.75) |
+3.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
P39.69 (R48.43) |
P51.76 (R63.16) |
+30.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
P29.48 (R35.97) |
P32.03 (R39.09) |
+8.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
P32.16 (R39.24) |
P47.52 (R57.99) |
+47.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
P9.48 (R11.57) |
P11.23 (R13.70) |
+18.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
P8.65 (R10.56) |
P10.54 (R12.86) |
+21.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
P12.19 (R14.87) |
P10.70 (R13.06) |
-12.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
P10.01 (R12.22) |
P11.06 (R13.50) |
+10.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
P8.36 (R10.21) |
P9.00 (R10.98) |
+7.6 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
P7.98 (R9.73) |
P9.19 (R11.21) |
+15.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
P17.60 (R21.48) |
P17.15 (R20.93) |
-2.6 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
P12.53 (R15.30) |
P15.16 (R18.49) |
+20.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
P59.95 (R73.15) |
P69.66 (R85.00) |
+16.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
P19.58 (R23.89) |
P20.02 (R24.43) |
+2.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
P24.24 (R29.58) |
P26.75 (R32.65) |
+10.4 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
P50.00 (R61.01) |
P49.17 (R60.00) |
-1.7 % |
Transportation | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
P9.00 (R10.98) |
P20.49 (R25.00) |
+127.6 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
P410.00 (R500.31) |
P819.50 (R1,000.00) |
+99.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
P8.50 (R10.37) |
P13.11 (R16.00) |
+54.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
P56.33 (R68.73) |
P19.78 (R24.14) |
-64.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
P40.00 (R48.81) |
P103.26 (R126.00) |
+158.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
P18.74 (R22.87) |
P20.18 (R24.62) |
+7.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
P420,000.00 (R512,508.07) |
P482,685.08 (R589,000.00) |
+14.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
P277,291.36 (R338,366.81) |
P448,911.59 (R547,787.65) |
+61.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
P825.00 (R1,006.71) |
P1,824.92 (R2,226.87) |
+121.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
P203.33 (R248.12) |
P465.53 (R568.07) |
+129.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
P601.50 (R733.98) |
P547.06 (R667.55) |
-9.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
P493.33 (R601.99) |
P466.65 (R569.44) |
-5.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
P225.00 (R274.56) |
P161.05 (R196.52) |
-28.4 % |
| Swimming Pool (Indoor, Adult Admission, Single Visit) |
? (?) |
P22.13 (R27.00) |
|
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
P85.00 (R103.72) |
P98.34 (R120.00) |
+15.7 % |
| Netflix Premium or Equivalent (4K Video Streaming, Ad-Free, Monthly) |
P138.98 (R169.59) |
P187.67 (R229.00) |
+35.0 % |
Childcare | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
P1,969.64 (R2,403.47) |
P3,074.90 (R3,752.16) |
+56.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
P67,975.00 (R82,946.99) |
P99,185.08 (R121,031.32) |
+45.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
P675.00 (R823.67) |
P731.35 (R892.43) |
+8.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
P281.50 (R343.50) |
P458.80 (R559.85) |
+63.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
P1,062.50 (R1,296.52) |
P1,380.14 (R1,684.13) |
+29.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
P1,200.00 (R1,464.31) |
P1,210.60 (R1,477.24) |
+0.9 % |
Personal Care and Household Services | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Men's Haircut (Standard Barbershop) |
P150.00 (R183.04) |
P196.68 (R240.00) |
+31.1 % |
| Women's Haircut (Wash and Basic Cut) |
P385.00 (R469.80) |
P327.80 (R400.00) |
-14.9 % |
| Household Cleaning Service (Per Hour) |
? (?) |
P65.56 (R80.00) |
|
Rent Per Month | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
P3,920.00 (R4,783.41) |
P6,544.86 (R7,986.42) |
+67.0 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
P2,861.82 (R3,492.15) |
P5,416.07 (R6,609.00) |
+89.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
P6,916.80 (R8,440.27) |
P12,996.15 (R15,858.65) |
+87.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
P4,526.67 (R5,523.70) |
P11,066.41 (R13,503.87) |
+144.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
P2,583.80 (R3,152.90) |
P1,363.82 (R1,664.21) |
-47.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
P1,621.66 (R1,978.84) |
P977.47 (R1,192.77) |
-39.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Botswana Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
P9,381.91 (R11,448.35) |
P20,467.97 (R24,976.19) |
+118.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.33 | 11.22 | -1.0 % |
| Last update: | 6 November 2026 | 15 November 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 22 | 468 | |
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