Travel budget and cost of living in Gaborone (Botswana) how much does a trip cost?

Gaborone travel budget

Gaborone: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Gaborone

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Gaborone for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Gaborone compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Gaborone in 2025 is 42% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Gaborone in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Gaborone by expense type

Restaurant budget in Gaborone

Lunch

$ 10.3/person
($ 3.7 to $ 20)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 15/person
($ 12 to $ 31)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 6/person
($ 5.6 to $ 9)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Local beer

$ 2.2 for 500ml
($ 1.2 to $ 3.4)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 2.1 for 330ml
($ 1.4 to $ 3)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 2.3/cup
($ 0.9 to $ 3)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.7 to $ 1.5)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 1.2)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Gaborone

1-star hotel

$ 43/night
($ 42 to $ 42)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

2-star hotel

$ 97/night
($ 43 to $ 379)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

3-star hotel

$ 108/night
($ 33 to $ 600)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 243

4-star hotel

$ 186/night
($ 56 to $ 770)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 345

5-star hotel

$ 350/night
($ 268 to $ 971)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 574

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 75/month
($ 75 to $ 1029)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 176

Room with kitchen

$ 108/month
($ 40 to $ 436)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 263

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 125/month
($ 39 to $ 689)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222

Cottage or guest house

$ 94/month
($ 38 to $ 404)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Family room

$ 280/month
($ 50 to $ 962)

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30% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 216

Supermarket food budget in Gaborone

Milk

$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 1.9)

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41% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.7/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.4

Rice

$ 1.9/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 2.3/12 eggs
($ 1.9 to $ 3.4)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 5.2/kg
($ 3 to $ 7.3)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 1.9/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1.6/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 2.2)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.5/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 1.6)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 0.8
($ 0.6 to $ 1)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Gaborone

Bus ticket

$ 0.6/ticket
($ 0.6 to $ 0.8)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.4/km
($ 2.2 to $ 4.5)

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42% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.3)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 0.7
($ 0.6 to $ 2.2)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Car hire

$ 32/24hrs
($ 19 to $ 57)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 83

Leisure activity budget in Gaborone

Cinema

$ 6.7/ticket
($ 5.2 to $ 9)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Tennis

$ 21/hr
($ 7.5 to $ 27)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Gaborone

Cigarettes

$ 3.7/pack
($ 3.4 to $ 5.2)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.1

Levi's jeans

$ 47
($ 31 to $ 61)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 25
($ 15 to $ 46)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Plane ticket budget

London → Gaborone

$ 1223
(fair price: $ 1057)

Dublin → Gaborone

$ 1254
(fair price: $ 1126)

Manchester → Gaborone

$ 1245
(fair price: $ 1119)

New York City → Gaborone

$ 1562
(fair price: $ 1404)

Sydney → Gaborone

$ 1823
(fair price: $ 1521)

Edinburgh → Gaborone

$ 1386
(fair price: $ 1170)

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