Cost Of Living in Lesotho 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Lesotho

Whether you're living in Lesotho or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Lesotho is 8,100 LSL. Expenses can range from 1,100 LSL at the minimum level to 54,000 LSL at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Lesotho is 13,000 LSL. Expenditure can range from 4,500 LSL to 72,000 LSL per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Lesotho is 18,000 LSL per month. Families spend anywhere from 6,300 LSL to 120,000 LSL.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Lesotho is 6,000 LSL. Students spend from 900 LSL to 40,000 LSL per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Lesotho

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Lesotho is 85% This means that on average, people spend around 85% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 17% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
77%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

70%

85%

Couple
81%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

74%

89%

Family
89%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

82%

99%

How do people spend their money in Lesotho?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Lesotho typically spend from 14% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average spend on housing is 3,500 LSL with expenditure ranging from 270 LSL to 35,000 LSL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Lesotho ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 580 LSL with 45 LSL and 5,800 LSL being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 90 LSL to 12,000 LSL on commuting with 1,200 LSL being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Lesotho is 2,900 LSL. The cost of groceries can range between 220 LSL to 29,000 LSL. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in Lesotho allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 63 LSL to 8,200 LSL with 820 LSL being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 36 LSL to 4,700 LSL with 470 LSL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 700 LSL per month with 54 LSL being the minimum spent amount and 7,000 LSL being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Lesotho every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Lesotho manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 59% of the surveyed people in Lesotho said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 41% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Lesotho

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 11% to 31% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 19% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 3,600 LSL on average with savings ranging from 280 LSL to 36,000 LSL.

59% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 54% of couples said the same. 49% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Lesotho?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 14% to 33% of their monthly income to savings, with 23% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 2,500 LSL with 280 LSL and 17,000 LSL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 12% to 32% of their monthly income, with 21% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 4,200 LSL with 1,400 LSL and 22,000 LSL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Lesotho can save anywhere between 10% to 29% of their monthly income, with 18% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 5,600 LSL with 1,900 LSL and 36,000 LSL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Lesotho

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Lesotho. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 16% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Lesotho

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Lesotho

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Lesotho?

Around 53% of surveyed residents think that living in Lesotho is affordable with proper budgeting while 47% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Lesotho

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options57%

Few low-cost options43%

Based on the survey, 57% of the people living in Lesotho have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 43% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Lesotho whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes53%

No47%

Based on the survey, 47% of the people living in Lesotho said that they don't have an emergency fund while 53% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Lesotho

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy48%

We asked residents of Lesotho whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 52% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 48% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Lesotho have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 42% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 58% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance42%

Easily manages finances58%

Financial goals of people in Lesotho

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Lesotho, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 38% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 9% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 11% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Lesotho

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Lesotho and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Lesotho is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Lesotho about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Lesotho

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Lesotho

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 26% of the people in Lesotho have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 74% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Lesotho

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 30% of the people's monthly income in Lesotho goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Lesotho pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 15% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 13% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Lesotho

11% of debtors in Lesotho confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 27% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 19% of people and personal loans rose at 40%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Lesotho.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Lesotho

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Lesotho how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Lesotho

Rent Cost in Lesotho

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

980 LSL

1,500 LSL

3,900 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$52

$78

$210

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,500 LSL

2,400 LSL

5,900 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$78

$120

$310

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,000 LSL

2,900 LSL

7,900 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100

$160

$410

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,400 LSL

3,900 LSL

11,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120

$210

$560

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

4,700 LSL

12,000 LSL

24,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$620

$1,200

Townhouse monthly rent cost

3,900 LSL

5,900 LSL

17,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$310

$890

House monthly rent cost

4,700 LSL

12,000 LSL

24,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$620

$1,200

Villa monthly rent cost

5,900 LSL

15,000 LSL

24,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$780

$1,200

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Lesotho ranges between 980 LSL and 3,900 LSL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,500 LSL to 5,900 LSL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,000 LSL and 7,900 LSL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,400 LSL to 11,000 LSL. The average rent of a townhouse in Lesotho is around 5,900 LSL while house rental costs can be as high as 12,000 LSL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 5,900 LSL to 24,000 LSL per month.

Apartment and house prices in Lesotho

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

200,000 LSL

290,000 LSL

590,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10,000

$16,000

$31,000

1-bedroom apartment price

240,000 LSL

390,000 LSL

1.5M LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12,000

$21,000

$78,000

2-bedroom apartment price

390,000 LSL

1.2M LSL

2.4M LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21,000

$62,000

$120,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.3M LSL

2M LSL

5.9M LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$69,000

$100,000

$310,000

Townhouse price

1.7M LSL

3.9M LSL

15M LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$89,000

$210,000

$780,000

House price

2M LSL

12M LSL

17M LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100,000

$620,000

$890,000

Villa price

2.4M LSL

13M LSL

20M LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$690,000

$1M

The average price of a studio apartment in Lesotho can range from 200,000 LSL to 590,000 LSL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 240,000 LSL to 1.5M LSL. A villa can cost you 13M LSL on average with prices ranging from 2.4M LSL to 20M LSL.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Lesotho can be x101 to x201 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x101 multiples of the average monthly salary in Lesotho.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Lesotho is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 40% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Lesotho

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Lesotho

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

68 LSL

490 LSL

3,200 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$26

$170

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

180 LSL

610 LSL

4,000 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.5

$32

$210

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

310 LSL

900 LSL

5,800 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$47

$310

Internet and cable cost

59 LSL

120 LSL

160 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$6.2

$8.3

Mobile phone bill and charges

47 LSL

79 LSL

240 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$4.1

$12

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Lesotho ranges between 68 LSL and 3,200 LSL with average being 490 LSL, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 610 LSL with 180 LSL and 4,000 LSL being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 900 LSL. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 59 LSL to 160 LSL with 120 LSL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 79 LSL but can range between 47 LSL and 240 LSL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Lesotho is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Lesotho

Prices and cost of goods and services in Lesotho

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

12 LSL

24 LSL

39 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.62

$1.2

$2.1

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Lesotho is approximatly 24 LSL with meal cost ranging from 12 LSL to 39 LSL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

39 LSL

59 LSL

120 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$3.1

$6.2

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 39 LSL and 120 LSL with 59 LSL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Lesotho.

Fine dining meal for one price

79 LSL

120 LSL

470 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.1

$6.2

$25

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 79 LSL to 470 LSL with the average cost being 120 LSL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Lesotho.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

9.8 LSL

16 LSL

24 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.52

$0.83

$1.2

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Lesotho is around 16 LSL. Price ranges between 9.8 LSL and 24 LSL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

7.9 LSL

9.4 LSL

12 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.41

$0.50

$0.62

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Lesotho is 9.4 LSL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 12 LSL and the minimum being 7.9 LSL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

5.9 LSL

7.9 LSL

12 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.31

$0.41

$0.62

A dozen eggs costs around 7.9 LSL on average with 5.9 LSL and 12 LSL being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

13 LSL

17 LSL

25 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.71

$0.91

$1.3

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Lesotho is between 13 LSL and 25 LSL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 17 LSL.

Pack of beef price

16 LSL

24 LSL

47 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.83

$1.2

$2.5

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 24 LSL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

6.3 LSL

8.7 LSL

12 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.33

$0.46

$0.65

A bag of rice in Lesotho costs around 8.7 LSL on average with prices rangeing between 6.3 LSL and 12 LSL depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

2.4 LSL

3.1 LSL

5.9 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.12

$0.17

$0.31

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.4 LSL to 5.9 LSL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

4.2 LSL

5.5 LSL

9.1 LSL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.22

$0.29

$0.48

A bag of apples costs 5.5 LSL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Lesotho is around 26%. This means that people spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 1,300 LSL per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 180 LSL and 8,600 LSL depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 1,900 LSL per month. That number can be get as low as 630 LSL or a high as 10,000 LSL. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 1,100 LSL to 21,000 LSL with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Lesotho

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Lesotho

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Lesotho

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Lesotho