Cost Of Living For a Student in Botswana 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: BWP
Average monthly spending for students in Botswana
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Botswana?
Students in Botswana spend around 5,900 BWP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 890 BWP or as high as 39,000 BWP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Botswana
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 29,000 BWP | 59,000 BWP | 79,000 BWP |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 980 BWP | 1,500 BWP | 3,900 BWP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,500 BWP | 2,400 BWP | 5,900 BWP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2,000 BWP | 2,900 BWP | 7,900 BWP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 200,000 BWP | 290,000 BWP | 590,000 BWP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 240,000 BWP | 390,000 BWP | 1.5M BWP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 390,000 BWP | 1.2M BWP | 2.4M BWP |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,200 BWP | 1,500 BWP | 2,000 BWP |
Double Bed
| 790 BWP | 1,200 BWP | 1,500 BWP |
Single Bed
| 690 BWP | 910 BWP | 1,200 BWP |
Living Room
| 1,300 BWP | 1,700 BWP | 5,900 BWP |
Dining Table
| 590 BWP | 790 BWP | 1,500 BWP |
Sofa or Couch
| 790 BWP | 1,100 BWP | 2,400 BWP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 790 BWP | 1,200 BWP | 2,400 BWP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 690 BWP | 1,100 BWP | 1,500 BWP |
Washing Machine
| 910 BWP | 1,300 BWP | 2,400 BWP |
Stove or Cooker
| 840 BWP | 1,100 BWP | 1,500 BWP |
Mobile Phone
| 980 BWP | 1,200 BWP | 1,700 BWP |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,100 BWP | 1,300 BWP | 2,400 BWP |
How do students spend their money in Botswana?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $16 210 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $100 1,400 BWP |
| HIGH | $690 9,400 BWP |
| Per Month |
Students in Botswana typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,400 BWP with expenditure ranging from 210 BWP to 9,400 BWP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $2.6 36 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $17 230 BWP |
| HIGH | $110 1,600 BWP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Botswana ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 230 BWP with 36 BWP and 1,600 BWP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $4.5 62 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $30 410 BWP |
| HIGH | $200 2,700 BWP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 62 BWP to 2,700 BWP in a month on commuting with 410 BWP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $13 180 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $86 1,200 BWP |
| HIGH | $570 7,800 BWP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Botswana is 1,200 BWP. The cost of groceries can range between 180 BWP to 7,800 BWP. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $3.9 53 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $26 350 BWP |
| HIGH | $170 2,300 BWP |
| Per Month |
Students in Botswana allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 53 BWP to 2,300 BWP with 350 BWP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $3.2 44 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $21 290 BWP |
| HIGH | $140 2,000 BWP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 44 BWP to 2,000 BWP with 290 BWP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $12 170 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $81 1,100 BWP |
| HIGH | $540 7,400 BWP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,100 BWP per month with 170 BWP being the minimum spent amount and 7,400 BWP being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $9.7 130 BWP |
| AVERAGE | $64 880 BWP |
| HIGH | $430 5,900 BWP |
| Per Month |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Botswana
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Botswana?
Around 54% of surveyed students think that living in Botswana is affordable with proper budgeting while 46% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Botswana
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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options54%
Few low-cost options46%
Based on the survey, 54% of the students living in Botswana have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 46% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students of Botswana whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes50%
No50%
Based on the survey, 50% of the students living in Botswana said that they don't have an emergency fund while 50% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Botswana
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 Leteracy49%
We asked student guardians and parents in Botswana whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 51% 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 49% 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 students of Botswana have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 54% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 46% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance54%
Easily manages finances46%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Botswana
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Botswana
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 980 BWP | 1,500 BWP | 3,900 BWP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,500 BWP | 2,400 BWP | 5,900 BWP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,000 BWP | 2,900 BWP | 7,900 BWP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,400 BWP | 3,900 BWP | 11,000 BWP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,700 BWP | 12,000 BWP | 24,000 BWP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 3,900 BWP | 5,900 BWP | 17,000 BWP |
House monthly rent cost
| 4,700 BWP | 12,000 BWP | 24,000 BWP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 5,900 BWP | 15,000 BWP | 24,000 BWP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Botswana ranges between 980 BWP and 3,900 BWP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,500 BWP to 5,900 BWP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,000 BWP and 7,900 BWP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,400 BWP to 11,000 BWP. The average rent of a townhouse in Botswana is around 5,900 BWP while house rental costs can be as high as 12,000 BWP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 5,900 BWP to 24,000 BWP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Botswana
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 200,000 BWP | 290,000 BWP | 590,000 BWP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 240,000 BWP | 390,000 BWP | 1.5M BWP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 390,000 BWP | 1.2M BWP | 2.4M BWP |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $95,000 | $140,000 | $430,000 |
Townhouse price
| 1.7M BWP | 3.9M BWP | 15M BWP |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Botswana can range from 200,000 BWP to 590,000 BWP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 240,000 BWP to 1.5M BWP. A villa can cost you 13M BWP on average with prices ranging from 2.4M BWP to 20M BWP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Botswana will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 35 | x99 monthly income | 199 |
Property prices in Botswana can be x99 to x199 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x99 multiples of the average monthly salary in Botswana.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Botswana 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.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
28% 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 Botswana
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Botswana
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 230 BWP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 59 BWP to 160 BWP with 120 BWP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 79 BWP but can range between 47 BWP and 240 BWP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Botswana 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 Botswana
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Botswana
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Botswana is approximatly 24 BWP with meal cost ranging from 12 BWP to 39 BWP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 39 BWP and 120 BWP with 59 BWP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Botswana.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 79 BWP to 470 BWP with the average cost being 120 BWP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Botswana.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Botswana is around 16 BWP. Price ranges between 9.8 BWP and 24 BWP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Botswana is 9.4 BWP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 12 BWP and the minimum being 7.9 BWP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 7.9 BWP on average with 5.9 BWP and 12 BWP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Botswana is between 13 BWP and 25 BWP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 17 BWP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 24 BWP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Botswana costs around 8.7 BWP on average with prices rangeing between 6.3 BWP and 12 BWP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.4 BWP to 5.9 BWP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 5.5 BWP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Botswana is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 180 BWP to 7,800 BWP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
