Cost Of Living For a Student in Lesotho 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: LSL
Average monthly spending for students in Lesotho
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Lesotho?
Students in Lesotho spend around 6,000 LSL per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 900 LSL or as high as 40,000 LSL. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Lesotho
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 LSL | 59,000 LSL | 79,000 LSL |
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 LSL | 1,500 LSL | 3,900 LSL |
1-bedroom apartment
1,500 LSL | 2,400 LSL | 5,900 LSL |
2-bedroom apartment
2,000 LSL | 2,900 LSL | 7,900 LSL |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
200,000 LSL | 290,000 LSL | 590,000 LSL |
1-bedroom apartment
240,000 LSL | 390,000 LSL | 1.5M LSL |
2-bedroom apartment
390,000 LSL | 1.2M LSL | 2.4M LSL |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
1,200 LSL | 1,500 LSL | 2,000 LSL |
Double Bed
790 LSL | 1,200 LSL | 1,500 LSL |
Single Bed
690 LSL | 910 LSL | 1,200 LSL |
Living Room
1,300 LSL | 1,700 LSL | 5,900 LSL |
Dining Table
590 LSL | 790 LSL | 1,500 LSL |
Sofa or Couch
790 LSL | 1,100 LSL | 2,400 LSL |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
790 LSL | 1,200 LSL | 2,400 LSL |
Fridge or Freezer
690 LSL | 1,100 LSL | 1,500 LSL |
Washing Machine
910 LSL | 1,300 LSL | 2,400 LSL |
Stove or Cooker
840 LSL | 1,100 LSL | 1,500 LSL |
Mobile Phone
980 LSL | 1,200 LSL | 1,700 LSL |
Laptop or Computer
1,100 LSL | 1,300 LSL | 2,400 LSL |
How do students spend their money in Lesotho?
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 | $11 220 LSL |
AVERAGE | $76 1,400 LSL |
HIGH | $500 9,600 LSL |
| Per Month |
Students in Lesotho 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 LSL with expenditure ranging from 220 LSL to 9,600 LSL. 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 | $1.9 36 LSL |
AVERAGE | $13 240 LSL |
HIGH | $84 1,600 LSL |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Lesotho ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 240 LSL with 36 LSL and 1,600 LSL being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
LOW | $3.3 63 LSL |
AVERAGE | $22 420 LSL |
HIGH | $150 2,800 LSL |
| 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 63 LSL to 2,800 LSL in a month on commuting with 420 LSL being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
LOW | $9.5 180 LSL |
AVERAGE | $63 1,200 LSL |
HIGH | $420 8,000 LSL |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Lesotho is 1,200 LSL. The cost of groceries can range between 180 LSL to 8,000 LSL. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
LOW | $2.8 54 LSL |
AVERAGE | $19 360 LSL |
HIGH | $130 2,400 LSL |
| Per Month |
Students in Lesotho allocate 5% to 11% 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 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 54 LSL to 2,400 LSL with 360 LSL 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 | $2.4 45 LSL |
AVERAGE | $16 300 LSL |
HIGH | $100 2,000 LSL |
| 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 45 LSL to 2,000 LSL with 300 LSL 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 schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
LOW | $9 170 LSL |
AVERAGE | $60 1,100 LSL |
HIGH | $400 7,600 LSL |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,100 LSL per month with 170 LSL being the minimum spent amount and 7,600 LSL being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
LOW | $7.1 130 LSL |
AVERAGE | $47 900 LSL |
HIGH | $310 6,000 LSL |
| 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 Lesotho
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Lesotho?
Around 53% of surveyed students 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 students 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 students 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 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 Lesotho whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes53%
No47%
Based on the survey, 47% of the students 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 student guardians and parents in 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 students 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Lesotho
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Lesotho
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
980 LSL | 1,500 LSL | 3,900 LSL |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
1,500 LSL | 2,400 LSL | 5,900 LSL |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
2,000 LSL | 2,900 LSL | 7,900 LSL |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
2,400 LSL | 3,900 LSL | 11,000 LSL |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
4,700 LSL | 12,000 LSL | 24,000 LSL |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
3,900 LSL | 5,900 LSL | 17,000 LSL |
House monthly rent cost
4,700 LSL | 12,000 LSL | 24,000 LSL |
Villa monthly rent cost
5,900 LSL | 15,000 LSL | 24,000 LSL |
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 |
1-bedroom apartment price
240,000 LSL | 390,000 LSL | 1.5M LSL |
2-bedroom apartment price
390,000 LSL | 1.2M LSL | 2.4M LSL |
3-bedroom apartment price
$69,000 | $100,000 | $310,000 |
Townhouse price
1.7M LSL | 3.9M LSL | 15M LSL |
$89,000 | $210,000 | $780,000 |
House price
$100,000 | $620,000 | $890,000 |
Villa price
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.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Lesotho 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 | x101 monthly income | 201 |
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
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
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.
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 Lesotho
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Lesotho
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 240 LSL. The cost of internet and WiFi 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
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
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
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
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
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
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
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..
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Lesotho is around 26%. This means that students 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 students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 180 LSL to 8,000 LSL with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.