Al-Nur School
Verified
GaboroneAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Country guide
Overview
Botswana🇧🇼
At a Glance
How Botswana compares across key indices
Cost of Living
39 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
58/100
Healthcare
49/100
Quality of Life
107/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Botswana
Cost of Living
39
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
29
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
39
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
41
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Moderate RiskHow safe residents feel in Botswana - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
58/100
Crime Index
45/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Botswana
Botswana has 25 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $776 in Mochudi to $944 in Gaborone. Mochudi leads on safety, scoring 63/100. Palapye ranks highest for quality of life at 114/200.
đź’¸Most Affordable
Mochudi
$776/mo
Safest
Mochudi
63/100
Best Quality of Life
Palapye
114/200
Best Healthcare
Gaborone
55/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
25 of 25 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaborone | $944 | 57/100 | 112/200 | 55/100 | 39 |
| Francistown | $806 | 61/100 | 113/200 | 47/100 | 33 |
| Mogoditshane | $799 | 61/100 | 113/200 | 46/100 | 32 |
| Maun | $798 | 61/100 | 113/200 | 46/100 | 32 |
| Molepolole | $792 | 62/100 | 114/200 | 46/100 | 31 |
| Serowe | $780 | 62/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Tlokweng | $780 | 62/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Palapye | $777 | 62/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Mochudi | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Mahalapye | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Kanye | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Selebi-Phikwe | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Letlhakane | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Ramotswa | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Lobatse | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Mmopone | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Thamaga | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Mosopa | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Tonota | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Bobonong | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Gabane | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Ghanzi | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Jwaneng | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Tutume | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
| Janeng | $776 | 63/100 | 114/200 | 45/100 | 30 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
49 verified school profiles across 10 cities in Botswana — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Ambrose Academy
Verified
GaboroneAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Botlhale Cambridge International School
Verified
GaboroneAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Clifton School
Verified
FrancistownAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Crescent School
Verified
LobatseAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Curro Baobab School
Verified
GaboroneAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
25 more verified schools in Botswana are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Botswana
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Environment
CleanAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Botswana
Pollution Index
38/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
18.9ug/m3
Moderate
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Botswana, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Botswana?
Botswana has a cost of living index of 39 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $806 in Francistown and reach $944 in Gaborone.
What is the cheapest city in Botswana for expats?
Francistown is the most affordable city in Botswana in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $806 for a single person including rent. Gaborone is the next most affordable at $944/mo.
Is Botswana safe for expats?
Botswana has a safety index of 58/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Francistown scores highest on safety at 61/100.
What is the best city in Botswana for expats and digital nomads?
Francistown ranks highest for quality of life in Botswana, scoring 113/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $806/mo for a single person.
How good is healthcare in Botswana?
Botswana scores 49/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is Botswana cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Botswana's cost of living is roughly 61% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 71% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to Botswana
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Weekly articles
Get the Freedom Abroad weekly
Three reviewed articles a week on practical relocation decisions, including countries like Botswana when there is something useful to say.
Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
Freedom Abroad helps you figure out the part nobody talks about: how to actually build a life in another country. Films, tools, and data. No fluff.
Learn about our mission