Gaborone
Gaborone is the low-rise, easygoing capital of Botswana a planned city that grew with the country's diamond-funded stability, set on the edge of the Kalahari. More administrative hub than tourist draw, it is safe, English-speaking, and orderly, with a small but growing café-and-arts scene around the CBD and the upscale Phakalane estate. Its real value is as a calm, well-run base for one of the planet's greatest safari regions the Okavango Delta and Chobe are a flight north.
In Gaborone, Botswana, local salaries average around $700/mo and rent starts at $600/mo (about $1,290/mo all-in). Safety 74/100, a mild, fairly pleasant climate — compare visas and full costs on Jonzy.
Best for: Safari & wildlife lovers, Stable, safe African base, English-speaking Africa, Diamond & finance sector.
- Rent from $600/mo, about $1,290/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 74/100 · Internet 66/100 · a mild, fairly pleasant climate.
- Visa: Easy process, no formal waiting period.
- Local salaries average around $700/mo, with a solid, growing expat community.
Cost of living in Gaborone
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $600/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $320/mo |
| Transport | $60/mo |
| Healthcare | $80/mo |
| Utilities | $90/mo |
| Other essentials | $140/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $1,290/mo |
How Gaborone stacks up
- Rent eats about 47% of a one-person monthly budget in Gaborone — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$1,290/mo all-in, Gaborone runs about 8% cheaper than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$700/mo) covers roughly 54% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is climate (76/100); the weakest is healthcare (64/100).
Is Gaborone right for you?
Highlights
- Straightforward long-stay setup — little to no processing wait.
Quality of life in Gaborone
- Safety: 74/100
- Internet speed: 66/100
- Climate: 76/100
- Healthcare: 64/100
- Expat community: 64/100
Taxes in Gaborone
0% on foreign income
Living in Botswana
Botswana is one of Africa's most stable, safe, and best-governed countries a sparsely populated democracy that has turned diamond wealth into steady development. English is an official language, most Western nationalities enter visa-free for 90 days, and foreign-sourced income is untaxed. Beyond the calm capital lie some of the continent's greatest wildlife areas the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari, and Chobe.
Gaborone relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Gaborone?
Budget roughly $1,290/mo all-in for one person in Gaborone — rent from $600/mo, plus food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras. It has a solid, growing expat community, so ready-made shortcuts on where to live exist.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Gaborone?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Gaborone: rent from $600, food $320, transport $60, healthcare $80, utilities $90, and other essentials $140 — about $1,290/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Gaborone a good place to relocate?
Gaborone has a mild, fairly pleasant climate and a solid, growing expat community, with an easy visa process (no formal waiting period). Those are catalog averages — Jonzy ranks Gaborone against 355 other cities for your specific income, passport, and priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Gaborone?
Long-stay relocation routes for Gaborone depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Investor Residence Permit" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Botswana against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gaborone?
Core costs for one person run about $1,290/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $1,800/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $700/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Gaborone best for?
Gaborone tends to suit safari & wildlife lovers, stable, safe african base, english-speaking africa and diamond & finance sector — based on its cost profile (about $1,290/mo all-in), 66/100 internet, 74/100 safety, and a solid, growing expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Gaborone expensive to live in?
At about $1,290/mo all-in for one person, Gaborone sits around the middle of the catalog on cost — about 8% below the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Gaborone safe to live in?
Gaborone scores 74/100 on Jonzy's safety index, reasonably safe by catalog standards. For families specifically it rates 72/100. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Gaborone good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 66/100 — solid for everyday remote work, with coworking as backup. The expat and nomad scene rates 64/100, and work-life balance 82/100. Combined with ~$1,290/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Gaborone; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Gaborone?
Gaborone scores 76/100 for climate — a comfortable climate for most of the year. It logs roughly 290 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Gaborone?
Typical tax snapshot for Gaborone, Botswana: 0% on foreign income. Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.