Living in Gaborone
Botswana · temperate
Gaborone is a mid-sized city of roughly 270,000 people near the mountains in Botswana. The climate is temperate. It keeps a balanced mix of locals and visitors with average safety for the region. A typical month of living costs around $1,100. Healthcare is reasonable, and the internet is generally reliable. People come here for art and culture, nightlife, food and eating out.
By 2030 something concrete is due to change here: Trans-Kalahari railway to the Namibian ports. This is one of the places where living off-grid genuinely works, in law and in space. Income earned abroad is generally not taxed here.
Gaborone at a glance: cost, climate, safety
Who tends to love living in Gaborone
- Making a budget stretch further
- Anyone into art and culture
- Anyone into nightlife
All parameters
💉 Childhood vaccines: Compulsory by law
Compulsory, well funded and well covered: Botswana is the rare case where the law and the service match.
If you skip them: Fines up to 5.000 pula, and up to twelve months in jail.
Exemptions: Medical only.
Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024
➖ Popularity & prices: Steady
Accommodation prices have moved about +16% in the last 5 years.
Estimates, for orientation only.
🔭 Where this place is heading
Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.
⚠️ The downsides of living in Gaborone
- •Tap water isn't reliably drinkable, budget for filtered or bottled.
Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.
Where is Gaborone?
₿ Spend Bitcoin around Gaborone
Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.
Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Gaborone, Botswana?
A typical month in Gaborone costs around $1,100, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.
Is Gaborone, Botswana safe?
Arcadia rates personal safety in Gaborone at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable.
What is the internet like in Gaborone?
Internet in Gaborone is rated 3 out of 5 for remote work, which is reasonable. Starlink is available in this country.
What is the weather like in Gaborone?
Gaborone has a temperate climate. Mountains are close by.
Is healthcare good in Gaborone?
Healthcare in Gaborone is rated 3 out of 5 overall, which is reasonable. Public healthcare is 3/5 and private healthcare 2/5.
How easy is it to move to Botswana?
Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Botswana at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.
Is Gaborone actually right for you?
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