2023 Average Income in Botswana

Have you ever wondered whether your wages are above, or below, the 2023 average income in Botswana? Are you getting paid enough for all your hard work?

Here are a few facts and figures that may help give you the answers.

Average salaries in Botswana for 2023

Salaries have not budged much since 2022. Unfortunately, inflation has – and higher food and transport prices mean that the average salary isn’t stretching nearly as far as it did a year ago.

According to salaryexplorer, the 2023 average income in Botswana is BWP 11,700 a month, or BWP 141,000 per year.

Factors affecting Botswana salaries

Of course, the amount you actually earn will depend on what work you do – as well as where.

Salaries are higher in central Gaborone than outside city centres. But you’ll pay more to live in the city, too – so the higher pay is balanced out by a higher cost of living.

Average salaries for different careers and job types

For different types of careers, average salaries range all the way from 2,970 BWP to 52,400 BWP per month.

The top end of the range applies to a small percentage of those working in senior management and executive positions.

As a more accurate reflection of current earning capabilities, as many as half of all employees in Botswana earn 10,800 BWP or less.

For details of 2023 average incomes in Botswana for different job positions and industry sectors, see the search feature and table maintained by paylab.

2023 inflation in Botswana

2022 was a year of market volatility driven by the after effects of the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Inflation yo-yoed from a low of 9.6% in the first quarter of 2022 to a record, mid-year high of 14.6% – the highest it has been since the late 1990s.

By the end of the year, inflation had eased somewhat to 12.6%, around 10% up on 2020 figures.

Botswana isn’t alone. Worldwide, many countries are experiencing high inflation and much higher costs of living in 2023.

Some costs are hit much harder than others. In particular, food and non-alcoholic beverages and transport have been sky-rocketing.

According to Trading Economics, the latest inflation stats – indicating year-on-year price increases across different categories of goods – are as follows:

• food & non-alcoholic beverages: 14%
• alcoholic beverages: 4%
• clothing and footwear: 6%
• transport: 23%
• health and education: 19%
• housing and utilities: 17%
• furnishing and household equipment: 19%

Price increases tend to be the highest in rural areas, with the added cost of transporting goods out from urban centres.

According to Statistics Botswana, inflation in city centres is currently 12.3%, whereas in rural villages, it is 13.3%.

Minimum wage remains at 2022 levels

After an increase in 2022, the minimum monthly wage in Botswana remains at P7.34 per hour.

The only exception is the “retail distributive trades” sector. For this sector, the minimum wage is lower, at BWP 6.34 per hour.

For the agricultural and domestic service sectors, the minimum monthly wage is BWP 1,084.

Officially, minimum wage per month is determined as 4.33 times the weekly wage – if one is specified – or 4.33 times the standard hours per week if an hourly wage is specified.

Updated minimum wage details are available from Mywage.org.

Cost of living in Botswana, 2023

According to the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU), Botswana’s minimum wage does not match living expenses – despite the 2022 increase.

So how much does it cost to live in Botswana?

According to Numbeo (the world’s largest database of living costs), the average, estimated monthly cost of living for a single person in Botswana is BWP 6,062.10, not including rent.

For a family of four, the estimated cost of living – again without considering rent – is BWP 21,669.90.

In practice, your monthly expenses could be a lot lower or higher than the average. This will depend on your lifestyle and where you live – in a city centre, a suburb or a more rural area.

Overall, the cost of living in Botswana is still lower (7.4%) than in South Africa. Rentals are much, much cheaper – by 45.2% on average – than in South Africa.

This is roughly how much you can expect to pay for certain basic food items in Botswana in 2023:

A bottle of wine will set you back about BWP 80.00, whereas 330 ml of imported beer has an average price tag of BWP 22.13. A packet of Marlboro 20s currently costs BWP 50.00.

You’ll pay around BWP 400 for a three-course meal at a decent restaurant. At an international primary school (popular with expat families), educating a child could cost in the region of BWP 62,500 per year.

A full breakdown of example costs is available here.

Budget pressures for Batswana consumers and businesses

The high inflation rate, especially for food and transport, is making it increasingly difficult for consumers to make ends meet.

Business recovery has also been slow, especially in the country’s two largest sectors – diamonds and tourism.

As a result of the pressures, Botswana’s household debt is pegged at around BWP 44.9 billion.

An increasingly restrictive approach to approving loans by the country’s banks means many consumers and small businesses must look elsewhere for relief.

Need quick access to funds in Gaborone?

If you’re struggling to make ends meet on your 2022 average income in Botswana (or need funds to exploit an opportunity), consider an asset-based loan from Lamna.

We offer fast, discreet loans against the value of a wide range of assets, from luxury watches and jewellery to vehicles or valuable works of art.

For more information about using an asset to secure a short-term loan, contact our Gaborone office on 71 388 088 or simply complete and submit our online application form.