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Compare the cost of your home country to the actual living costs in Lesotho, simply select your home currency and see the difference!

All data is kept up to date by local members and actual students. Our latest update was on: 30th of June 2020

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Food Price in Le
12 eggs dozen, large 12.50 SLL
1 beer pint in local shops, markets 7 SLL
1 kg of tomatoes 8.50 SLL
Full chicken 2kg 38.75 SLL
1litre 100% fruit juice 8.50 SLL
1 package of cigarettes imported brands 25 SLL
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples 7.50 SLL
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality 48.95 SLL
2.5 liters of Coca-Cola 0.95 SLL
1 Bread loaf standard 9.50 SLL
Whole fat Yogurt. 500ml 12 SLL
1x6 pack Dardanelle tuna 18.50 SLL
Heinz baked beans 1 tin 8 SLL
1.5 kg Sugar 10 SLL
2 liter cooking oil 20 SLL
Yum-yum noodles per pack 2.00 SLL
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes 5.50 SLL
1 liter milk 8.50 SLL
Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away 25 SLL
Housing
Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in flat 165 SLL
Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month) 145 SLL
Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf… altogether) 58.50 SLL
House Cleaning fee per day 105 SLL
Large Gas heater price range upwards. 200 SLL
Original branded Electric Fans 200 SLL
Original branded Electric kettle. 120 SLL
40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set 2000 SLL
Single bed Blankets 120 SLL
Personal Care
Avon for women and men cologne 100 SLL
Ladies hair plaiting. 60 SLL
Ladies Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampoons) 18 SLL
Men's haircut 40 SLL
Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Pain killers box of 12 dosses 24.50 SLL
Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data and messages 65 SLL
1 month of gym subscription. 105 SLL
Earphones original (Samsung. iPhone) 90 SLL
Unisex Loris perfume 30 SLL
Gadgets maintenance and repairs (cellphone, laptops, tablets...) starting price. 100 SLL
Smart phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, IPhone) price range upwards 1000 SLL
Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell etc.) price range upwards 3000 SLL
Entertainment
Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks 120 SLL
Go carting 30mins 120 SLL
Movie House 3d cinema 30 SLL
Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep ...(per ticket) 15 SLL
Photo shoot 120 SLL
Cappuccino / expresso/ coffee 12.50 SLL
3 course dinner local restaurant two people 96.50 SLL
3 course dinner classy, exotic restaurant two people 150 SLL
Play station 4 console without games. 2000 SLL
Spalding Basketball 200 SLL
Original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls 500 SLL
Transportation
Taxi fare on average 5-10km 45 SLL
Public transport per trip one way maximum fare 30 SLL
1 liter petrol/diesel 6.50 SLL
1 day rent a car cost 140 SLL
Driver’s license 2300 SLL
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar) 150 SLL
1 pair of men’s formal shoes 215 SLL
1 pair original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) 280 SLL
1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) 135.79 SLL
Ladies formal shoes original and durable 120 SLL
Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New balance) 150 SLL

Overall Cost of Living

Cost of living here is very cheap. Renting a one bedroom flat in the city centre of Nouakchott, the biggest city with the biggest university, costs around $350USD. Utilities amount to half of that in addition, and other costs (food, clothing, transportation, leisure) are again about $100USD per month. This adds up to a total of a $450USD budget, which can be greatly reduced by choosing to stay in a hostel provided for students. The average budget in USD in Lesotho is as following:

  • 450USD per month for a single person;
  • 800USD per month for a couple;
  • 1200USD per month for a family with two children will do.

1.      Clothing: Cost is low for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. Average price for an international brand of mens jeans is USD$20, a quality international brand of running shoes USD$50, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear USD$60 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is USD$30.

2.      Communication: Cost is average for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile service provider tariff and data costs. Average price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is USD$30, while the benchmark mobile tariff is USD$0.10 per minute.

3.      Groceries: Cost is reasonably low for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit and vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. Average grocery prices in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is USD$1, 1 kg oranges USD$2, 1 head lettuce USD$0.50, 1 kg potatos USD$2.50, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast USD$8, 1 kg cheddar cheese USD$13, 1 dozen large eggs USD$2, 500g loaf white bread USD$1.50, 1 L full cream milk USD$1.90, and 1.5 L water USD$0.90.

4.      Healthcare: Cost is average for general heath care, doctor visits, hospital stays, non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. Average healthcare cost for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is USD$45, and a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs is USD$1,200.

5.      Transport: Cost is average for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), car hire, public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. Average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is USD$1.02, while the benchmark car sedan purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy vehicle (1.4 L) is USD$15 000.

Monthly Budget

Those interested in simple living should budget between $350USD or less monthly. Generally, this budget allows for bus rides and the occasional taxi, big trips to the farmers' market and a few restaurant meals each month. While you can choose to live in relative luxury, employing full-time housekeepers, commuting by car, enjoying exquisite homes and consuming imported goods such lifestyles can easily amount to $450 or more monthly.