Tlokweng vs Hillcrest: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Hillcrest costs roughly 89% less than Tlokweng. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Tlokweng is approximately 90% less expensive than Hillcrest based on cost of living including rent. This makes Tlokweng a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Tlokweng has a FIRE Score of 77/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Tlokweng is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Tlokweng
Tlokweng is a quietly compelling bet for expats who want Gaborone's conveniences without its price tag: a city-centre one-bedroom runs $370/mo and a comfortable single lifestyle lands at $1,900/mo, while the overall expat score of 75/100 and FIRE score of 77/100 suggest the numbers work harder than the postcode. The catch is infrastructure and integration: 15 Mbps average internet, limited English proficiency, and a retiree score of 55/100 mean this is not a soft landing for everyone. Treat it as a low-cost, medium-community base for remote workers and budget-focused savers, not a turnkey retirement paradise.
About Botswana
Retirees with a dedicated income stream and low expectations for healthcare infrastructure fit here: rent under $300/mo and a clear Retiree Residence Permit offset a middling 45.3 healthcare score and 61-year life expectancy. No digital nomad visa and a 25% income tax rule out remote workers chasing tax efficiency. Bad fit: anyone needing a large expat network, fast PR, or serious medical care nearby.
$1,650/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Hillcrest
Hillcrest is a solid, no-nonsense pick for budget-conscious expats, with a single person's total monthly costs landing around $812 on the budget tier, though the odd quirk of rent being slightly higher outside the center ($724 vs. $702) suggests you're paying for a specific suburban setup. The FIRE score of 85/100 and an expat score of 83/100 back up the affordability pitch, but the digital nomad score of 71/100 and a $2,950/mo visa income requirement make it a tougher sell for remote workers. Safety is decent at 68/100, and healthcare is rated good, but the 42 air quality index and 50 Mbps average internet speed are nothing to write home about. If you're retiring, the $2,050/mo visa threshold is manageable, yet the retiree score of 75/100 suggests you'd do better elsewhere unless you crave the subtropical vibe.
About South Africa
Safety is the dealbreaker: a 25.3 safety index puts South Africa firmly in caution territory, with the advisory level of 2 underscoring that. Retirees on fixed budgets should look past this for the math: $2,050/mo qualifies for the retirement visa, while rent runs under $500/mo in city centers. Low cost, low safety, weigh accordingly.
$1,801/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
Scroll to compare
| Metric | Tlokweng | Hillcrest |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $370 | $702.2 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $280 | $723.87 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $710 | $1170.34 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $530 | $1206.45 |
| Safety Index | 60 | 68 |
| Internet Speed | 15.2Mbps | 50Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Tlokweng | Hillcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $665/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $385/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $280/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $114/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $109/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $40.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $122/mo | N/A |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
Planning a move to Hillcrest? Make sure you have the right visa.
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized visa match in under 2 minutes.
Find my visa →Compare any two visa routes.
Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths, side by side. Search by country, including South Africa and Botswana.
Compare visas →Explore South Africa
Tlokweng vs Hillcrest -- Frequently Asked Questions
Click any question to expand the answer.
Resources for Moving to Hillcrest
Find hotels in Hillcrest
Search and compare hotel prices across hundreds of booking sites.
Search hotels →Short-term rentals in Hillcrest
Browse vacation rentals while you scout neighborhoods for a long-term lease.
Browse rentals →eSIM for Hillcrest
Get connected the moment you land. No physical SIM needed.
Get eSIM →VPN for secure browsing in Hillcrest
Protect your data and access geo-restricted content while traveling.
Get NordVPN →