A video showing the salary of a medical doctor in Botswana has sparked a lively conversation among South Africans, with some viewers saying they may have been taking their own country for granted.
The video shows a monthly salary of P39,851.80, which was converted to approximately R47,996.47. For South African viewers used to hearing about low salaries across parts of the public sector, seeing a doctor earning close to R48,000 a month in Botswana prompted very different reactions.
Some South Africans were shocked as one commenter from Botswana said, “Our doctors are underpaid,” one commenter wrote. Another said, “I need to appreciate my country a bit more,” while another simply commented, “We should be glad for being born in SA.” One commenter pointed out that people should consider “not only the currency rate but also the cost of living and economic difference between the countries.” And this is where the conversation becomes more interesting.
Botswana is classified as an upper-middle-income country, and its economy has historically benefited heavily from diamond mining. However, the country is currently facing significant economic pressure. This is driven by a severe slump in global diamond demand, widening fiscal deficits, and rising public debt.
But not everyone agreed that converting the Botswana pula into rands told the full story. One commenter pointed out that people should consider “not only the currency rate but also the cost of living and economic difference between the countries.”
Watch the real payslip below!
The figures are based on the payslip shared in the video and should be viewed as one reported doctor’s example, rather than the standard salary for every doctor in Botswana.
The salary comparison needs context
There is also a huge difference between looking at a salary in isolation and understanding what that salary can buy.
Statistics Botswana data provides some perspective. In the first quarter of 2024, average monthly cash earnings were reported at around P6,000 for professional workers, while managers averaged about P12,947. These figures cover broad occupational categories and are not doctor-specific, but they show how far above general earnings the salary displayed in the video may sit.
At the same time, Botswana’s inflation has remained relatively moderate. Statistics Botswana recorded annual inflation of 3.9% in December 2025, with transport, food and miscellaneous goods and services among the contributors. The question remains, is this salary fair or unfair for this medical doctor?
South Africans are looking at the bigger picture
The reaction to the video is perhaps less about Botswana having better salaries than South Africa and more about how people view their own economic circumstances. South Africa has serious unemployment and inequality problems of its own. World Bank data puts South Africa’s 2025 unemployment rate at 32.4%, compared with 24.5% in Botswana using the same modelled ILO measure.
For many South Africans, therefore, the Botswana salary became a reminder that economic comparisons are complicated. A salary that looks impressive after a currency conversion does not automatically mean someone is living a more comfortable life. The real measure is purchasing power, living costs, employment opportunities and the quality of life that income provides. And perhaps that is the biggest lesson from the debate: before we assume that another country’s salary is better, we need to look beyond the exchange rate.
You can email boni@liferesetwithboni.com to submit your payslip from anywhere in Africa with the following details: Years of experience, qualifications, industry and the job title.
