Cost of Living Comparison Between Swakopmund and Rundu Cost of Living Comparison Between Swakopmund and Rundu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $800 per month in Swakopmund vs $353 in Rundu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,308 per month in Swakopmund vs $637 in Rundu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,815 per month in Swakopmund vs $922 in Rundu, rent included.

Swakopmund costs about 127% more than Rundu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Swakopmund and Rundu are more affordable than the global median – Swakopmund 42% lower, Rundu 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.37 NAD 103

$15.29 NAD 246

-58.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.28 NAD 600

$31.30 NAD 504

19.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.67 NAD 59.1

$6.03 NAD 97.2

-39.14%

Cappuccino

$1.89 NAD 30.49

$2.12 NAD 34.15

-10.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 NAD 12.36

$0.71 NAD 11.48

8.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 NAD 9.27

$0.59 NAD 9.50

-1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 NAD 22.05

$0.97 NAD 15.58

41.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 NAD 29.12

$1.21 NAD 19.51

49.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 NAD 32.09

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 NAD 19.13

$0.76 NAD 12.27

56.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 NAD 76.3

Eggs

$2.37 NAD 38.23

$3.14 NAD 50.5

-24.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 NAD 127

$4.30 NAD 69.3

83.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 NAD 79.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 NAD 81.0

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 NAD 57.1

$2.21 NAD 35.60

60.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 NAD 25.55

$2.22 NAD 35.77

-28.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 NAD 20.52

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 NAD 34.16

$0.91 NAD 14.67

132.97%

Potato (1kg)

$5.11 NAD 82.3

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 NAD 15.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 NAD 40.67

$0.61 NAD 9.78

314.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 NAD 17.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 NAD 55.4

$1.26 NAD 20.29

173.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.07 NAD 114

$4.03 NAD 64.9

75.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 NAD 10.28

$1.28 NAD 20.55

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 NAD 24.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 NAD 496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 NAD 13.50

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 NAD 14.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 NAD 120

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 NAD 23.05

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.6K NAD 300.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$55.2 NAD 889

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 NAD 1,215

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.47 NAD 603

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.41 NAD 200

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 NAD 108

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 NAD 1,214

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 NAD 8,382

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 NAD 5,021

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 NAD 17.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 NAD 11.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$626 NAD 10.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$374 NAD 6,022

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Swakopmund: August 18, 2026

Last update for Rundu: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Swakopmund versus $31.00 in Rundu. Groceries tell a different story – $130 in Swakopmund vs $176 in Rundu – so Swakopmund wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Swakopmund vs Rundu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swakopmund costs about 127% more than Rundu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,200 per month in Swakopmund and $529 in Rundu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $800 in Swakopmund and $353 in Rundu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 35% cheaper in Swakopmund – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $800 in Swakopmund and $353 in Rundu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Rundu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Rundu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Swakopmund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.