Cost of Living Comparison Between Swakopmund and Windhoek Cost of Living Comparison Between Swakopmund and Windhoek

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Swakopmund versus $1,113 in Windhoek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,111 in Swakopmund versus $1,813 in Windhoek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Swakopmund versus $2,513 in Windhoek.

Living in Swakopmund costs roughly 35% less than in Windhoek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Swakopmund 46% lower, Windhoek 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.69 NAD 94.2

$10.61 NAD 176

-46.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.19 NAD 549

$38.94 NAD 644

-14.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.27 NAD 54.1

$5.24 NAD 86.8

-37.60%

Cappuccino

$1.63 NAD 27.01

$1.91 NAD 31.61

-14.66%

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

$0.68 NAD 11.29

$0.91 NAD 15.11

-25.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 NAD 9.11

$0.90 NAD 14.85

-38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 NAD 20.27

$1.84 NAD 30.48

-33.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 NAD 28.43

$2.26 NAD 37.32

-23.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NAD 20.13

$1.45 NAD 23.94

-15.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 NAD 14.09

$0.85 NAD 14.12

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 NAD 26.60

Eggs

$2.13 NAD 35.28

$2.90 NAD 47.98

-26.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.30 NAD 121

$6.21 NAD 103

17.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.32 NAD 88.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 NAD 109

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 NAD 30.78

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 NAD 24.50

$1.92 NAD 31.79

-22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 NAD 27.83

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 NAD 32.88

$1.74 NAD 28.83

14.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 NAD 33.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 NAD 29.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 NAD 36.32

$1.93 NAD 31.91

13.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 NAD 18.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 NAD 49.39

$2.81 NAD 46.50

6.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.86 NAD 114

$6.64 NAD 110

3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 NAD 9.61

$1.39 NAD 23.02

-58.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 NAD 30.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 NAD 12.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.91 NAD 677

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 NAD 12.28

$0.75 NAD 12.48

-1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 NAD 11.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.68 NAD 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 NAD 20.63

$1.18 NAD 19.57

5.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.0K NAD 231.9K

$21.3K NAD 352.7K

-34.26%

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

$16.4K NAD 271.4K

$23.5K NAD 388.6K

-30.16%

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

$50.8 NAD 841

$117 NAD 1,940

-56.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.00 NAD 298

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 NAD 1,114

$51.5 NAD 853

30.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.52 NAD 555

$37.57 NAD 622

-10.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.93 NAD 181

$13.44 NAD 222

-18.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 NAD 101

$5.20 NAD 86.1

17.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$216 NAD 3,568

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,219 NAD 86.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 NAD 851

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.43 NAD 454

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 NAD 1,473

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.7 NAD 1,104

$80.7 NAD 1,336

-17.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 NAD 7,962

$500 NAD 8,272

-3.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 NAD 5,919

$387 NAD 6,408

-7.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$974 NAD 16.1K

$1,287 NAD 21.3K

-24.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$662 NAD 11.0K

$936 NAD 15.5K

-29.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$617 NAD 10.2K

$1,403 NAD 23.2K

-56.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 NAD 6,050

$616 NAD 10.2K

-40.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$837 NAD 13.8K

$991 NAD 16.4K

-15.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.69

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

Last update for Swakopmund: April 27, 2026

Last update for Windhoek: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $481 in Swakopmund and $500 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Windhoek pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Swakopmund vs $39.00 in Windhoek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $197 per month, with Swakopmund cheaper across the board.

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 Windhoek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swakopmund is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Windhoek earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $481 in Swakopmund versus $500 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 107% higher in Windhoek. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Swakopmund – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $39.00 in Windhoek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $723 in Swakopmund versus $1,113 in Windhoek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Swakopmund but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Swakopmund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Swakopmund and Windhoek are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Swakopmund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.