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: $602 in Swakopmund versus $1,206 in Windhoek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,104 in Swakopmund versus $2,057 in Windhoek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,605 in Swakopmund versus $2,907 in Windhoek.

Living in Swakopmund costs roughly 50% less than in Windhoek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Swakopmund 56% lower, Windhoek 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.08 NAD 99.6

$11.61 NAD 190

-47.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.35 NAD 595

$62.1 NAD 1,017

-41.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.55 NAD 58.2

$6.11 NAD 100

-41.90%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NAD 30.00

$2.43 NAD 39.71

-24.69%

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

$0.76 NAD 12.45

$0.89 NAD 14.62

-14.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 NAD 9.08

$0.94 NAD 15.37

-41.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 NAD 22.96

$2.05 NAD 33.51

-31.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 NAD 30.46

$2.28 NAD 37.38

-18.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 NAD 36.80

$1.64 NAD 26.93

37.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 NAD 22.41

$0.90 NAD 14.79

52.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 NAD 35.66

Eggs

$2.31 NAD 37.82

$3.11 NAD 50.8

-25.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 NAD 129

$9.62 NAD 158

-18.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 NAD 112

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 NAD 123

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 NAD 56.7

$2.24 NAD 36.68

54.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 NAD 26.90

$1.95 NAD 32.00

-15.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 NAD 31.59

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 NAD 35.97

$2.19 NAD 35.85

0.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 NAD 35.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 NAD 29.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 NAD 32.27

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 NAD 18.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 NAD 55.8

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 NAD 135

$7.13 NAD 117

15.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 NAD 10.47

$1.45 NAD 23.74

-55.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 NAD 24.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 NAD 13.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.15 NAD 510

$48.44 NAD 793

-35.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 NAD 14.59

$0.84 NAD 13.73

5.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 NAD 14.65

$0.90 NAD 14.81

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.59 NAD 124

$15.77 NAD 258

-51.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 NAD 21.80

$1.38 NAD 22.64

-3.62%

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

$24.4K NAD 399.8K

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

$30.1K NAD 493.0K

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

$55.0 NAD 900

$141 NAD 2,310

-61.04%

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

$28.22 NAD 462

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.44 NAD 793

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.41 NAD 629

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.56 NAD 173

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 NAD 91.6

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

$211 NAD 3,457

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,403 NAD 88.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 NAD 936

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.44 NAD 580

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 NAD 1,499

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 NAD 1,186

$101 NAD 1,652

-28.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 NAD 6,932

$545 NAD 8,917

-22.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 NAD 4,088

$385 NAD 6,302

-35.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 NAD 15.3K

$1,181 NAD 19.3K

-20.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$745 NAD 12.2K

$963 NAD 15.8K

-22.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,623 NAD 26.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$619 NAD 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,023 NAD 16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Swakopmund: September 15, 2026

Last update for Windhoek: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Swakopmund and $545 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Swakopmund vs $62.0 in Windhoek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $127 vs $230 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, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $903 in Swakopmund and $1,810 in Windhoek to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Swakopmund versus $545 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Swakopmund – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $62.0 in Windhoek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Swakopmund runs roughly 56% less than in Windhoek. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $602 in Swakopmund versus $1,206 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 100% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.