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: $726 in Swakopmund versus $1,114 in Windhoek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,108 in Swakopmund versus $1,806 in Windhoek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Swakopmund versus $2,499 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

$5.42 NAD 88.3

$10.65 NAD 173

-49.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.98 NAD 537

$39.09 NAD 636

-15.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 NAD 54.0

$5.26 NAD 85.7

-36.88%

Cappuccino

$1.69 NAD 27.54

$1.88 NAD 30.57

-10.11%

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

$0.73 NAD 11.89

$0.96 NAD 15.66

-23.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 NAD 8.85

$0.88 NAD 14.25

-38.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 NAD 20.13

$1.80 NAD 29.29

-31.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 NAD 27.45

$2.29 NAD 37.25

-26.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 NAD 20.42

$1.45 NAD 23.63

-13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 NAD 15.06

$0.88 NAD 14.32

5.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 NAD 26.03

Eggs

$2.16 NAD 35.19

$2.90 NAD 47.13

-25.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.06 NAD 115

$6.24 NAD 102

13.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 NAD 83.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.58 NAD 107

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 NAD 29.72

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 NAD 24.05

$1.98 NAD 32.29

-25.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 NAD 26.66

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 NAD 31.54

$1.76 NAD 28.59

10.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 NAD 32.07

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 NAD 29.54

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 NAD 35.66

$1.93 NAD 31.42

13.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 NAD 18.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 NAD 50.7

$2.87 NAD 46.67

8.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.92 NAD 113

$6.97 NAD 113

-0.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 NAD 9.35

$1.33 NAD 21.71

-57.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 NAD 31.45

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 NAD 12.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.66 NAD 645

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 NAD 11.15

$0.74 NAD 12.09

-6.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 NAD 11.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.49 NAD 187

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NAD 20.71

$1.22 NAD 19.82

4.10%

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

$14.2K NAD 231.1K

$21.2K NAD 344.7K

-32.96%

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

$16.9K NAD 275.3K

$24.3K NAD 395.9K

-30.48%

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

$50.8 NAD 827

$116 NAD 1,892

-56.27%

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

$18.10 NAD 294

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 NAD 1,103

$50.1 NAD 815

35.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.52 NAD 545

$37.51 NAD 611

-10.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.27 NAD 183

$13.15 NAD 214

-14.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 NAD 102

$5.32 NAD 86.6

17.29%

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

$211 NAD 3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,113 NAD 83.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 NAD 846

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.69 NAD 434

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 NAD 1,418

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.1 NAD 1,107

$81.5 NAD 1,326

-16.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 NAD 7,764

$487 NAD 7,931

-2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 NAD 5,784

$387 NAD 6,291

-8.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 NAD 16.0K

$1,261 NAD 20.5K

-22.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 NAD 11.1K

$925 NAD 15.0K

-26.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$616 NAD 10.0K

$1,635 NAD 26.6K

-62.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$358 NAD 5,833

$629 NAD 10.2K

-43.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,006 NAD 16.4K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Windhoek: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Swakopmund and $487 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Swakopmund vs $39.00 in Windhoek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96.0 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 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,090 in Swakopmund and $1,671 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: $477 in Swakopmund versus $487 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 106% 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 $726 in Swakopmund versus $1,114 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 53% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.