Cost of Living Comparison Between Tsumeb and Swakopmund Cost of Living Comparison Between Tsumeb and Swakopmund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Tsumeb versus $735 in Swakopmund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,235 in Tsumeb versus $1,118 in Swakopmund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,719 in Tsumeb versus $1,500 in Swakopmund.

Living in Tsumeb is roughly 2% more expensive than in Swakopmund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tsumeb 44% lower, Swakopmund 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.66 NAD 275

$5.55 NAD 91.5

200.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.51 NAD 618

$33.80 NAD 557

10.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.11 NAD 150

$3.24 NAD 53.4

181.17%

Cappuccino

$2.18 NAD 35.96

$1.68 NAD 27.73

29.76%

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

$2.13 NAD 35.06

$0.69 NAD 11.40

208.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 NAD 34.87

$0.51 NAD 8.37

313.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 NAD 39.91

$1.28 NAD 21.05

89.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 NAD 20.46

$1.70 NAD 28.10

-27.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 NAD 22.52

$1.20 NAD 19.81

14.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 NAD 11.30

$0.87 NAD 14.40

-20.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 NAD 25.08

Eggs

$2.66 NAD 43.80

$2.06 NAD 34.05

29.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.23 NAD 218

$7.45 NAD 123

77.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 NAD 54.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 NAD 166

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 NAD 36.66

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 NAD 44.41

$1.48 NAD 24.36

81.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 NAD 43.12

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 NAD 33.33

$1.91 NAD 31.43

5.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 NAD 35.16

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 NAD 27.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 NAD 23.51

$2.26 NAD 37.35

-36.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 NAD 15.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 NAD 49.07

$3.15 NAD 52.0

-5.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.67 NAD 110

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 NAD 15.38

$0.58 NAD 9.52

60.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 NAD 19.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 NAD 14.03

$0.71 NAD 11.64

19.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 NAD 12.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 NAD 18.82

$1.30 NAD 21.35

-12.31%

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

$27.9K NAD 459.7K

$13.7K NAD 226.2K

103.21%

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

$21.2K NAD 349.9K

$17.0K NAD 280.3K

24.84%

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

$51.0 NAD 841

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.78 NAD 458

$66.1 NAD 1,089

-57.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.43 NAD 370

$33.03 NAD 545

-32.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.34 NAD 187

Cinema Ticket

$6.04 NAD 99.7

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

$38.40 NAD 633

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.02 NAD 660

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.83 NAD 442

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.27 NAD 713

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.13 NAD 810

$65.5 NAD 1,080

-25.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 NAD 4,363

$470 NAD 7,748

-43.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 NAD 3,403

$351 NAD 5,784

-41.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 NAD 7,589

$963 NAD 15.9K

-52.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 NAD 6,024

$674 NAD 11.1K

-45.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$619 NAD 10.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$364 NAD 5,994

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tsumeb: July 13, 2026

Last update for Swakopmund: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Tsumeb and $470 in Swakopmund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tsumeb vs $34.00 in Swakopmund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $95.0 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

Tsumeb vs Swakopmund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swakopmund is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,126 in Tsumeb and $1,103 in Swakopmund 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: $265 in Tsumeb versus $470 in Swakopmund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 116% higher in Tsumeb. 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 $34.00 versus $38.00 in Tsumeb. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Swakopmund gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Tsumeb and Swakopmund 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 2% less than in Tsumeb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.