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: $770 in Tsumeb versus $743 in Swakopmund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Tsumeb versus $1,120 in Swakopmund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,717 in Tsumeb versus $1,497 in Swakopmund.

Living in Tsumeb is roughly 4% more expensive than Swakopmund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tsumeb 43% lower, Swakopmund 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 NAD 269

$5.48 NAD 89.5

200.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.72 NAD 599

$33.89 NAD 553

8.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 NAD 144

$3.20 NAD 52.3

175.31%

Cappuccino

$2.17 NAD 35.38

$1.64 NAD 26.76

32.32%

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

$2.20 NAD 35.88

$0.74 NAD 12.10

197.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 NAD 34.18

$0.55 NAD 8.95

280.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 NAD 38.14

$1.23 NAD 20.08

90.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 NAD 19.62

$1.62 NAD 26.51

-25.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 NAD 21.22

$1.26 NAD 20.60

3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 NAD 11.97

$0.85 NAD 13.81

-14.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 NAD 25.64

Eggs

$2.75 NAD 44.87

$2.15 NAD 35.08

27.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.10 NAD 214

$7.08 NAD 116

85.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 NAD 53.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 NAD 161

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 NAD 37.92

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 NAD 42.52

$1.43 NAD 23.33

81.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 NAD 41.19

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 NAD 33.20

$1.92 NAD 31.42

5.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 NAD 35.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.60 NAD 26.20

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 NAD 23.42

$2.25 NAD 36.66

-36.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 NAD 16.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 NAD 49.38

$3.02 NAD 49.26

0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 NAD 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 NAD 14.95

$0.57 NAD 9.31

61.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 NAD 20.29

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 NAD 14.19

$0.69 NAD 11.28

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NAD 13.45

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 NAD 19.39

$1.24 NAD 20.26

-4.03%

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

$27.5K NAD 448.3K

$13.7K NAD 224.4K

99.79%

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

$20.9K NAD 341.1K

$16.9K NAD 275.2K

23.95%

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

$50.4 NAD 822

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.30 NAD 462

$66.3 NAD 1,081

-57.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.54 NAD 368

$33.95 NAD 554

-33.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.26 NAD 184

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 NAD 98.3

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

$38.42 NAD 627

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.68 NAD 648

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.84 NAD 438

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.12 NAD 704

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.70 NAD 795

$67.6 NAD 1,103

-27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 NAD 4,365

$464 NAD 7,579

-42.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 NAD 3,410

$355 NAD 5,801

-41.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 NAD 7,432

$981 NAD 16.0K

-53.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 NAD 6,014

$662 NAD 10.8K

-44.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$620 NAD 10.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$372 NAD 6,080

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tsumeb: June 2, 2026

Last update for Swakopmund: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Tsumeb and $464 in Swakopmund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,156 in Tsumeb and $1,114 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: $267 in Tsumeb versus $464 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 $37.00 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 4% less than in Tsumeb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.