Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Calarasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Calarasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Windhoek vs $915 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,057 per month in Windhoek vs $1,420 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,907 per month in Windhoek vs $1,925 in Calarasi, rent included.

Windhoek costs about 32% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Windhoek and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Windhoek 12% lower, Calarasi 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 NAD 189
$9.14 RON 41.90
27.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.1 NAD 1,010
$34.76 RON 159
78.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.11 NAD 99.4
$8.21 RON 37.65
-25.58%
Cappuccino
$2.43 NAD 39.42
$2.22 RON 10.19
9.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 NAD 14.51
$1.95 RON 8.93
-54.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 NAD 15.26
$1.71 RON 7.85
-45.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 NAD 33.27
$1.69 RON 7.73
21.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 NAD 37.11
$1.52 RON 6.95
50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 NAD 26.74
$1.52 RON 6.97
7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 NAD 14.68
$0.97 RON 4.45
-7.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 NAD 35.40
$1.61 RON 7.40
35.40%
Eggs
$3.11 NAD 50.5
$2.85 RON 13.05
9.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.62 NAD 156
$7.91 RON 36.27
21.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 NAD 111
$4.31 RON 19.78
58.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 NAD 122
$8.69 RON 39.82
-13.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 NAD 36.42
$1.17 RON 5.35
91.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 NAD 31.77
$1.47 RON 6.73
32.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 NAD 31.36
$1.31 RON 6.00
47.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 NAD 35.59
$1.51 RON 6.92
45.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 NAD 35.50
$0.46 RON 2.10
373.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 NAD 29.20
$0.64 RON 2.92
181.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 NAD 32.04
$0.42 RON 1.92
369.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 NAD 18.66
$0.78 RON 3.59
47.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 NAD 55.4
$6.44 RON 29.54
-47.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 NAD 116
$4.51 RON 20.67
58.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 NAD 23.56
$0.99 RON 4.53
46.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 NAD 23.89
$1.45 RON 6.67
1.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 NAD 13.56
$0.45 RON 2.08
84.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.44 NAD 787
$13.15 RON 60.3
268.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 NAD 13.63
$0.64 RON 2.92
31.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 NAD 14.71
$0.69 RON 3.17
30.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.77 NAD 256
$6.67 RON 30.57
136.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 NAD 22.47
$1.68 RON 7.70
-17.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K NAD 396.9K
$29.6K RON 135.8K
-17.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K NAD 489.4K
$25.7K RON 118.0K
16.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 NAD 2,293
$161 RON 736
-12.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.22 NAD 459
$6.75 RON 30.95
318.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.44 NAD 787
$6.95 RON 31.85
596.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.41 NAD 624
$50.1 RON 229
-23.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.56 NAD 172
$54.6 RON 250
-80.64%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60 NAD 91.0
$8.60 RON 39.43
-34.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$211 NAD 3,431
$413 RON 1,892
-48.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,403 NAD 87.8K
$6,198 RON 28.4K
-12.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 NAD 929
$76.7 RON 352
-25.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.44 NAD 576
$21.77 RON 99.8
62.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 NAD 1,488
$96.9 RON 444
-5.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 NAD 1,640
$99.0 RON 454
1.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$545 NAD 8,852
$334 RON 1,533
62.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 NAD 6,257
$202 RON 924
90.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,181 NAD 19.2K
$435 RON 1,994
171.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$963 NAD 15.7K
$336 RON 1,541
186.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,623 NAD 26.4K
$1,232 RON 5,650
31.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$619 NAD 10.1K
$982 RON 4,501
-36.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Calarasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,023 NAD 16.6K
$772 RON 3,538
32.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
7.85
45.48%

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

Last update for Windhoek: September 14, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Windhoek versus $334 in Calarasi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 33% higher in Windhoek, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Windhoek versus $35.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $172 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Windhoek vs Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Windhoek and in Calarasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,206 in Windhoek, $915 in Calarasi – roughly 32% apart. Windhoek costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Windhoek compared to Calarasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,810 per month in Windhoek and $1,372 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Windhoek and Calarasi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Windhoek and Calarasi?
Kindergarten costs $211 per month in Windhoek and $413 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Windhoek, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Windhoek at $1,206. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windhoek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Windhoek or Calarasi?
Families tend to lean toward Calarasi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Windhoek or Calarasi safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Windhoek and Calarasi?
If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Windhoek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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