😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,124 in Windhoek versus $1,054 in Irkutsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,850 in Windhoek versus $1,712 in Irkutsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,577 in Windhoek versus $2,370 in Irkutsk.
🌍Living in Windhoek is roughly 7% more expensive than in Irkutsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Windhoek16% lower, Irkutsk21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.46NAD 172
$8.07₽633
29.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.12NAD 645
$35.12₽2,756
11.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42NAD 89.4
$5.61₽440
-3.39%
Cappuccino
$1.86NAD 30.70
$3.05₽240
-39.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91NAD 14.94
$1.56₽123
-41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97NAD 15.93
$0.43₽33.67
125.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80NAD 29.61
$1.62₽127
11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27NAD 37.48
$2.49₽195
-8.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44NAD 23.71
$1.38₽109
4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82NAD 13.52
$0.56₽44.06
46.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65NAD 27.23
$1.76₽139
-6.25%
Eggs
$2.80NAD 46.12
$2.29₽179
22.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.28NAD 104
$15.49₽1,216
-59.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.38NAD 88.8
$6.51₽511
-17.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.58NAD 108
$12.63₽991
-47.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80NAD 29.72
$2.34₽184
-23.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98NAD 32.58
$2.47₽194
-19.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62NAD 26.74
$3.10₽244
-47.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74NAD 28.68
$4.78₽375
-63.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00NAD 32.92
$1.02₽80.1
96.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81NAD 29.85
$0.86₽67.6
110.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94NAD 31.94
$2.18₽171
-11.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14NAD 18.88
$0.72₽56.7
58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72NAD 44.85
$3.82₽300
-28.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.98NAD 115
$8.56₽672
-18.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40NAD 23.03
$1.23₽96.4
13.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84NAD 30.38
$2.28₽179
-19.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71NAD 11.65
$0.49₽38.65
44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.09NAD 678
$10.27₽806
300.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74NAD 12.19
$1.89₽148
-60.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67NAD 11.03
$0.33₽25.67
103.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.73NAD 193
$4.59₽360
155.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18NAD 19.47
$0.79₽62.0
49.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KNAD 348.7K
$29.6K₽2.3M
-28.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KNAD 402.3K
$25.9K₽2.0M
-5.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119NAD 1,960
$93.7₽7,354
26.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50NAD 289
$6.76₽530
158.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1NAD 827
$9.29₽729
439.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.62NAD 604
$39.56₽3,105
-7.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.31NAD 220
$14.19₽1,113
-6.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.23NAD 86.2
$5.00₽392
4.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218NAD 3,595
$283₽22.2K
-23.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,275NAD 87.0K
$6,881₽540.1K
-23.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3NAD 846
$37.49₽2,943
36.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.72NAD 441
$38.59₽3,029
-30.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7NAD 1,430
$99.8₽7,837
-13.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2NAD 1,338
$104₽8,184
-22.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$494NAD 8,146
$549₽43.1K
-10.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382NAD 6,297
$335₽26.3K
14.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,291NAD 21.3K
$1,176₽92.3K
9.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921NAD 15.2K
$759₽59.6K
21.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,592NAD 26.2K
$3,032₽238.0K
-47.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$627NAD 10.3K
$1,821₽142.9K
-65.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Irkutsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,009NAD 16.6K
$789₽61.9K
27.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.69
19.29
-39.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Windhoek: July 13, 2026
Last update for Irkutsk: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $494 in Windhoek and $549 in Irkutsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Windhoek pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Windhoek vs $35.00 in Irkutsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $265, with Windhoek cheaper for home cooking.
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 Irkutsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Windhoek or Irkutsk?
Irkutsk wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Windhoek. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irkutsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Windhoek or in Irkutsk?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Windhoek, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Windhoek compared to Irkutsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $494 in Windhoek versus $549 in Irkutsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Windhoek and in Irkutsk?
Childcare runs $218 in Windhoek versus $283 in Irkutsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Windhoek or in Irkutsk?
Shoppers in Windhoek pay roughly 34% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Windhoek or in Irkutsk?
At $1,054 in Irkutsk versus $1,124 in Windhoek, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irkutsk but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Irkutsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Windhoek or Irkutsk?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irkutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.