Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,114 in Windhoek versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,806 in Windhoek versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,499 in Windhoek versus $4,368 in Lisbon.

Living in Windhoek costs roughly 51% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Windhoek is 17% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.65 NAD 173
$15.94 €13.73
-33.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.09 NAD 636
$63.4 €54.6
-38.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.26 NAD 85.7
$10.38 €8.95
-49.33%
Cappuccino
$1.88 NAD 30.57
$2.79 €2.40
-32.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 NAD 15.66
$2.34 €2.01
-58.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 NAD 14.25
$1.57 €1.35
-43.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 NAD 29.29
$3.43 €2.95
-47.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 NAD 37.25
$3.91 €3.37
-41.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 NAD 23.63
$1.08 €0.93
34.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 NAD 14.32
$1.77 €1.52
-50.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 NAD 26.03
$1.71 €1.47
-6.43%
Eggs
$2.90 NAD 47.13
$3.15 €2.71
-7.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.24 NAD 102
$13.68 €11.79
-54.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.12 NAD 83.3
$8.01 €6.90
-36.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.58 NAD 107
$15.52 €13.37
-57.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 NAD 29.72
$2.29 €1.98
-20.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 NAD 32.29
$1.64 €1.41
20.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 NAD 26.66
$1.94 €1.67
-15.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 NAD 28.59
$2.51 €2.17
-29.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 NAD 32.07
$1.79 €1.54
10.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 NAD 29.54
$2.01 €1.73
-9.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 NAD 31.42
$1.97 €1.69
-2.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 NAD 18.05
$0.84 €0.73
32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 NAD 46.67
$6.79 €5.85
-57.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.97 NAD 113
$5.67 €4.89
22.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 NAD 21.71
$1.39 €1.20
-4.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 NAD 31.45
$3.02 €2.60
-36.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 NAD 12.03
$2.27 €1.95
-67.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.66 NAD 645
$45.44 €39.15
-12.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 NAD 12.09
$4.29 €3.70
-82.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 NAD 11.85
$0.85 €0.73
-14.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.49 NAD 187
$18.28 €15.75
-37.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 NAD 19.82
$1.99 €1.71
-38.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K NAD 344.7K
$35.0K €30.2K
-39.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K NAD 395.9K
$39.5K €34.1K
-38.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 NAD 1,892
$146 €126
-20.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.10 NAD 294
$20.45 €17.62
-11.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 NAD 815
$38.98 €33.58
28.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.51 NAD 611
$48.98 €42.21
-23.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.15 NAD 214
$18.83 €16.22
-30.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.32 NAD 86.6
$9.52 €8.21
-44.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$211 NAD 3,438
$608 €524
-65.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,113 NAD 83.2K
$16.5K €14.2K
-69.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 NAD 846
$104 €89.5
-49.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.69 NAD 434
$42.12 €36.29
-36.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.2 NAD 1,418
$92.2 €79.5
-5.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 NAD 1,326
$120 €103
-32.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 NAD 7,931
$1,621 €1,397
-69.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$387 NAD 6,291
$1,268 €1,092
-69.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 NAD 20.5K
$3,048 €2,626
-58.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$925 NAD 15.0K
$2,009 €1,731
-53.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,635 NAD 26.6K
$7,663 €6,602
-78.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$629 NAD 10.2K
$4,329 €3,730
-85.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,006 NAD 16.4K
$1,585 €1,366
-36.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.69
3.81
206.82%

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

Last update for Windhoek: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Windhoek and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 57% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $269 per month, with Windhoek 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
Windhoek vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Windhoek and Lisbon?
Windhoek and Lisbon differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,114 vs $2,263 including rent). Windhoek is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 57% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Windhoek and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Windhoek versus $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Windhoek and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $211 in Windhoek versus $608 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,114 in Windhoek versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Windhoek but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Windhoek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Windhoek and Lisbon?
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.
Is Windhoek or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Windhoek and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Windhoek or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Windhoek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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