🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,248 in Windhoek versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,121 in Windhoek versus $2,089 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,993 in Windhoek versus $2,913 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Windhoek costs roughly 1% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Windhoek9% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83NAD 191
$4.66฿154
153.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.0NAD 999
$32.22฿1,065
92.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.14NAD 98.8
$8.68฿287
-29.26%
Cappuccino
$2.35NAD 37.85
$2.90฿95.8
-18.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97NAD 15.67
$0.84฿27.89
15.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95NAD 15.22
$0.49฿16.16
93.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09NAD 33.67
$2.48฿82.0
-15.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30NAD 37.09
$3.73฿123
-38.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67NAD 26.89
$1.89฿62.3
-11.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96NAD 15.47
$1.41฿46.54
-31.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20NAD 35.41
$1.62฿53.6
35.80%
Eggs
$3.20NAD 51.5
$2.24฿74.1
42.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.62NAD 155
$19.84฿656
-51.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.75NAD 109
$3.48฿115
93.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.74NAD 125
$11.37฿376
-31.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23NAD 35.91
$2.90฿95.8
-23.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04NAD 32.92
$1.72฿57.0
18.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97NAD 31.69
$2.27฿75.1
-13.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.20NAD 35.51
$2.13฿70.4
3.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20NAD 35.37
$1.47฿48.72
49.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87NAD 30.06
$1.42฿46.92
31.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03NAD 32.70
$1.10฿36.25
84.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16NAD 18.66
$0.60฿19.76
93.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53NAD 56.9
$4.31฿142
-18.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.24NAD 117
$18.60฿615
-61.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49NAD 24.04
$1.80฿59.5
-17.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49NAD 23.94
$2.97฿98.0
-49.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78NAD 12.49
$2.25฿74.2
-65.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.63NAD 799
$23.49฿776
111.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77NAD 12.40
$3.10฿102
-75.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99NAD 15.89
$1.08฿35.56
-8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.52NAD 266
$3.87฿128
326.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36NAD 21.89
$1.43฿47.16
-4.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KNAD 405.5K
$27.8K฿918.0K
-9.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KNAD 479.8K
$27.0K฿891.5K
10.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145NAD 2,337
$105฿3,462
38.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35NAD 457
$11.39฿376
148.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.53NAD 798
$17.54฿580
182.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.35NAD 618
$54.3฿1,795
-29.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.89NAD 175
$11.44฿378
-4.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.66NAD 91.2
$7.78฿257
-27.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$215NAD 3,456
$576฿19.0K
-62.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,479NAD 88.3K
$11.6K฿382.7K
-52.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6NAD 912
$63.6฿2,103
-11.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.21NAD 583
$29.10฿961
24.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3NAD 1,503
$96.2฿3,179
-3.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8NAD 1,607
$90.0฿2,974
10.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$541NAD 8,718
$733฿24.2K
-26.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382NAD 6,155
$501฿16.5K
-23.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,181NAD 19.0K
$2,126฿70.2K
-44.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$994NAD 16.0K
$1,252฿41.4K
-20.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,677NAD 27.0K
$3,534฿116.8K
-52.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$636NAD 10.2K
$2,622฿86.6K
-75.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,050NAD 16.9K
$508฿16.8K
106.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.57
105.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Windhoek: September 5, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $541 in Windhoek and $733 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Windhoek pays 107% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Windhoek vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $275, 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Windhoek?
Windhoek is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Windhoek or Phuket?
Average pay runs 107% higher in Windhoek, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Windhoek and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $541 in Windhoek versus $733 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $215 in Windhoek versus $576 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Windhoek and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Windhoek or in Phuket?
At $1,248 in Windhoek versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Windhoek but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Windhoek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Windhoek or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Windhoek is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Windhoek or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Windhoek and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Windhoek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.