Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Swakopmund Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Swakopmund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,248 in Windhoek versus $617 in Swakopmund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,121 in Windhoek versus $1,123 in Swakopmund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,993 in Windhoek versus $1,629 in Swakopmund.

Living in Windhoek is roughly 102% more expensive than in Swakopmund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Windhoek 9% lower, Swakopmund 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 NAD 191

$6.32 NAD 102

87.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 NAD 999

$37.29 NAD 601

66.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 NAD 98.8

$3.76 NAD 60.5

63.30%

Cappuccino

$2.35 NAD 37.85

$1.93 NAD 31.06

21.76%

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

$0.97 NAD 15.67

$0.76 NAD 12.32

27.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 NAD 15.22

$0.60 NAD 9.73

58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 NAD 33.67

$1.38 NAD 22.16

51.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 NAD 37.09

$1.83 NAD 29.40

25.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 NAD 26.89

$2.30 NAD 37.06

-27.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 NAD 15.47

$1.47 NAD 23.65

-34.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 NAD 35.41

Eggs

$3.20 NAD 51.5

$2.31 NAD 37.22

38.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 NAD 155

$8.02 NAD 129

19.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 NAD 109

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 NAD 125

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 NAD 35.91

$3.64 NAD 58.7

-38.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 NAD 32.92

$1.59 NAD 25.66

28.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 NAD 31.69

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 NAD 35.51

$2.23 NAD 35.93

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 NAD 35.37

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 NAD 30.06

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 NAD 32.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 NAD 18.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 NAD 56.9

Wine (Bottle)

$7.24 NAD 117

$8.41 NAD 136

-13.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 NAD 24.04

$0.61 NAD 9.82

144.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 NAD 23.94

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 NAD 12.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.63 NAD 799

$31.14 NAD 502

59.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 NAD 12.40

$0.84 NAD 13.50

-8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 NAD 15.89

$0.91 NAD 14.67

8.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.52 NAD 266

$7.38 NAD 119

123.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 NAD 21.89

$1.29 NAD 20.81

5.43%

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

$25.2K NAD 405.5K

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

$29.8K NAD 479.8K

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

$145 NAD 2,337

$57.4 NAD 925

152.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.35 NAD 457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.53 NAD 798

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.35 NAD 618

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.89 NAD 175

Cinema Ticket

$5.66 NAD 91.2

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

$215 NAD 3,456

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,479 NAD 88.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 NAD 912

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.21 NAD 583

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 NAD 1,503

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.8 NAD 1,607

$74.5 NAD 1,200

33.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$541 NAD 8,718

$434 NAD 6,990

24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 NAD 6,155

$255 NAD 4,103

50.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 NAD 19.0K

$934 NAD 15.0K

26.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$994 NAD 16.0K

$738 NAD 11.9K

34.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,677 NAD 27.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$636 NAD 10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,050 NAD 16.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Windhoek: September 5, 2026

Last update for Swakopmund: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $541 in Windhoek and $434 in Swakopmund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Windhoek vs $37.00 in Swakopmund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $130 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

Windhoek vs Swakopmund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swakopmund is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,873 in Windhoek and $925 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: $541 in Windhoek versus $434 in Swakopmund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Swakopmund – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $62.0 in Windhoek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Swakopmund runs roughly 59% less than in Windhoek. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $617 in Swakopmund versus $1,248 in Windhoek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Swakopmund but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Swakopmund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Windhoek 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 102% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.