Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Walvis Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Walvis Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,245 in Windhoek versus $962 in Walvis Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,066 in Windhoek versus $1,009 in Walvis Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,886 in Windhoek versus $1,057 in Walvis Bay.

Living in Windhoek is roughly 30% more expensive than in Walvis Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Windhoek 8% lower, Walvis Bay 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 NAD 188

$9.47 NAD 153

22.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 NAD 855

$21.28 NAD 344

148.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.90 NAD 95.4

$7.57 NAD 122

-22.06%

Cappuccino

$2.33 NAD 37.60

$2.21 NAD 35.64

5.43%

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

$0.87 NAD 13.98

$0.92 NAD 14.84

-5.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 NAD 15.41

$0.77 NAD 12.37

23.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 NAD 29.52

$1.71 NAD 27.56

7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 NAD 32.03

$3.05 NAD 49.36

-35.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 NAD 25.26

$1.70 NAD 27.43

-8.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 NAD 15.95

$0.95 NAD 15.38

4.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 NAD 35.09

$1.84 NAD 29.73

17.93%

Eggs

$3.16 NAD 51.0

$1.84 NAD 29.73

71.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 NAD 158

$10.32 NAD 167

-5.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 NAD 111

$6.20 NAD 100

10.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 NAD 124

$7.55 NAD 122

1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 NAD 37.54

$2.19 NAD 35.44

5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 NAD 31.77

$2.00 NAD 32.35

-1.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 NAD 31.27

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 NAD 36.40

$1.76 NAD 28.40

27.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 NAD 34.75

$2.50 NAD 40.40

-14.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 NAD 29.89

$3.04 NAD 49.12

-39.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 NAD 32.40

$1.87 NAD 30.19

6.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 NAD 19.54

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 NAD 53.4

Wine (Bottle)

$7.31 NAD 118

$1.90 NAD 30.74

284.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 NAD 23.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 NAD 23.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 NAD 12.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.97 NAD 792

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 NAD 12.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 NAD 15.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.22 NAD 262

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 NAD 22.78

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

$24.8K NAD 400.9K

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

$29.4K NAD 474.6K

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

$142 NAD 2,291

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

$27.98 NAD 452

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.61 NAD 786

$73.0 NAD 1,180

-33.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 NAD 623

$44.01 NAD 711

-12.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 NAD 172

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 NAD 89.6

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

$210 NAD 3,402

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,465 NAD 88.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 NAD 926

$68.2 NAD 1,103

-16.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.53 NAD 574

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 NAD 1,479

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 NAD 1,621

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 NAD 8,904

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 NAD 6,205

$473 NAD 7,649

-18.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 NAD 19.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$986 NAD 15.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,616 NAD 26.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$613 NAD 9,910

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,009 NAD 16.3K

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: August 10, 2026

Last update for Walvis Bay: August 10, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $53.0 in Windhoek vs $21.00 in Walvis Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $182 per month, with Walvis Bay 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 Walvis Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Walvis Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Windhoek. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Walvis Bay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,868 in Windhoek and $1,443 in Walvis Bay 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.

All in, you'll spend $1,245 per month in Windhoek versus $962 in Walvis Bay – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Windhoek. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $962 in Walvis Bay versus $1,245 in Windhoek, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Walvis Bay but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Walvis Bay 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 Walvis Bay 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 Walvis Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.