Namibia : Cost of Living by CityHow Much Does It Cost to Live in Windhoek?
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia and as such, it is one of the more expensive cities in Namibia.
This is, in general, a laid back and relaxed city where you’ll feel welcome and safe.
However, the cost of living is considered very high for African standard: food, housing, clothes, utilities etc. is twice as expensive than in some less prosperous cities and countries of Africa.
However, the amount of money you’ll spend there, depends only on you and your preferences.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Windhoek
RESTAURANTS
Though you can always find some fancy expensive restaurants, eating out in Windhoek is not expensive, especially not for a tourist coming from the West. A good meal in a restaurant costs about 10$-15$ which is about half of what it costs in the USA. You can always eat street food and that will cost you even less than a decent meal in an inexpensive restaurant (which is somewhere around 8$).
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $7.95 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.59 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.66 |
MARKETS
The cost of everyday groceries is fairly cheap as in most countries, that is, cheaper than eating in restaurants, so tourists living in Windhoek who opt to cook at home will save a considerable amount of money. Feel free to visit any market where you can find many delicious Namibian groceries and spices, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.34 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.78 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.95 |
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is an issue in Windhoek, (and in the rest of Namibia, too) with reckless drivers everywhere and people ignoring traffic regulations. Public transportation is unreliable but it is cheap. Monthly pass for public transport costs 25$, while a one-way ticket is less than a dollar. There’s always the option of hailing a taxi, but be careful, as they tend to overcharge.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.72 |
| Monthly Pass | $25.29 |
| Gasoline | $0.92 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
If we’re speaking about Namibia in general, paying bills in this country isn’t expensive. Taking into consideration basic monthly utilities like electricity, water, heating and cooling, it all amounts to around 70$ a month in Windhoek, which is very affordable for a normal-sized apartment of about 85m2. Monthly internet is somewhat expensive in comparison to that.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $77.47 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.10 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $56.31 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
If you want to spend some quality time having fun in the capital of Namibia or indulging in sports activities, you’ll need to pay up. Namely, these activities are more expensive in Windhoek than other forms of leisure and pastime, especially renting out a tennis court per hour. Tickets for cinema, however, are less expensive than in many other countries, for instance.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $44.62 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $9.93 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.88 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Prices of clothes have increased tremendously over the years and, nowadays, they costs about the same as in the USA. One pair of jeans like Levi’s costs around 50$, maybe less, while quality sneakers are around 80$. You can fill up your shopping basket with light pieces of clothing in chain stores like Zara or Bershka.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $50.83 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $45.73 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $86.07 |
RENT PER MONTH
Renting out an apartment in Windhoek isn’t cheap, whether it’s in the suburbs or the city center. Of course, you can pay less if you rent an apartment a bit further away from the city but altogether it’s not a small investment. An apartment for one, or possibly two people can cost around 560$ while a bigger apartment for a family can cost twice as much.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $560.91 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $426.77 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1098.47 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Windhoek?
The people of Windhoek spend the biggest part of their salaries both on food and in supermarkets as well as on their monthly rent.
So they spend almost as much money on the rent as they do on the food.
The next chunk of expenses in Windhoek goes on restaurants, which means there are still enough means for some people to sometimes go out and have a nice meal.
Transportation is the next on the pie chart of necessities for Namibian people, because even though it’s inexpensive, it’s necessary.
Average Costs Breakdown
Windhoek: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
In Windhoek, there is a huge gap between the average monthly net salary and a minimum wage.
While the minimum wage is very low, and only a little above 100$, the average monthly salary is somewhat high, amounting up to 900$.
The average monthly salary in Windhoek is enough to lead a normal life and make ends meet.
If you are a tourist that wants to live in Windhoek for a while, you will need around 1500$ if you want to have enough for all necessities and emergencies.
Windhoek Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Windhoek Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | HIGH |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | HIGH |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | MEDIUM |
I wish I was living there.
It’s funny how we often think of Africa as a low-cost destination, but places like Windhoek sure flip that idea on its head! It makes you realize that even in beautiful, laid-back spots, the price tag can catch you off guard. Guess you really do pay for the vibe!
Can you give concrete examples of typical prices in Windhoek for groceries, rent and utilities, because saying it’s twice as expensive as other African cities sounds pretty vague and could scare off people on a tight budget, and are there realistic ways to keep costs down or neighborhoods you recommend?