Windhoek skyline

🇳🇦Cost of Living in Windhoek

Namibia · Population: 430,000 · Cost Index: 38/100

Cost of Living in Windhoek

Namibia · Africa

Windhoek is the capital and largest city of Namibia, nestled in a valley surrounded by the Khomas Highland mountains at an elevation of 1,700 meters. The city combines German colonial heritage with modern African culture and serves as the gateway to Namibia's spectacular desert landscapes.

430,000

Population

38

Cost Index

45

Safety Index

48

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $850 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Windhoek

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person
$850
per month
Couple
$1,280
per month
Family of 4
$1,790
per month
Student
$640
per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Windhoek, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $462.50
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$400.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$250.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$750.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$450.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $5.24
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$5.00
Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$28.00
McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$5.50
Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.20
Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$0.70
Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.50
Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$2.00
Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$5.00
Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$2.00
Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.50

Transportation

Avg: $6.74
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$30.00
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$0.60
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$1.20
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$0.70
Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.20

Utilities

Avg: $45.00
Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)
$80.00
Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$15.00
Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$40.00

Healthcare

Avg: $21.00
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$25.00
Dentist Visit(per visit)
$30.00
Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$8.00

Entertainment

Avg: $11.38
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$35.00
Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$5.50
Cappuccino(per cup)
$2.50
Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$2.50

Clothing

Avg: $49.33
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$50.00
Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$28.00
Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$70.00

Popular Windhoek comparisons

Frequently asked questions about Windhoek

Is Windhoek expensive to live in?
Windhoek has a cost of living index of 38 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.
How much money do you need to live in Windhoek?
A single person needs an estimated $850 per month to live in Windhoek, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.
What is the cost of living index in Windhoek?
Windhoek's cost of living index is 38 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.
What is quality of life like in Windhoek?
Windhoek scores 48 out of 100 for quality of life and 45 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in Namibia at 40 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.

Compare Windhoek with another city

See how Windhoek stacks up against any other city in our database.

Quick Facts

Currency
NAD
Language
English
Cost Index
38/100
Safety Index
45/100
Quality of Life
48/100

Data last updated: . Prices are approximate and shown in USD.

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