Cost of Living in Namibia

Updated: July 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Namibia, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Namibia?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Namibia and whether the reported $1188 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $698.69.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Namibia

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	8.33 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	34.7 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	5.0 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	1.33 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.39 $
Cappuccino (regular)	1.61 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	0.81 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.8 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	1.09 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	0.66 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.34 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.78 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	6.9 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	4.01 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	5.21 $
Apples (1 lb)	1.82 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.58 $
Oranges (1 lb)	1.43 $
Tomato (1 lb)	1.34 $
Potato (1 lb)	1.46 $
Onion (1 lb)	0.98 $
Lettuce (1 head)	1.48 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.91 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	3.33 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	0.98 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.28 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	2.78 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	0.69 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	22.21 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	0.83 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	0.83 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	2.5 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	1.03 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	11410.33 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	12493.06 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	95.68 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.06 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	49.23 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	31.65 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	7.57 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	3.54 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	115.45 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	3760.5 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	43.25 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	23.51 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	65.08 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	49.98 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	358.63 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	279.41 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	684.73 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	533.9 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	620.03 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	444.2 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	698.69 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	11.08 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 8.33 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 34.7 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.09 USD, a loaf of bread 0.66 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.78 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.69 USD and a monthly pass around 22.21 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 95.68 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 31.65 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 7.57 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 115.45 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 3760.5 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 43.25 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 65.08 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 358.63 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 279.41 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 620.03 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 444.2 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 698.69 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 11.08% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Namibia

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Namibia is, for the most part, a safe country to visit. However, it does have a rather high crime rate. Crime is a serious issue in Namibia's capital Windhoek and other areas throughout Namibia. Incidents such as muggings and bag snatching happen frequently, especially in areas frequented by foreigners.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Tourists driving in urban areas should be aware that taxis often stop abruptly to pick up and release passengers, which results in frequent rear-end collisions. The public transport system, on the other hand, is very limited and, compared to other African countries, there are only a few buses traveling along the main roads. For the visitor, the best choices of exploring Namibia are on a tour, or to self-drive.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

The most common types of petty crime are pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, vehicle theft, and vehicle break-ins. However, applying common-sense precautions such as not leaving valuables in visible spots in parked cars, holding your purses tightly and being wise when carrying them, keeping wallets in front pockets, and being alert to one's surroundings should be enough to prevent these incidents. Theft from motor vehicles is also a possibility.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

There are several annual natural disasters threatening Namibia, including floods, droughts, and fires. However, they are not of a severe gravity, and the last natural disaster was a devastating flood that caused widespread displacement.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Muggings do happen in Namibia, so beware when handling money near ATMs. The highest percentage of such crimes occurs outside the city center, and according to the police, taxi drivers are accomplices to the robbers. Places, where muggings and robberies are common, are the Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and Henties Bay areas. Kidnapping, however, is a rare occurrence in Namibia.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Although there's no recent history of terrorism in Namibia, attacks can't be ruled out.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Scams happen regularly in Namibia. They vary from offers to sell rough diamonds or precious stones to tourists, (where the "diamonds" turn out to be worthless) to someone simply trying to divert you so that their partner can steal your wallet, bag, or cell phone. It is recommended for tourists to maintain maximum awareness if approached by strangers for any reason.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Namibia is relatively safe for solo women travelers. Just use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid wearing purses and do not walk alone at night or ride in taxis after 9 pm.

Useful Information & Tips

credit_card

Visas

South African visitors do not require a visa to enter Namibia. Usually, tourist visas are valid for a visit of up to 90 days, but sometimes, visitors are only given permission to stay for periods much shorter than 90 days. Your passport should be valid for a at least 6 months from the date of entry into Namibia and have at least 1 completely blank page for Namibian immigration to use. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

There are two currencies in Namibia, Namibian dollar and South African rand. Be careful when using ATMs in Namibia as you may get mugged. It is recommended to exchange your money in banks.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Namibia is one of the sunniest countries in the world, boasting with an average of 300 days of sunshine annually. In general Namibia’s climate can be described as hot and dry. However, there are considerable fluctuations within seasons or even within one day. Every single month is the best time to visit Namibia, but the majority of tourists travel here between May and October, since rainfall is highly unlikely and visitors can enjoy constant sunshine, apart from the coastline that can be a bit foggy.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Hosea Kutako International Airport is the main international airport of Namibia, located in its capital city, Windhoek. Situated about 45 km east of the city it is Namibia's largest and busiest airport with international connections.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Namibia, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Cost of Living in Namibia

Namibia

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing