🇳🇦 Namibia · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Windhoek? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, Windhoek Central or Klein WindhoekNAD 7,000–12,000 / month
Two-bed house, Olympia, Pioneerspark or AcademiaNAD 9,000–16,000 / month
Groceries, one personNAD 3,000–5,000 / month; much is imported from South Africa
Fuel for a bakkie, moderate use plus one weekend tripNAD 2,000–3,500 / month — distances here are large
Good to know
Population
Roughly half a million in the Windhoek urban area, out of a national population of about three million — one of the least densely populated countries on earth
Languages
English is the sole official language, chosen at independence in 1990. Oshiwambo is the most widely spoken first language; Afrikaans is the everyday lingua franca in Windhoek; German is still spoken by a small community
Currency
Namibian dollar (NAD), pegged one-to-one with the South African rand. Rand is legal tender in Namibia; Namibian dollars are not accepted in South Africa
Time zone
CAT (GMT+2) — Namibia abolished daylight saving in 2017 and now stays on one clock all year
Power plug
Type M (large three-pin South African) and increasingly Type N, 220 V — bring the right adapter, it is not the UK plug
Climate
Semi-arid at 1,700 metres — hot dry days, cold nights, a summer rainy season from December to March that frequently underdelivers, and low humidity year-round
Driving side
Left
Water
Windhoek has drunk directly reclaimed wastewater since 1968, from the world's first direct potable reuse plant. Water restrictions are a normal part of life
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Windhoek checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Windhoek
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.