Windhoek among most expensive
According to a study the average take-home salary per month is N$19 221 in Pretoria and N$17 356 in Johannesburg, while in Windhoek it is N$13 046.
Namibia, and in particular Windhoek, remains one of the most expensive places to live in the sub-region and outperforms both Johannesburg and Pretoria on a variety of indices. Property prices are not the only factor weighted; groceries and local purchasing power draw a grim picture of the capital.
According to a new global study ranking the world's most expensive cities, consumer prices in South Africa are 0.98% lower than in Namibia, rent prices are 21.73% lower, grocery prices are 9.92% lower and purchasing power is 32.75% higher in South Africa than in Namibia.
Windhoek is now ranked the fourth most expensive city in Africa in the 2020 Numbeo Cost of Living Index that was released this week.
The most expensive city in Africa according to the index is Pretoria, followed by Johannesburg and Cape Town. Nairobi in Kenya is ranked fifth. The study indicates that local purchasing power is about 29% higher in Johannesburg and 46.1% higher in Pretoria than in Windhoek. Rent prices are 15.35% lower in Pretoria and 0.49% lower in Johannesburg than in Windhoek, while restaurant prices are 11.42% higher in Johannesburg and 4.88% higher in Pretoria than in Windhoek.
According to the study the average take-home salary per month is N$19 221 in Pretoria and N$17 356 in Johannesburg, while in Windhoek it is N$13 046. The study indicates a person would need at least N$35 145 in Pretoria to maintain the same standard of living that they can have with N$35 000 in Windhoek, assuming one rents accommodation in both cities. In Johannesburg you would need N$35 929 to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with N$35 000 in Windhoek, assuming you rent in both cities.
The Cost of Living Survey indicates that rent for a one-bedroom flat in the Windhoek CBD costs about N$7 500 and more than N$5 200 in the suburbs. In Pretoria it costs about N$5 000 to rent a flat in the CBD and N$5 400 in the suburbs, while in Johannesburg it costs N$6 700 and N$5 800 respectively. Besides rent, the monthly cost of utilities in Windhoek for an apartment of 915 square metres is N$1 149. Pretoria's utilities cost N$1 400 and in Johannesburg the cost averages N$1 327. Buying a new Volkswagen Golf or an equivalent car would cost about N$301 500 in Pretoria and in Johannesburg N$300 000 while in Windhoek it costs N$245 000.
A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs about N$476 in Windhoek while an average bottle of wine can be as expensive as N$80 and a plain loaf of bread costs about N$11. In Pretoria a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs N$485, an average bottle of wine N$65 and a loaf of bread N$12.
In Johannesburg a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs N$500, an average bottle of wine would be N$70 and a loaf of bread costs N$12.36.
In Windhoek local beer is much cheaper than in Pretoria and Johannesburg at about N$21 for a 500 ml draught and about N$18 for a 500 ml bottle. In the two South African cities beer costs N$27 for a draught and around N$19 for a bottle.
Eggs, milk, rice, fruit and vegetables are much more expensive in Windhoek. For example, apples cost N$31.75 per kilogram in Windhoek, 22.69/kg in Pretoria and 21.93 in Johannesburg. Potatoes are N$20.89/kg in Pretoria, N$16.40 in Johannesburg and N$24.05 in Windhoek.
Milk costs N$21.32/litre in Windhoek and N$14.32 in Pretoria and N$16.00 in Johannesburg, while rice is N$24.75 in Windhoek in comparison to the N$17.91 it costs in Pretoria and N$20.00 in Johannesburg.
In Nairobi you would need around N$31 647 to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with N$35 000 in Windhoek, with local purchasing power about 55% lower than in Windhoek. In Seychelles, which is ranked as the most expensive country in Africa, consumer prices are 66% higher than in Namibia, rent is 100.66% higher, restaurant prices are 116.3% higher and local purchasing power is 60.63% lower than in Namibia. The cities rated the most expensive to live in globally are all in Switzerland, namely Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva and Bern. The least expensive city in the world is Thiruvananthapuram in India.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to a new global study ranking the world's most expensive cities, consumer prices in South Africa are 0.98% lower than in Namibia, rent prices are 21.73% lower, grocery prices are 9.92% lower and purchasing power is 32.75% higher in South Africa than in Namibia.
Windhoek is now ranked the fourth most expensive city in Africa in the 2020 Numbeo Cost of Living Index that was released this week.
The most expensive city in Africa according to the index is Pretoria, followed by Johannesburg and Cape Town. Nairobi in Kenya is ranked fifth. The study indicates that local purchasing power is about 29% higher in Johannesburg and 46.1% higher in Pretoria than in Windhoek. Rent prices are 15.35% lower in Pretoria and 0.49% lower in Johannesburg than in Windhoek, while restaurant prices are 11.42% higher in Johannesburg and 4.88% higher in Pretoria than in Windhoek.
According to the study the average take-home salary per month is N$19 221 in Pretoria and N$17 356 in Johannesburg, while in Windhoek it is N$13 046. The study indicates a person would need at least N$35 145 in Pretoria to maintain the same standard of living that they can have with N$35 000 in Windhoek, assuming one rents accommodation in both cities. In Johannesburg you would need N$35 929 to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with N$35 000 in Windhoek, assuming you rent in both cities.
The Cost of Living Survey indicates that rent for a one-bedroom flat in the Windhoek CBD costs about N$7 500 and more than N$5 200 in the suburbs. In Pretoria it costs about N$5 000 to rent a flat in the CBD and N$5 400 in the suburbs, while in Johannesburg it costs N$6 700 and N$5 800 respectively. Besides rent, the monthly cost of utilities in Windhoek for an apartment of 915 square metres is N$1 149. Pretoria's utilities cost N$1 400 and in Johannesburg the cost averages N$1 327. Buying a new Volkswagen Golf or an equivalent car would cost about N$301 500 in Pretoria and in Johannesburg N$300 000 while in Windhoek it costs N$245 000.
A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs about N$476 in Windhoek while an average bottle of wine can be as expensive as N$80 and a plain loaf of bread costs about N$11. In Pretoria a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs N$485, an average bottle of wine N$65 and a loaf of bread N$12.
In Johannesburg a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs N$500, an average bottle of wine would be N$70 and a loaf of bread costs N$12.36.
In Windhoek local beer is much cheaper than in Pretoria and Johannesburg at about N$21 for a 500 ml draught and about N$18 for a 500 ml bottle. In the two South African cities beer costs N$27 for a draught and around N$19 for a bottle.
Eggs, milk, rice, fruit and vegetables are much more expensive in Windhoek. For example, apples cost N$31.75 per kilogram in Windhoek, 22.69/kg in Pretoria and 21.93 in Johannesburg. Potatoes are N$20.89/kg in Pretoria, N$16.40 in Johannesburg and N$24.05 in Windhoek.
Milk costs N$21.32/litre in Windhoek and N$14.32 in Pretoria and N$16.00 in Johannesburg, while rice is N$24.75 in Windhoek in comparison to the N$17.91 it costs in Pretoria and N$20.00 in Johannesburg.
In Nairobi you would need around N$31 647 to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with N$35 000 in Windhoek, with local purchasing power about 55% lower than in Windhoek. In Seychelles, which is ranked as the most expensive country in Africa, consumer prices are 66% higher than in Namibia, rent is 100.66% higher, restaurant prices are 116.3% higher and local purchasing power is 60.63% lower than in Namibia. The cities rated the most expensive to live in globally are all in Switzerland, namely Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva and Bern. The least expensive city in the world is Thiruvananthapuram in India.
ELLANIE SMIT
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