Windhoek empties pockets

Only five African cities are more expensive to live in than Windhoek.

Windhoek is now ranked the sixth most expensive city to live in Africa in Numbeo's latest Cost of Living Index, ranking the most expensive cities in the world.

The index looks at the relative cost of various categories including rent, groceries, restaurants and local purchasing power and draws a grim picture of the Namibian capital.

The index indicates that the most expensive cities in Africa are Port Luis in Mauritius, Accra in Ghana, Harare in Zimbabwe, Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa, followed by Windhoek. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban make up the rest of the top ten.

According to the global study ranking the world's most expensive cities, the monthly costs of a single person living in Windhoek amount to about N$8 027, excluding rent.

The study indicates that consumer prices in Windhoek are 1.5% lower than in Johannesburg; rent prices in Windhoek are 14.43% higher than in Johannesburg; grocery prices in Windhoek are 17.42% higher than in Johannesburg, and purchasing power in Windhoek is 32.09% lower than in Johannesburg.

According to the study the average take-home salary per month in Johannesburg is N$18 125, in Windhoek it is N$12 619 and in Harare it is N$5 899.

The study indicates that a person would need at least N$36 274 per month in Windhoek to maintain the same standard of living that they can have with US$2 700 (N$37 290) in Harare, assuming they rent accommodation in both cities.

In Johannesburg a person can have the same standard of living with N$35 000 that they can have with N$35 882 in Windhoek.

The Cost of Living Survey indicates that renting a one-bedroom flat in central Windhoek costs on average N$7 761 per month, and in the suburbs about N$6 000.

In Johannesburg it costs N$6 260 to rent in the CBD and N$5 333 in the suburbs, while in Harare the costs are N$4 833 and N$3 785 respectively.

Besides rent, the monthly cost of utilities for an apartment of 85 square metres in Windhoek is about N$1 017 per month.

Johannesburg's utilities cost N$1 388 per month and Harare's N$1 125.

Buying a new Volkswagen Golf or an equivalent car costs about N$300 000 in Johannesburg, N$309 733 in Harare, and N$290 000 in Windhoek.

A three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant in Windhoek costs about N$489, while an average bottle of wine costs N$80 and a plain loaf of bread N$10.83.

In Johannesburg a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs N$500, an average bottle of wine N$60 and a loaf of bread N$12.61.

In Harare a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs N$495, an average bottle of wine N$144.54 and a loaf of bread N$13.42.

In Windhoek local beer is comparatively cheap at N$22 for a 500 ml draught, in comparison to N$29.50 in Johannesburg and N$20.65 in Harare.

Eggs, milk, rice, fruit and vegetables are much more expensive in Windhoek than in Johannesburg.

For example, apples cost N$31.98 per kilogram in Windhoek and N$20.56/kg in Johannesburg; potatoes cost N$16.38/kg in Johannesburg and N$34.22/kg in Windhoek.

Milk costs N$18.48/litre in Windhoek and N$14.75/litre in Johannesburg, while rice costs N$26.98 per kg in Windhoek compared to N$20.34 in Johannesburg.

In Cairo, Egypt, which is one of the cheapest African cities to live in, a person needs only N$18 870 per month to maintain the same standard of living that they have with N$36 000 in Windhoek.

Basel, Zurich and Lausanne, all located in Switzerland, are ranked as the most expensive cities in the world. The cost of living in Windhoek ranks 273th out of 439 cities in the world. Windhoek has a cost of living index of 45.54.

Last year Windhoek was ranked as the fifth most expensive city in Africa.



ELLANIE SMIT