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Dakar vs Windhoek cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ธ๐ณ Dakar
๐ณ๐ฆ Windhoek
At a glance
- Where Windhoek is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (65%โ), Coffee (30%โ), Beer (30%โ)
- Where Dakar is clearly cheaper: Laundry (59%โ), Local meal (47%โ), Bottled water (43%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Windhoek is easier to travel (2.2 vs 3.6). Biggest gap: language โ Dakar 4 vs Windhoek 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Dakar | Windhoek | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | CFA 3,000$5.19 | N$ 160$9.74 | Dakar โ47% |
| Street food1 item | CFA 1,000$1.73 | N$ 40$2.44 | Dakar โ29% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | CFA 12,000$20.8 | N$ 400$24.4 | Dakar โ15% |
| Coffeeone cup | CFA 2,000$3.46 | N$ 40$2.44 | Windhoek โ30% |
| Beerone bottle | CFA 1,500$2.59 | N$ 30$1.83 | Windhoek โ30% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | CFA 4,000$6.92 | N$ 80$4.87 | Windhoek โ30% |
| Bottled water | CFA 300$0.52 | N$ 15$0.91 | Dakar โ43% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | CFA 500$0.86 | N$ 15$0.91 | Dakar โ5% |
| Taxi5 km in town | CFA 2,000$3.46 | N$ 60$3.65 | Dakar โ5% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | CFA 1,000$1.73 | N$ 30$1.83 | Dakar โ5% |
| Transitone ride | CFA 400$0.69 | N$ 9.5$0.58 | Windhoek โ16% |
| Scooter rentalper day | CFA 10,000$17.3 | N$ 300$18.3 | Dakar โ5% |
| Hotel night3-star | CFA 45,000$77.8 | N$ 1,400$85.3 | Dakar โ9% |
| Studio rent (month) | CFA 300,000$519 | N$ 7,500$457 | Windhoek โ12% |
| Laundry | CFA 1,000$1.73 | N$ 70$4.26 | Dakar โ59% |
| SIM card1 week data | CFA 3,500$6.05 | N$ 120$7.31 | Dakar โ17% |
| Haircutcut | CFA 3,000$5.19 | N$ 120$7.31 | Dakar โ29% |
| Massage1 hour | CFA 15,000$25.9 | N$ 550$33.5 | Dakar โ23% |
| Half-day tourper person | CFA 15,000$25.9 | N$ 750$45.7 | Dakar โ43% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | CFA 5,000$8.65 | N$ 50$3.05 | Windhoek โ65% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dakar or Windhoek?
Dakar is 11% cheaper than Windhoek. Daily budget $134 vs $157; a month $1,977 vs $2,100.
Which is easier to travel, Dakar or Windhoek?
Windhoek is easier: Windhoek 2.2/5 vs Dakar 3.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Dakar and Windhoek?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Dakar is about $1,977 and Windhoek about $2,100 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.