South Africa vs Namibia

South Africa costs roughly 5% less than Namibia, though Namibia scores higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

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South Africa is approximately 5% less expensive than Namibia based on cost of living including rent. This makes South Africa a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

South Africa has a FIRE Score of 92/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 25.3, suggesting moderate safety levels.

Recommended profile: South Africa is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.

Overall Winner

About South Africa

Safety is the dealbreaker: a 25.3 safety index puts South Africa firmly in caution territory, with the advisory level of 2 underscoring that. Retirees on fixed budgets should look past this for the math: $2,050/mo qualifies for the retirement visa, while rent runs under $500/mo in city centers. Low cost, low safety, weigh accordingly.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,873/mo

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Living Costs (excl. rent)

Single (excl. rent)$645
Family (excl. rent)$2,300

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)
$482
1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$389
3 Bedroom (City Centre)
$974
3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$757

Attractiveness Scores

FIRE Score
92/100
Retiree Score
51/100
Nomad Score
50/100


Country Details →

About Namibia

Safety is the real concern here: a 44.3 safety index and crime score of 61.2 mean this is not a low-stress retirement pick. Remote workers earning above the $2,000/mo digital nomad visa threshold should look past that, given rent as low as $377/mo outside the center. Quality of life scores a solid 104.1, but healthcare considerations are worth weighing first.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,823/mo

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Living Costs (excl. rent)

Single (excl. rent)$645
Family (excl. rent)$2,305

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)
$533
1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$377
3 Bedroom (City Centre)
$1,273
3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$884

Attractiveness Scores

FIRE Score
89/100
Retiree Score
47/100
Nomad Score
46/100


Country Details →

Battle of Lifestyles

Scroll to compare

MetricSouth AfricaNamibia
Travel Advisory
Level 2: Increased CautionLevel 2: Increased Caution
Quality of Life Index
152.4 +48.3
104.1
Healthcare Index
63.8 +20.143.7
Safety Index
25.3
44.3 +19.0
Cost of Living Index
30 +1.531.46
Living Costs (Single, excl. rent)$645 $644.5 +0.5
Living Costs (Family, excl. rent)$2,299.6 +5.3$2,304.9
1BR Apartment (Center)$481.66 +51.14$532.8
1BR Apartment (Outside)$389.47 $377.15 +12.32
3BR Apartment (Center)$974.15 +298.74$1,272.89
3BR Apartment (Outside)$757.4 +126.63$884.03
Avg Internet Speed48.31 Mbps +19.428.87 Mbps

Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to expand the answer.

We use a "Pure Data" approach, pulling raw facts from high-authority sources including private sources for real-time crowd-sourced pricing, the World Bank for stability metrics, and official government visa portals.

The FIRE Score is a dynamic metric based on your Monthly Income vs. Total Expenses. It calculates your potential savings rate; the more you save, the higher the score.

Our indices (Quality of Life, Healthcare, Safety, Cost of Living) are relative metrics. For example, a higher Quality of Life Index indicates better purchasing power, safety, and healthcare, while a higher Cost of Living Index means the country is more expensive relative to others.

The Retiree Score is a holistic measure of how suitable a country is for long-term retirement. It is calculated from three main factors: healthcare system quality, safety index, and the general cost of living.

The Nomad Score measures how well a country supports remote workers. It is calculated from average internet speeds, the cost of living, and the safety index.

The "Single" toggle calculates costs based on a 1-Bedroom apartment. "Family" assumes a 3-Bedroom apartment and the expenses for a household of four.