Windhoek has cheapest beef stew in January

THE price of beef stew was the cheapest in Windhoek, compared to the rest of the country, in January.

Data from the Namibia Statistics Agency on the latest consumer price index shows that residents in zone 2 (the Khomas region) paid N$100.79 for beef stew per kg, which is about N$14 less than what was paid in other regions.

Residents of zone 1 (the Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions) paid N$113.24.

Meanwhile, zone 3 (the ||Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke regions) residents paid the highest price at N$115.21.

Zone 3 also recorded the highest price for beef mince at N$116.27, followed by the Khomas region at N$115.07 and zone 1 at N$110.40.

Statistician general Alex Shimuafeni says overall inflation in the country for January was 2.9% – a decline when compared to 3.2% recorded in January last year.

“On a monthly basis, inflation increased to 0.8% from 0.1% observed in the preceding month,” he says.

Meanwhile, core inflation stood at 3.2%, slightly higher than the headline inflation.

Shimuafeni says analysis of average retail prices for selected products in January 2026 shows that consumers in zone 2 paid the highest price for biltong (per kg) at N$535.71, followed by zone 1 at N$508.50, while zone 3 recorded the lowest price at N$430.16.

For whiskey (750 ml bottles), consumers in zone 2 paid the lowest average price at N$258.00, followed by zone 1 at N$262.80, while zone 3 recorded the highest price at N$262.85.

The biggest driver of inflation in January was housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which contributed 1.1%.

In this category, an increase on rental prices was the biggest contributor.

“Rental payments for dwellings (for both owners and renters) rose form 3.2% to 4.9%,” Shimuafeni says.

This was followed by alcoholic beverages and tobacco, contributing 0.5% and food and non-alcoholic beverages, which contributed 0.4%.

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