Introduction
The following, unless otherwise stated, is a list of approximate building cost rates per m² of construction area for various building types in Namibia. The rates represent the average expected building cost rates for 2012. It is stressed that these rates are purely of an indicative nature and should be used with circumspection, as they are dependent upon a number of variables as stated elsewhere in ‘Principles of single rate estimates’
The area of the building expressed in m² is equivalent to the ‘construction area’ where appropriate, as defined in the ‘Method for Measuring Floor Areas in Buildings’ First Edition (effective from1st August 2005), published by the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA)
Rates include the cost of appropriate building Services, e.g. air-conditioning, electrical, etc. but exclude costs of site infrastructure development, parking, any future escalation, loss of interest, professional fees and VAT
Approximate Building Cost Rates in Namibia (2012)
| OFFICES |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Low-rise office park development with standard specification |
N$ 5 300 - N$ 6 300 |
| Low rise prestigious office park development |
N$ 7 000 - N$ 10 600 |
| High rise tower block with standard specification |
N$ 8 100 - N$ 10 600 |
| High rise prestigious tower block |
N$ 10 600 - N$ 12 600 |
Note: The aforegoing rates include appropriate tenant allowances incorporating carpets, wallpaper, louvre drapes, partitions, lighting, air-conditioning and electrical reticulation
| PARKING |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Parking on grade including integral landscaping and ground preparation |
N$ 500 - N$ 600 |
| Structured parking above ground |
N$ 4 100 - N$ 4 900 |
| Parking in semi-basement |
N$ 4 000 - N$ 5 200 |
| Parking in basement |
N$ 4 100 - N$ 5 700 |
| RETAIL |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Suburban strip shopping - value centre |
N$ 6 300 - N$ 9 100 |
| Regional shopping centre comprising supermarket chain store, national chains, line shops and enclosed malls |
N$ 9 100 - N$ 10 400 |
Note : The above rates include for the cost of tenant requirements and specifications of national chain stores
| INDUSTRIAL |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Steel frame, corrugated steel cladding and roof sheeting |
N$ 4 000 - N$ 5 300 |
| Steel frame, brickwork to ceiling height, corrugated steel cladding above and roof sheeting |
N$ 4 400 - N$ 5 800 |
| Administration offices, ablution and change room block |
N$ 6 500 - N$ 7 400 |
Industrial warehouse including small office area and change facilities within structure (architect/engineer-designed)
| RESIDENTIAL |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Low cost housing |
N$ 3 400 - N$ 4 600 |
| Simple low rise apartment block |
N$ 6 200 - N$ 7 600 |
| Duplex townhouse - economic |
N$ 6 200 - N$ 7 600 |
| Prestige apartment block |
N$ 8 600 - N$ 11 900 |
| Private dwelling houses: - economic |
N$ 4 600 - N$ 8 300 |
| Private dwelling houses: - standard |
N$ 6 100 - N$ 10 000 |
| Private dwelling houses: - middle class |
N$ 6 700 - N$ 10 800 |
| Private dwelling houses: - luxury |
N$ 9 000 - N$ 13 500 |
| Private dwelling houses: - exclusive |
N$ 11 900 - N$ 17 100 |
| Private dwelling houses: - exceptional (‘super luxury’) |
N$ 24 300 - N$ 48 500 |
| Outbuildings |
N$ 3 300 - N$ 4 500 |
| ANCILLARY WORKS |
RATE PER NO (Excl VAT) |
| Site services to low cost housing stand (250 - 350m²) |
N$ 36 400 - N$ 60 600 |
| Carport (shaded) - single |
N$ 4 200 - N$ 7 800 |
| Carport (shaded) - double |
N$ 6 700 - N$ 10 800 |
| Carport (covered) - single |
N$ 5 700 - N$ 9 600 |
| Carport (covered) - double |
N$ 9 200 - N$ 13 800 |
| Swimming pool - not exceeding 50 kl |
N$ 95 800 - N$ 118 800 |
| Swimming pool - exceeding 50 kl and not exceeding 100 kl |
N$ 95 800 - N$ 134 400 |
| Tennis court- standard |
N$ 194 000 - N$ 253 400 |
| Tennis court- floodlit |
N$ 218 300 - N$ 282 900 |
| CLINICS |
RATE PER NO (Excl VAT) |
| 150-bed, 5-theatre (excluding doctors’ accommodation) |
N$ 727 600 - N$ 1 030 800 |
| HOTELS |
RATE (Excl VAT) |
| Limited service |
N$ 460 800 - N$ 667 000 |
| Resort style |
N$ 1 576 500 - N$ 1 788 700 |
| Luxury |
N$ 1 788 700 - N$ 2 486 000 |
Note: The rates stated above for a luxury hotel is based on a hotel having a ratio of approximately 35m² of back-of-house and public areas such as conference rooms, entrance foyers, lounges and restaurants per room. This ratio can vary considerably with different types of hotels, e.g. limited service and resort hotels, CBD business hotels or casino complexes
| STUDIOS |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Studios - dancing, art exhibitions, etc |
N$ 10 400 - N$ 13 500 |
| CONFERENCE CENTRES |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Conference centre to international standards |
N$ 18 200 - N$ 23 200 |
| RETIREMENT CENTRES |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Dwelling houses - middle class |
N$ 6 200 - N$ 10 600 |
| Dwelling houses - luxury |
N$ 8 200 - N$ 13 000 |
| Apartment block - middle class |
N$ 7 000 - N$ 11 500 |
| Apartment block - luxury |
N$ 8 500 - N$ 13 300 |
| Community centre - middle class |
N$ 8 000 - N$ 12 700 |
| Community centre - luxury |
N$ 11 000 - N$ 16 400 |
Note: The above rates exclude frail care facilities
| SCHOOLS |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Primary school |
N$ 5 900 - N$ 7 200 |
| Secondary school |
N$ 6 300 - N$ 7 800 |
| STADIUMS |
RATE PER NO (Excl VAT) |
| Stadium to PSL standards including partial roofing and seating to main stand and VIP areas, public seating on concrete stands and facilities, change rooms, field preparation, irrigation, drainage, access control, PA system and floodlighting |
N$ 19 400 - N$ 23 600 |
| Stadium to FIFA standards including roofed public seating, private suites, bar facilities, change rooms, press and VIP areas, field preparation, irrigation, drainage, access control, PA system, video displays, floodlighting and CCTV |
N$ 42 400 - N$ 49 700 |
| PRISONS |
RATE PER NO (Excl VAT) |
| New generation prison |
N$ 181 900 - N$ 218 300 |
BUILDING SERVICES
The following rates are for building services (mechanical and electrical) applicable to typical building types in the categories indicated. Rates are dependent on various factors related to the design of the building and the requirements of the system In particular the design, and therefore the cost of air-conditioning can vary appreciably depending on the orientation, shading, extent and type of glazing, external wall and roof construction, etc
| ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Office buildings - standard installation |
N$ 400 - N$ 550 |
| Office buildings - sophisticated |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Installation |
N$ 600 - N$ 720 |
| Residential |
N$ 500 - N$ 490 |
| Shopping centres |
N$ 500 - N$ 640 |
| Hotels |
N$ 800 - N$ 930 |
| ELECTRONIC INSTALLATION (OFFICES) |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Access control |
N$ 100 - N$ 190 |
| Fire detection |
N$ 85 - N$ 140 |
| CCTV |
N$ 180 - N$ 230 |
| Data installation |
N$ 400 - N$ 850 |
| FIRE PROTECTION INSTALLATION (OFFICES) |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Sprinkler system including hydrants and hose reels (excluding void sprinklers) |
N$ 210 - N$ 280 |
| AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLATION |
RATE PER m² (Excl VAT) |
| Ventilation to parking/service areas |
N$ 240 - N$ 420 |
| Office buildings - console units |
N$ 530 - N$ 650 |
| Office buildings - console/split units |
N$ 650 - N$ 850 |
| Office buildings - package units |
N$ 800 - N$ 1 020 |
| Office buildings - central plant |
N$ 1 080 - N$ 1 330 |
| Residential - split units |
N$ 820 - N$ 1 140 |
| Shopping centres - split units |
N$ 740 - N$ 910 |
| Shopping centres - package units |
N$ 740 - N$ 1 330 |
| Hotels - public areas |
N$ 1 180 - N$ 1 700 |
| Hospitals - split units to wards |
N$ 1 330 - N$ 1 700 |
| Hotels - console units |
N$ 15 800 - N$ 21 200 |
| Hotels - split units |
N$ 30 300 - N$ 40 000 |
| Hotels - central plant |
N$ 50 900 - N$ 65 000 |
| Hospitals - operating theatres |
N$ 188 000 - N$ 637 000 |