Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Goma

For one person, living is cheaper in Goma: $430 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $26,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Goma

🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$430

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Goma

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Goma actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $430 in Goma.

Austin, TX $2,663
Goma $430

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $751 in Goma.

Austin, TX $4,133
Goma $751

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,071 in Goma.

Austin, TX $5,603
Goma $1,071

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 520% more expensive than in Goma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Goma is 68% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$14.95 CDF 33.9K

38.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$45.52 CDF 103.1K

85.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$10.19 CDF 23.1K

20.90%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$3.51 CDF 7,960

60.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.03 CDF 2,331

261.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.01 CDF 2,292

147.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$1.19 CDF 2,685

576.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$5.03 CDF 11.4K

79.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.98 CDF 2,211

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.22 CDF 2,758

167.21%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$1.60 CDF 3,625

160.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$6.03 CDF 13.7K

113.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$2.57 CDF 5,814

450.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$5.02 CDF 11.4K

223.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.97 CDF 4,470

119.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.52 CDF 3,448

196.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.51 CDF 1,165

405.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.69 CDF 1,552

221.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.02 CDF 4,567

44.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.52 CDF 5,698

37.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 $229

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.4 $59.4

$14.71 CDF 33.3K

303.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$60.4 CDF 136.9K

15.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$30.38 CDF 68.8K

88.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Goma: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Goma

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Goma

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Goma

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Goma

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Goma

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Goma

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Goma

–

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $46.00 in Goma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $108 per month, with Goma cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇨🇩 Goma

🕒 Local time

07:15 7:15 AM

14:15 2:15 PM

7 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

2,000,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Congolese Franc CDF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

10,000 CDF = 4.41 USD

10,000 CDF = 3.93 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CDF, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇨🇩 Congolese Franc (Fr)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Congolese Franc exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2,265 CDF (10,000 CDF = 4.41 USD). 1 EUR = 2,547 CDF (10,000 CDF = 3.93 EUR).

CDF to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Goma 13,600 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Goma

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Goma wins on cost – living expenses run 520% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Goma the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $645 in Goma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $430 in Goma – a 520% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 275% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $430 in Goma versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Goma but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Goma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Goma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 520% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.