Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukavu and Goma Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukavu and Goma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $760 per month in Bukavu vs $1,036 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Bukavu vs $1,523 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,546 per month in Bukavu vs $2,010 in Goma, rent included.

Bukavu is about 27% cheaper than Goma, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bukavu and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Bukavu 43% lower, Goma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.40 CDF 14.7K

$12.48 CDF 28.8K

-48.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.27 CDF 104.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 CDF 11.6K

$10.07 CDF 23.2K

-49.85%

Cappuccino

$4.88 CDF 11.2K

$3.40 CDF 7,827

43.53%

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

$1.28 CDF 2,949

$1.02 CDF 2,351

25.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,342

$1.02 CDF 2,346

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 CDF 5,211

$1.62 CDF 3,739

39.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CDF 7,009

$4.97 CDF 11.4K

-38.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 CDF 3,543

$1.54 CDF 3,545

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 CDF 4,531

$1.96 CDF 4,515

0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 CDF 3,126

$1.57 CDF 3,618

-13.38%

Eggs

$3.86 CDF 8,888

$1.63 CDF 3,756

136.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.28 CDF 12.2K

$5.86 CDF 13.5K

-9.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 CDF 10.6K

$6.33 CDF 14.6K

-27.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.83 CDF 13.4K

$4.93 CDF 11.4K

18.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 CDF 9,479

$1.96 CDF 4,521

110.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 CDF 2,273

$2.04 CDF 4,705

-51.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 CDF 2,266

$1.79 CDF 4,123

-45.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 CDF 2,557

$2.97 CDF 6,850

-62.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CDF 2,845

$0.48 CDF 1,103

156.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CDF 4,656

$1.96 CDF 4,510

3.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 CDF 6,938

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 CDF 4,646

$0.68 CDF 1,569

197.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 CDF 11.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.21 CDF 35.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,543

$2.03 CDF 4,672

-2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CDF 4,512

$2.23 CDF 5,137

-12.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 CDF 547

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 CDF 34.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 CDF 9,183

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 CDF 3,502

$1.95 CDF 4,481

-22.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 CDF 17.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 CDF 3,033

$1.01 CDF 2,329

30.69%

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

$14.7K CDF 34.0M

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

$17.3K CDF 39.8M

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

$198 CDF 456.1K

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

$24.63 CDF 56.7K

$14.83 CDF 34.2K

66.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 CDF 127.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.70 CDF 82.2K

$30.34 CDF 69.9K

17.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.95 CDF 22.9K

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 CDF 6,745

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

$74.7 CDF 172.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 CDF 2.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.60 CDF 93.5K

$19.95 CDF 46.0K

103.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.39 CDF 104.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 CDF 116.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CDF 277.7K

$99.3 CDF 228.7K

21.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 CDF 686.8K

$506 CDF 1.2M

-41.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 CDF 400.4K

$306 CDF 704.2K

-43.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 CDF 1.2M

$811 CDF 1.9M

-38.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 CDF 631.5K

$500 CDF 1.2M

-45.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$992 CDF 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$498 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$493 CDF 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bukavu: April 28, 2026

Last update for Goma: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Bukavu versus $506 in Goma. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Bukavu vs Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Goma is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,140 per month in Bukavu and $1,554 in Goma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bukavu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $760 in Bukavu and $1,036 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Goma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bukavu, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Goma at $1,036. In Bukavu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Goma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bukavu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bukavu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Goma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.