Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Address: CD

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

38

Cost of Living Index in China
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China Living Index
63

Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Living Index

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🇨🇳 China

$791

/mo nomad

🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$1,310

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in China and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

China $791
Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,310

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $2,560 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

China $1,251
Democratic Republic of the Congo $2,560

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $3,810 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

China $1,711
Democratic Republic of the Congo $3,810

Internal cost variation is higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: monthly costs span $400 to $1,736, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Living in China costs about 40% less than in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 42% lower, the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 ¥19.84

$14.90 CDF 33.6K

-80.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.09 ¥147

$84.4 CDF 190.7K

-73.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ¥34.66

$9.82 CDF 22.2K

-47.05%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ¥19.77

$5.40 CDF 12.2K

-45.00%

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

$0.48 ¥3.19

$1.82 CDF 4,117

-73.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.01

$1.53 CDF 3,457

-80.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ¥7.19

$1.95 CDF 4,404

-44.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ¥15.18

$4.63 CDF 10.5K

-50.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ¥11.98

$2.03 CDF 4,591

-11.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 ¥11.17

$1.70 CDF 3,836

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.14

$2.54 CDF 5,747

-63.78%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥10.75

$3.28 CDF 7,399

-50.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ¥89.2

$8.08 CDF 18.3K

65.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 ¥22.31

$8.50 CDF 19.2K

-60.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 ¥75.7

$10.52 CDF 23.8K

7.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.14

$3.61 CDF 8,159

-49.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.71

$2.50 CDF 5,641

-47.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ¥9.91

$3.18 CDF 7,171

-53.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 ¥8.49

$2.79 CDF 6,298

-54.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.74

$2.43 CDF 5,494

-70.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.22

$2.73 CDF 6,160

-65.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.12

$2.06 CDF 4,661

-69.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.75

$1.25 CDF 2,831

-55.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 ¥25.19

$4.52 CDF 10.2K

-16.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 ¥80.9

$15.18 CDF 34.3K

-20.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.55

$1.84 CDF 4,152

-54.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.23

$3.25 CDF 7,339

-48.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.92

$0.48 CDF 1,079

-39.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.83 ¥119

$18.61 CDF 42.0K

-4.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ¥9.91

$5.13 CDF 11.6K

-70.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.50

$1.31 CDF 2,954

-71.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.10 ¥47.31

$9.88 CDF 22.3K

-28.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.39

$1.73 CDF 3,904

-27.17%

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

$19.4K ¥129.6K

$20.2K CDF 45.7M

-3.83%

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

$17.5K ¥116.9K

$23.3K CDF 52.6M

-24.76%

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

$54.6 ¥364

$91.5 CDF 206.6K

-40.37%

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

$8.73 ¥58.2

$20.56 CDF 46.4K

-57.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.07 ¥73.8

$70.4 CDF 158.9K

-84.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.77 ¥272

$57.0 CDF 128.8K

-28.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.48 ¥96.5

$21.55 CDF 48.7K

-32.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 ¥45.19

$15.27 CDF 34.5K

-55.60%

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

$517 ¥3,443

$250 CDF 564.4K

106.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K ¥132.0K

$5,105 CDF 11.5M

288.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.53 ¥310

$32.34 CDF 73.0K

43.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.66 ¥238

$38.91 CDF 87.9K

-8.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 ¥513

$70.3 CDF 158.7K

9.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 ¥535

$99.3 CDF 224.2K

-19.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 ¥2,572

$1,574 CDF 3.6M

-75.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ¥1,563

$353 CDF 798.0K

-33.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥5,478

$3,547 CDF 8.0M

-76.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥3,020

$1,493 CDF 3.4M

-69.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,697 ¥31.3K

$3,668 CDF 8.3M

28.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,372 ¥15.8K

$1,003 CDF 2.3M

136.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,093 ¥7,286

$629 CDF 1.4M

73.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.46

13.33

-74.04%

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

Last update for China: October 24, 2026

Last update for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

China

$235 29.6%