For one person, living is cheaper in Brazil: $865 a month against $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
How much you'll spend in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Brazil
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Brazil actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,310 per month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vs $865 in Brazil, rent included.
Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,310
Brazil $865
A couple spends around $2,560 per month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vs $1,373 in Brazil, rent included.
Democratic Republic of the Congo $2,560
Brazil $1,373
A family of three spends $3,810 per month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vs $1,880 in Brazil, rent included.
Democratic Republic of the Congo $3,810
Brazil $1,880
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($400–$1,736) than in Brazil ($569–$1,349), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is about 51% higher than in Brazil on average.
📊
Both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazil are more affordable than the global median – the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4% lower, Brazil 36% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.90CDF 33.6K
$6.55R$35.08
127.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4CDF 190.7K
$30.71R$164
174.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.82CDF 22.2K
$7.45R$39.89
31.81%
Cappuccino
$5.40CDF 12.2K
$1.91R$10.22
182.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82CDF 4,117
$1.15R$6.18
58.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53CDF 3,457
$0.76R$4.04
101.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95CDF 4,404
$1.85R$9.90
5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63CDF 10.5K
$2.86R$15.28
61.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03CDF 4,591
$1.03R$5.52
97.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70CDF 3,836
$1.57R$8.38
8.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54CDF 5,747
$1.24R$6.61
104.84%
Eggs
$3.28CDF 7,399
$2.10R$11.26
56.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.08CDF 18.3K
$8.87R$47.45
-8.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.50CDF 19.2K
$3.99R$21.37
113.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.52CDF 23.8K
$7.76R$41.51
35.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61CDF 8,159
$2.15R$11.53
67.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50CDF 5,641
$1.27R$6.80
96.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18CDF 7,171
$1.16R$6.18
174.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.79CDF 6,298
$1.53R$8.18
82.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43CDF 5,494
$1.16R$6.21
109.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.73CDF 6,160
$1.02R$5.46
167.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.06CDF 4,661
$0.74R$3.97
178.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25CDF 2,831
$0.72R$3.84
73.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52CDF 10.2K
$2.25R$12.06
100.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.18CDF 34.3K
$7.65R$40.94
98.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84CDF 4,152
$1.30R$6.97
41.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25CDF 7,339
$2.16R$11.58
50.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48CDF 1,079
$0.94R$5.03
-48.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.61CDF 42.0K
$44.00R$235
-57.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13CDF 11.6K
$1.23R$6.58
317.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31CDF 2,954
$0.96R$5.11
36.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.88CDF 22.3K
$7.42R$39.70
33.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73CDF 3,904
$1.21R$6.49
42.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KCDF 45.7M
$22.1KR$118.5K
-8.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KCDF 52.6M
$31.6KR$168.9K
-26.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.5CDF 206.6K
$77.2R$413
18.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.56CDF 46.4K
$12.44R$66.6
65.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.4CDF 158.9K
$19.80R$106
255.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.0CDF 128.8K
$24.36R$130
134.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.55CDF 48.7K
$25.46R$136
-15.36%
Cinema Ticket
$15.27CDF 34.5K
$6.98R$37.37
118.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250CDF 564.4K
$316R$1,690
-20.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,105CDF 11.5M
$8,298R$44.4K
-38.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.34CDF 73.0K
$49.37R$264
-34.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.91CDF 87.9K
$45.73R$245
-14.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3CDF 158.7K
$83.4R$446
-15.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3CDF 224.2K
$65.6R$351
51.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,574CDF 3.6M
$373R$1,996
321.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353CDF 798.0K
$251R$1,341
41.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,547CDF 8.0M
$719R$3,847
393.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493CDF 3.4M
$490R$2,624
204.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,668CDF 8.3M
$1,795R$9,605
104.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,003CDF 2.3M
$1,269R$6,791
-20.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$629CDF 1.4M
$496R$2,657
26.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.33
11.17
19.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 25, 2026
Last update for Brazil: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$353 27%
Brazil
$251 29% ↓ 29.1%$103
🛒Groceries & Markets
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$301 23%
Brazil
$183 21.2% ↓ 39.1%$118
🍽Eating Out
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$246 18.8%
Brazil
$120 13.9% ↓ 51.1%$126
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$182 13.9%
Brazil
$109 12.6% ↓ 40%$73
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$108 8.3%
Brazil
$110 12.7% ↑ 1.4%$1.5
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$88 6.7%
Brazil
$38 4.4% ↓ 56.2%$49
🚌Getting Around
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$32 2.5%
Brazil
$54 6.2% ↑ 67%$22
🏠Accommodation & Living
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$1.5K 39.2%
Brazil
$490 26.1% ↓ 67.2%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$688 18.1%
Brazil
$420 22.3% ↓ 38.9%$268
🍽Eating Out
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$923 24.2%
Brazil
$392 20.9% ↓ 57.5%$531
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$203 5.3%
Brazil
$122 6.5% ↓ 40%$81
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$241 6.3%
Brazil
$244 13% ↑ 1.4%$3.3
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$197 5.2%
Brazil
$102 5.4% ↓ 48.1%$95
🚌Getting Around
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$65 1.7%
Brazil
$109 5.8% ↑ 67.4%$44
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,280 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vs $335 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,698 in Kinshasa and $517 in Brasilia.
💰Average salary: $633 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vs $468 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 282% higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⭐Dining out costs 110% more in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⭐Public transport is 139% more expensive in Brazil.
⭐Salaries are 35% higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Democratic Republic of the Congo→Brazil7,010 km≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazil
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
Democratic Republic of the Congo vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 34% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Housing costs more in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a central one-bedroom averages $1,280 versus $335 in Brazil.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Brazil is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Democratic Republic of the Congo vs other spots: cost of living compared