Last update: Oct 2026

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

Name: China
Address: CN

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.

63

Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Living Index
38

Cost of Living Index in China
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China Living Index

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🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$1,310

/mo nomad

🇨🇳 China

$791

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 the Democratic Republic of the Congo is roughly 66% more expensive than in China on average.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.90 CDF 33.6K

$2.98 ¥19.84

400.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 CDF 190.7K

$22.09 ¥147

282.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 CDF 22.2K

$5.20 ¥34.66

88.85%

Cappuccino

$5.40 CDF 12.2K

$2.97 ¥19.77

81.82%

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

$1.82 CDF 4,117

$0.48 ¥3.19

279.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 CDF 3,457

$0.30 ¥2.01

410.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 CDF 4,404

$1.08 ¥7.19

80.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 CDF 10.5K

$2.28 ¥15.18

103.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CDF 4,591

$1.80 ¥11.98

12.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 CDF 3,836

$1.68 ¥11.17

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 CDF 5,747

$0.92 ¥6.14

176.09%

Eggs

$3.28 CDF 7,399

$1.61 ¥10.75

103.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 CDF 18.3K

$13.38 ¥89.2

-39.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 CDF 19.2K

$3.35 ¥22.31

153.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.52 CDF 23.8K

$11.35 ¥75.7

-7.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CDF 8,159

$1.82 ¥12.14

98.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 CDF 5,641

$1.31 ¥8.71

90.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 CDF 7,171

$1.49 ¥9.91

113.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 CDF 6,298

$1.27 ¥8.49

119.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CDF 5,494

$0.71 ¥4.74

242.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CDF 6,160

$0.93 ¥6.22

193.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 CDF 4,661

$0.62 ¥4.12

232.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 CDF 2,831

$0.56 ¥3.75

123.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 CDF 10.2K

$3.78 ¥25.19

19.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 CDF 34.3K

$12.13 ¥80.9

25.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 CDF 4,152

$0.83 ¥5.55

121.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CDF 7,339

$1.68 ¥11.23

93.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 CDF 1,079

$0.29 ¥1.92

65.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.61 CDF 42.0K

$17.83 ¥119

4.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 CDF 11.6K

$1.49 ¥9.91

244.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CDF 2,954

$0.37 ¥2.50

254.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 CDF 22.3K

$7.10 ¥47.31

39.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 CDF 3,904

$1.26 ¥8.39

37.30%

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

$20.2K CDF 45.7M

$19.4K ¥129.6K

3.99%

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

$23.3K CDF 52.6M

$17.5K ¥116.9K

32.90%

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

$91.5 CDF 206.6K

$54.6 ¥364

67.71%

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

$20.56 CDF 46.4K

$8.73 ¥58.2

135.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 CDF 158.9K

$11.07 ¥73.8

535.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 CDF 128.8K

$40.77 ¥272

39.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CDF 48.7K

$14.48 ¥96.5

48.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 CDF 34.5K

$6.78 ¥45.19

125.22%

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

$250 CDF 564.4K

$517 ¥3,443

-51.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,105 CDF 11.5M

$19.8K ¥132.0K

-74.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.34 CDF 73.0K

$46.53 ¥310

-30.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.91 CDF 87.9K

$35.66 ¥238

9.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 CDF 158.7K

$77.0 ¥513

-8.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 CDF 224.2K

$80.3 ¥535

23.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 CDF 3.6M

$386 ¥2,572

307.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 CDF 798.0K

$235 ¥1,563

50.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,547 CDF 8.0M

$822 ¥5,478

331.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 CDF 3.4M

$453 ¥3,020

229.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,668 CDF 8.3M

$4,697 ¥31.3K

-21.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,003 CDF 2.3M

$2,372 ¥15.8K

-57.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 CDF 1.4M

$1,093 ¥7,286

-42.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

3.46

285.26%

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 China: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living