Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: $1,306 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Istanbul outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

63

Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Living Index
74

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index

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🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$1,306

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,526

/mo nomad

😐 Solo nomad: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is 7.1% more expensive than Istanbul without rent, and 14.4% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is 12.2% more expensive than Istanbul without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.10 CDF 34.7K

$11.88 ₺585

27.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 CDF 194.9K

$55.1 ₺2,714

53.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 CDF 23.3K

$9.14 ₺450

10.83%

Cappuccino

$5.64 CDF 13.0K

$4.24 ₺209

33.02%

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

$1.81 CDF 4,170

$1.75 ₺86.0

3.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 CDF 3,520

$0.54 ₺26.83

183.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 CDF 4,724

$4.69 ₺231

-56.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 CDF 10.5K

$5.97 ₺294

-23.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CDF 4,872

$1.26 ₺62.1

68.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 CDF 3,987

$0.95 ₺46.81

82.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 CDF 6,043

$2.31 ₺114

13.85%

Eggs

$3.16 CDF 7,272

$2.47 ₺122

27.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 CDF 19.1K

$10.55 ₺520

-21.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.65 CDF 19.9K

$5.60 ₺276

54.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.24 CDF 23.6K

$21.21 ₺1,045

-51.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 CDF 8,077

$1.93 ₺95.1

81.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 CDF 5,641

$2.29 ₺113

6.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 CDF 7,433

$1.28 ₺63.1

152.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.81 CDF 6,472

$1.84 ₺90.8

52.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CDF 5,608

$0.67 ₺32.86

264.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 CDF 6,369

$0.59 ₺29.31

369.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 CDF 4,702

$1.33 ₺65.4

53.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CDF 2,844

$0.59 ₺29.10

110.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 CDF 10.1K

$2.36 ₺116

86.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 CDF 33.9K

$13.47 ₺664

9.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 CDF 4,237

$2.42 ₺119

-23.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CDF 7,686

$3.54 ₺174

-5.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 CDF 1,114

$0.83 ₺40.64

-42.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 CDF 42.2K

$66.5 ₺3,273

-72.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 CDF 11.8K

$1.35 ₺66.6

279.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CDF 2,986

$0.85 ₺42.05

52.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.18 CDF 23.4K

$10.86 ₺535

-6.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 CDF 4,025

$1.47 ₺72.3

19.05%

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

$20.3K CDF 46.7M

$51.6K ₺2.5M

-60.70%

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

$23.2K CDF 53.3M

$44.4K ₺2.2M

-47.90%

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

$91.1 CDF 209.4K

$89.2 ₺4,395

2.05%

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

$20.72 CDF 47.7K

$11.60 ₺572

78.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 CDF 162.2K

$16.10 ₺793

337.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 CDF 132.9K

$77.3 ₺3,805

-25.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 CDF 48.8K

$22.66 ₺1,116

-6.27%

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 CDF 34.5K

$8.34 ₺411

79.62%

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

$251 CDF 577.9K

$974 ₺48.0K

-74.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,049 CDF 11.6M

$25.8K ₺1.3M

-80.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.79 CDF 75.4K

$52.7 ₺2,597

-37.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 CDF 89.1K

$39.16 ₺1,929

-1.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 CDF 165.5K

$103 ₺5,083

-30.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CDF 235.2K

$96.6 ₺4,759

5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 CDF 3.7M

$994 ₺49.0K

60.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 CDF 799.0K

$629 ₺31.0K

-44.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,618 CDF 8.3M

$2,024 ₺99.7K

78.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,507 CDF 3.5M

$1,155 ₺56.9K

30.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,653 CDF 8.4M

$3,160 ₺155.7K

15.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,004 CDF 2.3M

$1,838 ₺90.5K

-45.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 CDF 1.5M

$1,203 ₺59.3K

-47.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

41.09

-67.56%

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

Last update for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 4, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living