Cost of Living Comparison Between Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa

😐 Solo nomad: Democratic Republic of the Congo is 32.3% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Democratic Republic of the Congo is 42.2% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 44.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94 CDF 28.5K
$9.05 R 161
9.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.9 CDF 254.7K
$38.84 R 691
128.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.14 CDF 29K
$4.9 R 87.1
106.94%
Cappuccino
$5.31 CDF 15.2K
$1.98 R 35.28
168.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CDF 4,687
$0.96 R 17.06
70.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 CDF 3,908
$0.75 R 13.31
81.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 CDF 5,851
$2.18 R 38.72
-6.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 CDF 10.7K
$2.54 R 45.1
46.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CDF 6,193
$1.1 R 19.58
96.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 CDF 4,885
$1.03 R 18.32
66.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 CDF 6,116
$1.56 R 27.71
37.18%
Eggs
$3.35 CDF 9,596
$2.25 R 39.93
48.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.22 CDF 17.8K
$7.67 R 136
-18.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 CDF 17.7K
$4.62 R 82.2
33.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.19 CDF 26.3K
$6.86 R 122
33.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 CDF 8,106
$1.58 R 28.02
79.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 CDF 5,688
$1.42 R 25.3
40.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 CDF 8,126
$1.44 R 25.58
97.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 CDF 6,957
$1.49 R 26.5
63.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CDF 6,947
$1.25 R 22.16
94.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 CDF 7,220
$1.34 R 23.81
88.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 CDF 5,204
$1.09 R 19.31
66.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 CDF 3,062
$0.96 R 17.15
11.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.88 CDF 14K
$2.9 R 51.6
68.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.9 CDF 42.7K
$5.07 R 90.3
193.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 CDF 4,684
$1.38 R 24.49
18.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 CDF 8,439
$1.68 R 29.79
75.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 CDF 1,478
$1.71 R 30.47
-69.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.95 CDF 42.8K
$45.01 R 801
-66.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 CDF 14.5K
$1.1 R 19.61
360.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 CDF 5,787
$1.09 R 19.41
85.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.04 CDF 28.8K
$4.8 R 85.3
109.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 CDF 3,985
$1.31 R 23.23
6.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K CDF 56.5M
$21K R 374.2K
-6.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CDF 60.7M
$23.7K R 421.3K
-10.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 CDF 609K
$113 R 2,009
88.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.22 CDF 57.9K
$33.11 R 589
-38.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.1 CDF 243.7K
$41.49 R 738
105.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 CDF 149.6K
$31.69 R 564
64.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.39 CDF 32.6K
$9.45 R 168
20.53%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 CDF 39.4K
$6.7 R 119
105.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 CDF 989.4K
$186 R 3,303
86.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,834 CDF 8.1M
$4,336 R 77.1K
-34.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.91 CDF 94.2K
$48.56 R 864
-32.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.6 CDF 113.4K
$30.74 R 547
28.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 CDF 206K
$92 R 1,636
-21.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 CDF 287.3K
$79.6 R 1,415
26.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 CDF 3.6M
$442 R 7,860
187.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$362 CDF 1M
$370 R 6,579
-2.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 CDF 7.8M
$880 R 15.7K
210.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 CDF 3M
$724 R 12.9K
42.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,122 CDF 11.8M
$1,021 R 18.2K
303.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$697 CDF 2M
$803 R 14.3K
-13.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 CDF 1.7M
$1,406 R 25K
-57.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
11.55
47.19%

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

Last update for Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 29, 2025

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

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