Last update: Oct 2026

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

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

For one person, living is cheaper in South Africa: $1,203 a month against $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo despite lower rent and utilities.

63

Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in South Africa
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South Africa Living Index

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🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$1,310

/mo nomad

🇿🇦 South Africa

$1,203

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 South Africa 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 $1,203 in South Africa.

Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,310
South Africa $1,203

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,560 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo versus $1,893 in South Africa.

Democratic Republic of the Congo $2,560
South Africa $1,893

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,810 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo versus $2,583 in South Africa.

Democratic Republic of the Congo $3,810
South Africa $2,583

Internal cost variation is higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: monthly costs span $400 to $1,736, compared to $618–$1,556 in South Africa. City choice carries more weight in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is roughly 9% more expensive than in South Africa on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4% lower, South Africa 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.90 CDF 33.6K

$10.67 R 177

39.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 CDF 190.7K

$41.66 R 693

102.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 CDF 22.2K

$5.80 R 96.5

69.31%

Cappuccino

$5.40 CDF 12.2K

$2.36 R 39.23

128.81%

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

$1.82 CDF 4,117

$1.12 R 18.56

62.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 CDF 3,457

$0.90 R 15.00

70.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 CDF 4,404

$2.42 R 40.20

-19.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 CDF 10.5K

$3.06 R 50.9

51.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CDF 4,591

$1.18 R 19.58

72.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 CDF 3,836

$1.13 R 18.83

50.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 CDF 5,747

$1.74 R 28.90

45.98%

Eggs

$3.28 CDF 7,399

$2.57 R 42.80

27.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 CDF 18.3K

$8.43 R 140

-4.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 CDF 19.2K

$5.12 R 85.1

66.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.52 CDF 23.8K

$7.59 R 126

38.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CDF 8,159

$1.77 R 29.52

103.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 CDF 5,641

$1.74 R 28.90

43.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 CDF 7,171

$1.77 R 29.43

79.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 CDF 6,298

$1.76 R 29.26

58.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CDF 5,494

$1.49 R 24.81

63.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CDF 6,160

$1.47 R 24.38

85.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 CDF 4,661

$1.23 R 20.52

67.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 CDF 2,831

$1.10 R 18.25

13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 CDF 10.2K

$3.24 R 54.0

39.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 CDF 34.3K

$5.00 R 83.2

203.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 CDF 4,152

$1.50 R 24.90

22.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CDF 7,339

$1.94 R 32.26

67.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 CDF 1,079

$1.48 R 24.58

-67.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.61 CDF 42.0K

$59.3 R 986

-68.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 CDF 11.6K

$1.09 R 18.21

370.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CDF 2,954

$0.99 R 16.46

32.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 CDF 22.3K

$7.46 R 124

32.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 CDF 3,904

$1.43 R 23.76

20.98%

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

$20.2K CDF 45.7M

$35.3K R 587.4K

-42.72%

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

$23.3K CDF 52.6M

$32.4K R 539.7K

-28.15%

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

$91.5 CDF 206.6K

$133 R 2,208

-31.07%

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

$20.56 CDF 46.4K

$34.83 R 580

-40.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 CDF 158.9K

$39.76 R 662

76.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 CDF 128.8K

$33.09 R 551

72.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CDF 48.7K

$11.65 R 194

84.98%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 CDF 34.5K

$7.18 R 119

112.67%

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

$250 CDF 564.4K

$224 R 3,728

11.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,105 CDF 11.5M

$5,462 R 90.9K

-6.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.34 CDF 73.0K

$54.2 R 902

-40.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.91 CDF 87.9K

$34.13 R 568

14.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 CDF 158.7K

$102 R 1,699

-31.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 CDF 224.2K

$88.5 R 1,472

12.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 CDF 3.6M

$492 R 8,189

219.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 CDF 798.0K

$398 R 6,617

-11.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,547 CDF 8.0M

$946 R 15.7K

274.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 CDF 3.4M

$827 R 13.8K

80.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,668 CDF 8.3M

$1,099 R 18.3K

233.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,003 CDF 2.3M

$769 R 12.8K

30.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 CDF 1.4M

$1,502 R 25.0K

-58.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

11.23

18.70%

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 South Africa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living