Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Bukavu Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Bukavu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,036 per month in Goma vs $760 in Bukavu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,523 per month in Goma vs $1,153 in Bukavu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Goma vs $1,546 in Bukavu, rent included.

Goma costs about 36% more than Bukavu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Goma and Bukavu are more affordable than the global median – Goma 23% lower, Bukavu 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.48 CDF 28.8K

$6.40 CDF 14.7K

95.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.27 CDF 104.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 CDF 23.2K

$5.05 CDF 11.6K

99.41%

Cappuccino

$3.40 CDF 7,827

$4.88 CDF 11.2K

-30.33%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,351

$1.28 CDF 2,949

-20.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,346

$1.02 CDF 2,342

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 CDF 3,739

$2.26 CDF 5,211

-28.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 CDF 11.4K

$3.04 CDF 7,009

63.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 CDF 3,545

$1.54 CDF 3,543

White Bread (500g)

$1.96 CDF 4,515

$1.97 CDF 4,531

-0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CDF 3,618

$1.36 CDF 3,126

15.44%

Eggs

$1.63 CDF 3,756

$3.86 CDF 8,888

-57.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 CDF 13.5K

$5.28 CDF 12.2K

10.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 CDF 14.6K

$4.62 CDF 10.6K

37.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.93 CDF 11.4K

$5.83 CDF 13.4K

-15.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 CDF 4,521

$4.12 CDF 9,479

-52.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 CDF 4,705

$0.99 CDF 2,273

106.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 CDF 4,123

$0.98 CDF 2,266

82.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 CDF 6,850

$1.11 CDF 2,557

167.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,103

$1.23 CDF 2,845

-60.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 CDF 4,510

$2.02 CDF 4,656

-2.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 CDF 6,938

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 CDF 1,569

$2.02 CDF 4,646

-66.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 CDF 11.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.21 CDF 35.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CDF 4,672

$1.97 CDF 4,543

3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CDF 5,137

$1.96 CDF 4,512

13.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 CDF 547

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 CDF 34.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 CDF 9,183

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 CDF 4,481

$1.52 CDF 3,502

28.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 CDF 17.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 CDF 2,329

$1.32 CDF 3,033

-23.48%

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

$14.7K CDF 34.0M

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

$17.3K CDF 39.8M

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

$198 CDF 456.1K

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

$14.83 CDF 34.2K

$24.63 CDF 56.7K

-39.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 CDF 127.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.34 CDF 69.9K

$35.70 CDF 82.2K

-15.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.95 CDF 22.9K

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 CDF 6,745

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

$74.7 CDF 172.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 CDF 2.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.95 CDF 46.0K

$40.60 CDF 93.5K

-50.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.39 CDF 104.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 CDF 116.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 CDF 228.7K

$121 CDF 277.7K

-17.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 CDF 1.2M

$298 CDF 686.8K

69.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 CDF 704.2K

$174 CDF 400.4K

75.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 CDF 1.9M

$502 CDF 1.2M

61.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 CDF 1.2M

$274 CDF 631.5K

82.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$992 CDF 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$498 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$493 CDF 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Goma: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Goma versus $298 in Bukavu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Goma vs Bukavu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Goma is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,554 per month in Goma and $1,140 in Bukavu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bukavu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,036 in Goma and $760 in Bukavu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Goma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bukavu, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Goma at $1,036. In Bukavu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Goma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bukavu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bukavu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Goma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.