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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $422 per month in Goma vs $685 in Bukavu, rent included.

A couple spends around $738 per month in Goma vs $1,097 in Bukavu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,054 per month in Goma vs $1,508 in Bukavu, rent included.

Goma is about 38% cheaper than Bukavu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Goma and Bukavu are more affordable than the global median – Goma 69% lower, Bukavu 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 CDF 34.1K

$7.39 CDF 16.7K

103.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.76 CDF 101.3K

$15.28 CDF 34.6K

192.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 CDF 22.9K

$5.12 CDF 11.6K

98.05%

Cappuccino

$3.53 CDF 7,983

$3.92 CDF 8,865

-9.95%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,305

$1.46 CDF 3,300

-30.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CDF 2,207

$0.97 CDF 2,204

1.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 CDF 2,690

$2.02 CDF 4,578

-41.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

$2.91 CDF 6,590

69.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 CDF 2,215

$1.54 CDF 3,486

-36.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 CDF 4,653

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 CDF 2,678

$1.28 CDF 2,891

-7.81%

Eggs

$1.53 CDF 3,465

$4.26 CDF 9,638

-64.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 CDF 13.4K

$5.66 CDF 12.8K

4.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.56 CDF 5,791

$4.42 CDF 9,990

-42.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 CDF 11.5K

$5.84 CDF 13.2K

-12.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 CDF 4,632

$3.93 CDF 8,897

-47.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 CDF 2,233

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 CDF 3,418

$1.02 CDF 2,308

48.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 CDF 2,658

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 CDF 1,186

$1.21 CDF 2,744

-57.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 CDF 4,645

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.94 CDF 6,661

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 CDF 1,628

$2.02 CDF 4,562

-64.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 CDF 11.0K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 CDF 34.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CDF 4,582

$2.04 CDF 4,622

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 CDF 5,495

$1.97 CDF 4,449

23.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 CDF 543

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.05 CDF 34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 CDF 9,242

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 CDF 2,287

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 CDF 23.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 CDF 3,767

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

$15.1K CDF 34.2M

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

$16.9K CDF 38.1M

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

$14.88 CDF 33.7K

$24.63 CDF 55.7K

-39.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 CDF 136.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.71 CDF 67.2K

$35.53 CDF 80.4K

-16.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.02 CDF 22.7K

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

$76.1 CDF 172.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,187 CDF 2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.73 CDF 67.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.63 CDF 103.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.1 CDF 113.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CDF 275.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 CDF 230.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 CDF 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 CDF 446.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$992 CDF 2.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma versus $15.00 in Bukavu. Groceries tell a different story – $108 in Goma vs $239 in Bukavu – so Goma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Bukavu is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $632 per month in Goma and $1,028 in Bukavu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 121% more in Bukavu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma and $15.00 in Bukavu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $422 in Goma and $685 in Bukavu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Goma – 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 Goma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bukavu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.