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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,035 per month in Goma vs $781 in Bukavu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,544 per month in Goma vs $1,151 in Bukavu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,053 per month in Goma vs $1,520 in Bukavu, rent included.

Goma costs about 32% more than Bukavu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Goma and Bukavu are more affordable than the global median – Goma 23% lower, Bukavu 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.42 CDF 28.1K

$6.08 CDF 13.8K

104.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.41 CDF 102.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 CDF 22.5K

$5.04 CDF 11.4K

97.42%

Cappuccino

$3.54 CDF 8,004

$5.06 CDF 11.4K

-30.04%

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

$0.98 CDF 2,209

$1.23 CDF 2,773

-20.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CDF 2,224

$1.01 CDF 2,290

-2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 CDF 3,646

$2.19 CDF 4,958

-26.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 CDF 11.1K

$2.98 CDF 6,744

64.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 CDF 3,323

$1.49 CDF 3,360

-1.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 CDF 4,456

$1.97 CDF 4,454

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CDF 3,541

$1.34 CDF 3,032

17.16%

Eggs

$1.67 CDF 3,769

$4.03 CDF 9,116

-58.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 CDF 13.7K

$5.20 CDF 11.8K

16.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 CDF 14.3K

$4.54 CDF 10.3K

39.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 CDF 11.3K

$6.06 CDF 13.7K

-17.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 CDF 4,616

$3.96 CDF 8,945

-48.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 CDF 4,423

$0.98 CDF 2,206

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 CDF 4,014

$0.99 CDF 2,229

79.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 CDF 6,980

$1.12 CDF 2,523

175.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 CDF 1,171

$1.28 CDF 2,886

-59.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CDF 4,576

$1.98 CDF 4,469

2.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.94 CDF 6,646

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 CDF 1,549

$2.01 CDF 4,550

-65.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.12 CDF 11.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.70 CDF 33.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 CDF 4,616

$2.01 CDF 4,548

1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 CDF 5,159

$1.97 CDF 4,459

15.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 CDF 590

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.80 CDF 33.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 CDF 9,305

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 CDF 4,566

$1.53 CDF 3,451

32.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 CDF 17.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,306

$1.32 CDF 2,983

-22.73%

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

$15.2K CDF 34.3M

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

$17.2K CDF 38.8M

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

$199 CDF 448.8K

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

$14.77 CDF 33.4K

$25.14 CDF 56.8K

-41.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CDF 126.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.44 CDF 66.6K

$35.58 CDF 80.4K

-17.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.88 CDF 22.3K

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 CDF 6,635

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

$74.9 CDF 169.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,178 CDF 2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.39 CDF 46.1K

$40.75 CDF 92.1K

-49.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 CDF 100.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 CDF 115.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CDF 229.0K

$121 CDF 274.2K

-16.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 CDF 1.1M

$301 CDF 681.5K

63.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 CDF 675.3K

$172 CDF 389.0K

73.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 CDF 1.8M

$505 CDF 1.1M

57.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 CDF 1.1M

$270 CDF 610.3K

85.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,006 CDF 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $492 in Goma versus $301 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 32%, 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 $1,552 per month in Goma and $1,172 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 $1,035 in Goma and $781 in Bukavu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% 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 $781, than in Goma at $1,035. 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.