Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Kinshasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Kinshasa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Goma vs $1,758 in Kinshasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $746 per month in Goma vs $3,046 in Kinshasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,061 per month in Goma vs $4,334 in Kinshasa, rent included.

Goma is about 75% cheaper than Kinshasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Goma sits 69% below the global median, while Kinshasa is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.86 CDF 33.6K

$17.67 CDF 40.0K

-15.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.24 CDF 102.4K

$85.1 CDF 192.7K

-46.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 CDF 22.2K

$14.78 CDF 33.5K

-33.63%

Cappuccino

$3.46 CDF 7,823

$6.70 CDF 15.2K

-48.36%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,303

$2.77 CDF 6,281

-63.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,309

$2.04 CDF 4,628

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 CDF 2,764

$2.43 CDF 5,505

-49.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 CDF 11.4K

$4.63 CDF 10.5K

8.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 CDF 2,207

$3.24 CDF 7,337

-70.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 CDF 4,971

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 CDF 2,646

$3.25 CDF 7,350

-64.00%

Eggs

$1.59 CDF 3,604

$3.93 CDF 8,904

-59.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 CDF 13.9K

$9.75 CDF 22.1K

-36.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 CDF 5,534

$16.53 CDF 37.4K

-85.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

$12.35 CDF 28.0K

-60.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 CDF 4,564

$3.62 CDF 8,191

-44.20%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 CDF 7,008

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CDF 3,477

$4.36 CDF 9,873

-64.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CDF 9,554

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,077

$3.34 CDF 7,554

-85.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 CDF 6,752

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 CDF 4,648

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 CDF 1,542

$1.45 CDF 3,273

-53.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 CDF 10.1K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.94 CDF 36.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,463

$2.06 CDF 4,652

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 CDF 5,741

$4.06 CDF 9,185

-37.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 CDF 1,080

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.49 CDF 48.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 CDF 12.3K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CDF 2,976

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 CDF 11.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 CDF 3,848

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

$85.8 CDF 194.2K

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

$15.06 CDF 34.1K

$27.91 CDF 63.2K

-46.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 CDF 133.3K

$68.5 CDF 155.0K

-14.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.45 CDF 66.7K

$77.5 CDF 175.4K

-61.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.96 CDF 49.7K

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 CDF 34.0K

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

$567 CDF 1.3M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K CDF 24.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.73 CDF 103.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 CDF 89.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 CDF 260.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CDF 279.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,704 CDF 3.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 CDF 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,192 CDF 9.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,523 CDF 3.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,030 CDF 11.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,239 CDF 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 CDF 802.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Goma: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kinshasa: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma versus $85.0 in Kinshasa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $107 vs $399 – making Goma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kinshasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kinshasa costs about 307% more than Goma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $648 per month in Goma and $2,637 in Kinshasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $432 in Goma and $1,758 in Kinshasa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 273% more in Kinshasa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Goma, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Kinshasa at $1,758. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kinshasa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Kinshasa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.