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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Goma vs $1,511 in Kinshasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Goma vs $2,535 in Kinshasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,083 per month in Goma vs $3,559 in Kinshasa, rent included.

Goma is about 30% cheaper than Kinshasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Goma sits 20% below the global median, while Kinshasa is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

$14.81 CDF 33.3K

-14.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

$86.2 CDF 193.5K

-47.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

$13.18 CDF 29.6K

-25.04%

Cappuccino

$3.41 CDF 7,667

$5.92 CDF 13.3K

-42.40%

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

$0.99 CDF 2,215

$1.87 CDF 4,210

-47.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,294

$1.50 CDF 3,369

-32.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 CDF 3,680

$1.97 CDF 4,422

-16.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

$4.10 CDF 9,208

24.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,279

$2.76 CDF 6,196

-47.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 CDF 4,561

$1.48 CDF 3,323

37.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CDF 3,498

$2.43 CDF 5,456

-35.80%

Eggs

$1.69 CDF 3,806

$3.73 CDF 8,370

-54.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

$6.37 CDF 14.3K

-5.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

$8.79 CDF 19.7K

-28.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

$10.72 CDF 24.1K

-51.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CDF 4,434

$2.67 CDF 5,992

-26.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 CDF 4,570

$2.24 CDF 5,040

-9.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 CDF 3,815

$3.57 CDF 8,029

-52.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 CDF 6,874

$2.94 CDF 6,598

4.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,080

$2.80 CDF 6,290

-82.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CDF 4,450

$3.22 CDF 7,228

-38.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 CDF 3,157

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 CDF 1,615

$0.87 CDF 1,951

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 CDF 10.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 CDF 35.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,436

$1.70 CDF 3,815

15.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CDF 4,978

$4.12 CDF 9,264

-46.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 CDF 1,092

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.05 CDF 49.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.55 CDF 12.5K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 CDF 4,532

$1.29 CDF 2,901

56.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 CDF 11.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,284

$1.36 CDF 3,052

-25.00%

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

$45.0K CDF 101.1M

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

$200 CDF 448.9K

$85.2 CDF 191.5K

134.46%

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

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

$27.60 CDF 62.0K

-46.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

$91.1 CDF 204.7K

-38.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

$72.1 CDF 161.9K

-58.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 CDF 47.7K

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 CDF 33.9K

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

$714 CDF 1.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,745 CDF 10.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

$45.73 CDF 102.7K

-56.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 CDF 87.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CDF 254.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 CDF 225.8K

$101 CDF 226.8K

-0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$1,641 CDF 3.7M

-69.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 CDF 671.6K

$469 CDF 1.1M

-36.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 CDF 1.8M

$3,022 CDF 6.8M

-73.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 CDF 1.1M

$1,051 CDF 2.4M

-51.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,070 CDF 11.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,250 CDF 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$356 CDF 800.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kinshasa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Goma versus $1,641 in Kinshasa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma versus $86.0 in Kinshasa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $297 – 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 42% 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 $1,594 per month in Goma and $2,266 in Kinshasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Goma, 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 $1,062 in Goma and $1,511 in Kinshasa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 60% 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 $1,062, than in Kinshasa at $1,511. 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.