Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Lubumbashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Lubumbashi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Goma vs $1,094 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Goma vs $2,546 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,083 per month in Goma vs $3,999 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Goma is about 3% cheaper than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Goma and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Goma 20% lower, Lubumbashi 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

$12.29 CDF 27.6K

2.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

$102 CDF 228.3K

-55.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

$10.08 CDF 22.7K

-1.98%

Cappuccino

$3.41 CDF 7,667

$4.09 CDF 9,181

-16.63%

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

$0.99 CDF 2,215

$0.99 CDF 2,220

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,294

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 CDF 3,680

$1.79 CDF 4,013

-8.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

$2.44 CDF 5,492

108.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,279

$2.04 CDF 4,574

-28.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 CDF 4,561

$1.15 CDF 2,573

76.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CDF 3,498

$3.03 CDF 6,818

-48.51%

Eggs

$1.69 CDF 3,806

$2.63 CDF 5,902

-35.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

-60.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

$7.31 CDF 16.4K

-13.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

$15.21 CDF 34.2K

-66.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CDF 4,434

$2.05 CDF 4,606

-3.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 CDF 4,570

$2.92 CDF 6,562

-30.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 CDF 3,815

$5.03 CDF 11.3K

-66.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 CDF 6,874

$2.98 CDF 6,684

2.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,080

$2.57 CDF 5,785

-81.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CDF 4,450

$1.94 CDF 4,359

2.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 CDF 2,302

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 CDF 1,615

$1.24 CDF 2,780

-41.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 CDF 8,810

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 CDF 28.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,436

$1.14 CDF 2,552

72.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CDF 4,978

$2.07 CDF 4,658

7.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 CDF 2,310

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 CDF 10.4K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 CDF 4,532

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 CDF 22.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,284

$1.35 CDF 3,039

-24.44%

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

$25.2K CDF 56.6M

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

$30.4K CDF 68.2M

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

$200 CDF 448.9K

$102 CDF 228.1K

96.80%

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

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

$19.84 CDF 44.6K

-25.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

$60.7 CDF 136.3K

-7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

$72.6 CDF 163.1K

-58.89%

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

$132 CDF 297.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,420 CDF 9.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

$22.87 CDF 51.4K

-13.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.64 CDF 50.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 CDF 134.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 CDF 225.8K

$84.2 CDF 189.1K

19.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$773 CDF 1.7M

-35.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 CDF 671.6K

$251 CDF 564.3K

19.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 CDF 1.8M

$2,921 CDF 6.6M

-72.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 CDF 1.1M

$1,773 CDF 4.0M

-71.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,013 CDF 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 CDF 2.4M

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

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Goma versus $773 in Lubumbashi. 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 $102 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $311 – 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 Lubumbashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lubumbashi costs about 3% 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 $1,641 in Lubumbashi. 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 $1,094 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 68% more in Lubumbashi, 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 Lubumbashi at $1,094. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lubumbashi 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, Lubumbashi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.