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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,026 per month in Goma vs $1,117 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,541 per month in Goma vs $2,556 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,055 per month in Goma vs $3,995 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Goma is about 8% cheaper than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Goma and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Goma 23% lower, Lubumbashi 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 CDF 27.9K

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

-1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.25 CDF 102.7K

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

-53.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 CDF 23.0K

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

2.32%

Cappuccino

$3.59 CDF 8,158

$3.98 CDF 9,031

-9.80%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,325

$0.97 CDF 2,209

5.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CDF 2,332

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 CDF 3,606

$1.77 CDF 4,012

-10.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

$2.47 CDF 5,600

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,320

$2.01 CDF 4,570

-27.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 CDF 4,627

$1.15 CDF 2,618

77.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CDF 3,567

$2.92 CDF 6,628

-46.23%

Eggs

$1.66 CDF 3,772

$2.63 CDF 5,972

-36.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 CDF 13.7K

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

-60.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 CDF 14.3K

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

-14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

-67.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CDF 4,473

$2.01 CDF 4,573

-1.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CDF 4,570

$2.95 CDF 6,687

-31.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 CDF 3,884

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

-66.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 CDF 6,691

$2.94 CDF 6,677

0.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 CDF 1,172

$2.46 CDF 5,581

-78.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CDF 4,509

$1.95 CDF 4,431

2.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 CDF 2,244

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 CDF 1,514

$1.27 CDF 2,881

-47.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 CDF 9,146

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 CDF 4,651

$1.20 CDF 2,730

70.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 CDF 5,169

$2.08 CDF 4,724

9.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 CDF 2,233

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 CDF 10.1K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 CDF 4,433

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.82 CDF 22.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,304

$1.36 CDF 3,084

-25.00%

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

$24.7K CDF 56.1M

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

$29.5K CDF 66.9M

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

$200 CDF 453.7K

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

102.09%

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

$14.81 CDF 33.6K

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

-27.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 CDF 124.2K

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

-7.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.38 CDF 69.0K

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

-57.94%

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

$132 CDF 299.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,465 CDF 10.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.02 CDF 45.5K

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

-10.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 CDF 50.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 CDF 137.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CDF 228.3K

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

19.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 CDF 1.1M

$764 CDF 1.7M

-35.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 CDF 692.4K

$249 CDF 565.0K

22.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 CDF 1.8M

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

-71.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

-72.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$988 CDF 2.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,068 CDF 2.4M

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

Last update for Goma: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Goma versus $764 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 $98.0 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $312 – 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 9% 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 $1,540 per month in Goma and $1,676 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 $1,026 in Goma and $1,117 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 $1,026, than in Lubumbashi at $1,117. 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.