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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Goma vs $1,223 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $746 per month in Goma vs $2,716 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,061 per month in Goma vs $4,209 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Goma is about 65% cheaper than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Goma and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Goma 69% lower, Lubumbashi 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.86 CDF 33.6K

$10.19 CDF 23.1K

45.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.24 CDF 102.4K

$99.3 CDF 224.9K

-54.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 CDF 22.2K

$9.83 CDF 22.3K

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$3.46 CDF 7,823

$3.92 CDF 8,866

-11.73%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,303

$1.08 CDF 2,444

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,309

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 CDF 2,764

$2.02 CDF 4,570

-39.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 CDF 11.4K

$2.48 CDF 5,611

102.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 CDF 2,207

$1.97 CDF 4,457

-50.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 CDF 2,754

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 CDF 2,646

$3.06 CDF 6,928

-61.76%

Eggs

$1.59 CDF 3,604

$2.15 CDF 4,860

-26.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 CDF 13.9K

$15.18 CDF 34.4K

-59.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 CDF 5,534

$7.52 CDF 17.0K

-67.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

$15.24 CDF 34.5K

-67.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 CDF 4,564

$4.99 CDF 11.3K

-59.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CDF 6,750

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CDF 3,477

$5.08 CDF 11.5K

-69.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 CDF 6,726

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,077

$2.46 CDF 5,571

-80.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CDF 6,064

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 CDF 2,199

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 CDF 1,542

$1.29 CDF 2,914

-47.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 CDF 9,250

Wine (Bottle)

$12.64 CDF 28.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,463

$1.18 CDF 2,679

66.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 CDF 5,741

$2.06 CDF 4,662

23.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 CDF 2,223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 CDF 10.1K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 CDF 22.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,313

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

$24.9K CDF 56.4M

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

$30.2K CDF 68.5M

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

$98.9 CDF 223.8K

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

$15.06 CDF 34.1K

$19.87 CDF 45.0K

-24.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 CDF 133.3K

$60.8 CDF 137.7K

-3.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.45 CDF 66.7K

$73.8 CDF 167.0K

-60.08%

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

$135 CDF 306.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,533 CDF 10.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.82 CDF 51.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.60 CDF 51.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 CDF 136.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.6 CDF 191.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 CDF 1.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 CDF 844.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,504 CDF 5.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,051 CDF 4.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,005 CDF 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,081 CDF 2.4M

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

Last update for Goma: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma versus $99.0 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $107 vs $327 – 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 183% 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 $1,834 in Lubumbashi. 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 $1,223 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 205% 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 $432, than in Lubumbashi at $1,223. 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.