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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,504 per month in Kinshasa vs $1,026 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,504 per month in Kinshasa vs $1,541 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,504 per month in Kinshasa vs $2,055 in Goma, rent included.

Kinshasa costs about 47% more than Goma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kinshasa sits 12% above the global median, while Goma is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.05 CDF 34.2K

$12.30 CDF 27.9K

22.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.0 CDF 197.6K

$45.25 CDF 102.7K

92.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.81 CDF 29.1K

$10.14 CDF 23.0K

26.33%

Cappuccino

$6.04 CDF 13.7K

$3.59 CDF 8,158

68.25%

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

$1.87 CDF 4,234

$1.02 CDF 2,325

83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CDF 3,423

$1.03 CDF 2,332

46.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 CDF 4,586

$1.59 CDF 3,606

27.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CDF 8,885

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

-20.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.65 CDF 6,013

$1.46 CDF 3,320

81.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CDF 3,262

$2.04 CDF 4,627

-29.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 CDF 5,462

$1.57 CDF 3,567

53.50%

Eggs

$3.58 CDF 8,138

$1.66 CDF 3,772

115.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 CDF 14.3K

$6.02 CDF 13.7K

4.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.75 CDF 19.9K

$6.30 CDF 14.3K

38.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 CDF 24.2K

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

109.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 CDF 6,256

$1.97 CDF 4,473

40.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 CDF 5,205

$2.01 CDF 4,570

13.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 CDF 8,288

$1.71 CDF 3,884

113.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 CDF 6,437

$2.95 CDF 6,691

-3.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 CDF 6,387

$0.52 CDF 1,172

440.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 CDF 7,311

$1.99 CDF 4,509

61.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CDF 3,071

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 CDF 1,815

$0.67 CDF 1,514

19.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 CDF 10.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.92 CDF 36.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CDF 3,893

$2.05 CDF 4,651

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 CDF 9,897

$2.28 CDF 5,169

91.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 CDF 1,081

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.41 CDF 48.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 CDF 12.1K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CDF 2,856

$1.95 CDF 4,433

-35.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 CDF 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CDF 3,180

$1.02 CDF 2,304

37.25%

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

$45.0K CDF 102.2M

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

$87.9 CDF 199.6K

$200 CDF 453.7K

-56.00%

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

$27.41 CDF 62.2K

$14.81 CDF 33.6K

85.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.0 CDF 206.6K

$54.7 CDF 124.2K

66.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.3 CDF 166.3K

$30.38 CDF 69.0K

141.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.85 CDF 49.6K

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 CDF 34.5K

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

$733 CDF 1.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,788 CDF 10.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.66 CDF 103.7K

$20.02 CDF 45.5K

128.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.11 CDF 88.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 CDF 257.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CDF 231.3K

$101 CDF 228.3K

1.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 CDF 3.7M

$490 CDF 1.1M

233.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 CDF 1.1M

$305 CDF 692.4K

52.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,111 CDF 7.1M

$814 CDF 1.8M

282.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 CDF 2.4M

$501 CDF 1.1M

114.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,920 CDF 11.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,236 CDF 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 CDF 801.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kinshasa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Goma: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,634 in Kinshasa versus $490 in Goma. 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 $87.0 in Kinshasa versus $45.00 in Goma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $185 – 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

Kinshasa vs Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kinshasa costs about 47% 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 $2,256 per month in Kinshasa and $1,540 in Goma. 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 $1,504 in Kinshasa and $1,026 in Goma. 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 $1,026, than in Kinshasa at $1,504. 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.