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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Kinshasa costs about 42% more than Goma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 CDF 33.3K

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

17.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.2 CDF 193.5K

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

89.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.18 CDF 29.6K

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

33.40%

Cappuccino

$5.92 CDF 13.3K

$3.41 CDF 7,667

73.61%

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

$1.87 CDF 4,210

$0.99 CDF 2,215

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CDF 3,369

$1.02 CDF 2,294

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 CDF 4,422

$1.64 CDF 3,680

20.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CDF 9,208

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

-19.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.76 CDF 6,196

$1.46 CDF 3,279

89.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 CDF 3,323

$2.03 CDF 4,561

-27.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 CDF 5,456

$1.56 CDF 3,498

55.77%

Eggs

$3.73 CDF 8,370

$1.69 CDF 3,806

120.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.37 CDF 14.3K

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

5.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 CDF 19.7K

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

39.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.72 CDF 24.1K

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

108.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 CDF 5,992

$1.97 CDF 4,434

35.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 CDF 5,040

$2.03 CDF 4,570

10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 CDF 8,029

$1.70 CDF 3,815

110.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 CDF 6,598

$3.06 CDF 6,874

-3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 CDF 6,290

$0.48 CDF 1,080

483.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 CDF 7,228

$1.98 CDF 4,450

62.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 CDF 3,157

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 CDF 1,951

$0.72 CDF 1,615

20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 CDF 10.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 CDF 35.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CDF 3,815

$1.97 CDF 4,436

-13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 CDF 9,264

$2.22 CDF 4,978

85.59%

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)

$1.29 CDF 2,901

$2.02 CDF 4,532

-36.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 CDF 11.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CDF 3,052

$1.02 CDF 2,284

33.33%

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)

$85.2 CDF 191.5K

$200 CDF 448.9K

-57.35%

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

$27.60 CDF 62.0K

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

85.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.1 CDF 204.7K

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

63.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 CDF 161.9K

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

141.45%

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)

$45.73 CDF 102.7K

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

131.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 CDF 87.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CDF 254.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CDF 226.8K

$100 CDF 225.8K

0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 CDF 3.7M

$501 CDF 1.1M

227.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 CDF 1.1M

$299 CDF 671.6K

56.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,022 CDF 6.8M

$795 CDF 1.8M

280.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CDF 2.4M

$507 CDF 1.1M

107.26%

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 Kinshasa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,641 in Kinshasa versus $501 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 $86.0 in Kinshasa versus $45.00 in Goma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 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 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 $2,266 per month in Kinshasa and $1,594 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 $1,511 in Kinshasa and $1,062 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 $1,062, 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.