Cost of Living Comparison Between Lubumbashi and Bukavu Cost of Living Comparison Between Lubumbashi and Bukavu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Lubumbashi vs $678 in Bukavu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,716 per month in Lubumbashi vs $1,090 in Bukavu, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,209 per month in Lubumbashi vs $1,501 in Bukavu, rent included.

Lubumbashi costs about 80% more than Bukavu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lubumbashi and Bukavu are more affordable than the global median – Lubumbashi 11% lower, Bukavu 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 CDF 23.1K

$7.56 CDF 17.1K

34.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 CDF 224.9K

$15.22 CDF 34.4K

552.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 CDF 22.3K

$4.97 CDF 11.2K

97.79%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CDF 8,866

$4.05 CDF 9,167

-3.21%

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

$1.08 CDF 2,444

$1.53 CDF 3,465

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CDF 2,218

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 CDF 4,570

$2.03 CDF 4,605

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 CDF 5,611

$2.98 CDF 6,745

-16.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 CDF 4,457

$1.54 CDF 3,489

27.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 CDF 2,754

$1.97 CDF 4,449

-38.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.06 CDF 6,928

$1.28 CDF 2,896

139.06%

Eggs

$2.15 CDF 4,860

$4.22 CDF 9,563

-49.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.18 CDF 34.4K

$5.52 CDF 12.5K

175.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 CDF 17.0K

$4.44 CDF 10.1K

69.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CDF 34.5K

$6.09 CDF 13.8K

150.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 CDF 11.3K

$4.03 CDF 9,122

23.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CDF 6,750

$1.03 CDF 2,325

189.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 CDF 11.5K

$0.97 CDF 2,200

423.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 CDF 6,726

$1.21 CDF 2,740

145.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CDF 5,571

$1.28 CDF 2,891

92.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CDF 6,064

$1.95 CDF 4,414

37.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 CDF 2,199

$2.92 CDF 6,605

-66.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 CDF 2,914

$1.95 CDF 4,407

-33.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 CDF 9,250

$5.01 CDF 11.3K

-18.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.64 CDF 28.6K

$15.25 CDF 34.5K

-17.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CDF 2,679

$2.02 CDF 4,564

-41.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 CDF 4,662

$2.04 CDF 4,609

0.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 CDF 2,223

$0.26 CDF 594

276.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.29 CDF 34.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 CDF 10.1K

$3.91 CDF 8,844

14.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 CDF 2,209

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 CDF 22.5K

$9.97 CDF 22.6K

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,313

$1.66 CDF 3,764

-12.05%

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

$24.9K CDF 56.4M

$15.2K CDF 34.4M

64.05%

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

$30.2K CDF 68.5M

$17.2K CDF 38.9M

75.99%

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)

$19.87 CDF 45.0K

$25.15 CDF 56.9K

-20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 CDF 137.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 CDF 167.0K

$35.49 CDF 80.3K

107.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.91 CDF 22.4K

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

$135 CDF 306.6K

$74.3 CDF 168.1K

82.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,533 CDF 10.3M

$1,183 CDF 2.7M

283.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.82 CDF 51.7K

$29.84 CDF 67.6K

-23.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.60 CDF 51.2K

$44.85 CDF 101.5K

-49.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 CDF 136.9K

$49.49 CDF 112.0K

22.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.6 CDF 191.5K

$122 CDF 276.1K

-30.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 CDF 1.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 CDF 844.4K

$102 CDF 230.0K

267.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,504 CDF 5.7M

$504 CDF 1.1M

397.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,051 CDF 4.6M

$199 CDF 450.1K

931.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,005 CDF 2.3M

$999 CDF 2.3M

0.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 CDF 1.1M

0.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,081 CDF 2.4M

$499 CDF 1.1M

116.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lubumbashi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 117% higher in Lubumbashi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Lubumbashi versus $15.00 in Bukavu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $238 – making Bukavu 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

Lubumbashi vs Bukavu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lubumbashi is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,834 per month in Lubumbashi and $1,017 in Bukavu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Lubumbashi and $678 in Bukavu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $135 per month in Lubumbashi and $74.3 in Bukavu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bukavu, where all-in costs run around $678, than in Lubumbashi at $1,223. In Bukavu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lubumbashi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bukavu – 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 Bukavu. 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.