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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Lubumbashi costs about 9% more than Goma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

$12.30 CDF 27.9K

1.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

$45.25 CDF 102.7K

117.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

$10.14 CDF 23.0K

-2.27%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CDF 9,031

$3.59 CDF 8,158

10.86%

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

$0.97 CDF 2,209

$1.02 CDF 2,325

-4.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CDF 2,332

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 CDF 4,012

$1.59 CDF 3,606

11.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 CDF 5,600

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

-50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CDF 4,570

$1.46 CDF 3,320

37.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 CDF 2,618

$2.04 CDF 4,627

-43.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 CDF 6,628

$1.57 CDF 3,567

85.99%

Eggs

$2.63 CDF 5,972

$1.66 CDF 3,772

58.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

$6.02 CDF 13.7K

152.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

$6.30 CDF 14.3K

16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

205.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 CDF 4,573

$1.97 CDF 4,473

2.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 CDF 6,687

$2.01 CDF 4,570

46.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

$1.71 CDF 3,884

198.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 CDF 6,677

$2.95 CDF 6,691

-0.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CDF 5,581

$0.52 CDF 1,172

373.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 CDF 4,431

$1.99 CDF 4,509

-2.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 CDF 2,244

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 CDF 2,881

$0.67 CDF 1,514

89.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 CDF 9,146

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CDF 2,730

$2.05 CDF 4,651

-41.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 CDF 4,724

$2.28 CDF 5,169

-8.77%

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)

$1.36 CDF 3,084

$1.02 CDF 2,304

33.33%

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)

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

$200 CDF 453.7K

-50.52%

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

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

$14.81 CDF 33.6K

37.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

$54.7 CDF 124.2K

8.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

$30.38 CDF 69.0K

137.76%

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)

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

$20.02 CDF 45.5K

11.79%

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

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

$101 CDF 228.3K

-16.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 CDF 1.7M

$490 CDF 1.1M

55.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 CDF 565.0K

$305 CDF 692.4K

-18.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

$814 CDF 1.8M

251.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

$501 CDF 1.1M

262.13%

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 Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Last update for Goma: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Lubumbashi 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 $98.0 in Lubumbashi versus $45.00 in Goma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 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

Lubumbashi vs Goma: 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 $1,676 per month in Lubumbashi 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 $1,117 in Lubumbashi and $1,026 in Goma. 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.