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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,094 per month in Lubumbashi vs $1,062 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,546 per month in Lubumbashi vs $1,573 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,999 per month in Lubumbashi vs $2,083 in Goma, rent included.

Lubumbashi costs about 3% more than Goma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lubumbashi and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Lubumbashi 18% lower, Goma 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.29 CDF 27.6K

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

-2.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 CDF 228.3K

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

123.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 CDF 22.7K

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

2.02%

Cappuccino

$4.09 CDF 9,181

$3.41 CDF 7,667

19.94%

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

$0.99 CDF 2,220

$0.99 CDF 2,215

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,294

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 CDF 4,013

$1.64 CDF 3,680

9.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 CDF 5,492

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

-52.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 CDF 4,574

$1.46 CDF 3,279

39.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 CDF 2,573

$2.03 CDF 4,561

-43.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CDF 6,818

$1.56 CDF 3,498

94.23%

Eggs

$2.63 CDF 5,902

$1.69 CDF 3,806

55.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

153.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 CDF 16.4K

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

15.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.21 CDF 34.2K

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

195.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 CDF 4,606

$1.97 CDF 4,434

4.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 CDF 6,562

$2.03 CDF 4,570

43.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.03 CDF 11.3K

$1.70 CDF 3,815

195.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 CDF 6,684

$3.06 CDF 6,874

-2.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 CDF 5,785

$0.48 CDF 1,080

435.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 CDF 4,359

$1.98 CDF 4,450

-2.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 CDF 2,302

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CDF 2,780

$0.72 CDF 1,615

72.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 CDF 8,810

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 CDF 28.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 CDF 2,552

$1.97 CDF 4,436

-42.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 CDF 4,658

$2.22 CDF 4,978

-6.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 CDF 2,310

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 CDF 10.4K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 CDF 4,532

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 CDF 22.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CDF 3,039

$1.02 CDF 2,284

32.35%

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

$25.2K CDF 56.6M

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

$30.4K CDF 68.2M

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

$102 CDF 228.1K

$200 CDF 448.9K

-49.19%

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

$19.84 CDF 44.6K

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

33.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 CDF 136.3K

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

8.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 CDF 163.1K

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

143.23%

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

$132 CDF 297.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,420 CDF 9.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.87 CDF 51.4K

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

15.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.64 CDF 50.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 CDF 134.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.2 CDF 189.1K

$100 CDF 225.8K

-16.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 CDF 1.7M

$501 CDF 1.1M

54.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 CDF 564.3K

$299 CDF 671.6K

-15.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,921 CDF 6.6M

$795 CDF 1.8M

267.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,773 CDF 4.0M

$507 CDF 1.1M

249.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,013 CDF 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 CDF 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 CDF 2.4M

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

Last update for Lubumbashi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Lubumbashi 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 $102 in Lubumbashi versus $45.00 in Goma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 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 3% 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 $1,641 per month in Lubumbashi 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 $1,094 in Lubumbashi and $1,062 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 68% 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 $1,062, than in Lubumbashi at $1,094. 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.