Cost of Living Comparison Between Lubumbashi and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Lubumbashi and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,117 per month in Lubumbashi vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,556 per month in Lubumbashi vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,995 per month in Lubumbashi vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Lubumbashi is about 12% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lubumbashi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Lubumbashi 17% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

$4.70 ฿153

165.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

$45.37 ฿1,482

116.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

$8.43 ฿275

17.56%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CDF 9,031

$2.93 ฿95.6

35.84%

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

$0.97 CDF 2,209

$0.69 ฿22.40

40.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 CDF 4,012

$2.41 ฿78.6

-26.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 CDF 5,600

$3.72 ฿122

-33.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CDF 4,570

$2.23 ฿72.9

-9.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 CDF 2,618

$1.83 ฿59.8

-37.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 CDF 6,628

$2.17 ฿70.8

34.56%

Eggs

$2.63 CDF 5,972

$2.21 ฿72.3

19.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

$19.74 ฿645

-22.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

$3.63 ฿119

102.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

$13.53 ฿442

14.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 CDF 4,573

$3.28 ฿107

-38.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 CDF 6,687

$1.61 ฿52.6

83.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

$2.41 ฿78.6

112.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 CDF 6,677

$2.08 ฿68.1

41.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CDF 5,581

$1.53 ฿49.93

60.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 CDF 4,431

$1.48 ฿48.36

31.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 CDF 2,244

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 CDF 2,881

$0.51 ฿16.67

149.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 CDF 9,146

$4.41 ฿144

-8.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

$19.38 ฿633

-34.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CDF 2,730

$1.78 ฿58.1

-32.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 CDF 4,724

$2.71 ฿88.6

-23.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 CDF 2,233

$1.37 ฿44.79

-28.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 CDF 10.1K

$3.02 ฿98.6

47.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.82 CDF 22.3K

$14.10 ฿461

-30.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CDF 3,084

$1.36 ฿44.51

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

$24.7K CDF 56.1M

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-12.39%

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

$29.5K CDF 66.9M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-10.45%

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

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

$122 ฿3,975

-18.73%

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

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

$13.57 ฿443

49.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

$18.31 ฿598

224.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

$60.2 ฿1,967

19.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$132 CDF 299.9K

$693 ฿22.6K

-80.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,465 CDF 10.1M

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-71.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

$59.5 ฿1,944

-62.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 CDF 50.7K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-35.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 CDF 137.3K

$115 ฿3,743

-47.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

$83.3 ฿2,720

1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 CDF 1.7M

$613 ฿20.0K

24.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 CDF 565.0K

$437 ฿14.3K

-43.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

$2,094 ฿68.4K

36.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

$1,509 ฿49.3K

20.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$988 CDF 2.2M

$3,749 ฿122.5K

-73.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 CDF 1.1M

$2,616 ฿85.4K

-80.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,068 CDF 2.4M

$508 ฿16.6K

110.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Lubumbashi versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 110% higher in Lubumbashi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Lubumbashi versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $293 – making Phuket 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,117 in Lubumbashi, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 13% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,676 per month in Lubumbashi and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lubumbashi, 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 $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $132 per month in Lubumbashi and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lubumbashi, where all-in costs run around $1,117, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Lubumbashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,117 in Lubumbashi to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lubumbashi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.