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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,094 per month in Lubumbashi vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,546 per month in Lubumbashi vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,999 per month in Lubumbashi vs $3,317 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 18% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.29 CDF 27.6K

$4.55 ฿153

170.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 CDF 228.3K

$46.18 ฿1,553

120.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 CDF 22.7K

$8.84 ฿297

14.03%

Cappuccino

$4.09 CDF 9,181

$3.06 ฿103

33.66%

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

$0.99 CDF 2,220

$0.73 ฿24.40

35.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 CDF 4,013

$2.43 ฿81.8

-26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 CDF 5,492

$3.78 ฿127

-35.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 CDF 4,574

$2.26 ฿76.0

-9.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 CDF 2,573

$1.81 ฿60.9

-36.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CDF 6,818

$2.25 ฿75.8

34.67%

Eggs

$2.63 CDF 5,902

$2.25 ฿75.5

16.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

$19.51 ฿656

-21.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 CDF 16.4K

$3.65 ฿123

100.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.21 CDF 34.2K

$13.05 ฿439

16.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 CDF 4,606

$3.23 ฿109

-36.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 CDF 6,562

$1.62 ฿54.4

80.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.03 CDF 11.3K

$2.38 ฿80.1

111.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 CDF 6,684

$2.03 ฿68.1

46.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 CDF 5,785

$1.53 ฿51.6

67.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 CDF 4,359

$1.50 ฿50.5

29.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 CDF 2,302

$0.98 ฿32.91

4.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CDF 2,780

$0.52 ฿17.39

138.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 CDF 8,810

$4.44 ฿149

-11.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 CDF 28.6K

$18.32 ฿616

-30.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 CDF 2,552

$1.86 ฿62.7

-38.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 CDF 4,658

$2.68 ฿90.1

-22.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 CDF 2,310

$1.41 ฿47.46

-26.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 CDF 10.4K

$3.11 ฿105

48.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 CDF 22.4K

$14.11 ฿474

-29.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CDF 3,039

$1.31 ฿44.10

3.05%

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

$25.2K CDF 56.6M

$27.8K ฿935.4K

-9.40%

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

$30.4K CDF 68.2M

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-8.59%

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

$102 CDF 228.1K

$122 ฿4,118

-17.08%

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

$19.84 CDF 44.6K

$13.59 ฿457

45.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 CDF 136.3K

$18.70 ฿629

224.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 CDF 163.1K

$60.5 ฿2,034

19.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$132 CDF 297.2K

$706 ฿23.8K

-81.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,420 CDF 9.9M

$15.8K ฿531.5K

-72.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.87 CDF 51.4K

$58.6 ฿1,969

-60.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.64 CDF 50.9K

$35.36 ฿1,189

-35.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 CDF 134.8K

$115 ฿3,883

-48.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.2 CDF 189.1K

$83.7 ฿2,816

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 CDF 1.7M

$626 ฿21.0K

23.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 CDF 564.3K

$445 ฿15.0K

-43.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,921 CDF 6.6M

$2,040 ฿68.6K

43.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,773 CDF 4.0M

$1,492 ฿50.2K

18.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,013 CDF 2.3M

$3,483 ฿117.1K

-70.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$2,577 ฿86.7K

-80.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 CDF 2.4M

$500 ฿16.8K

114.41%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Lubumbashi versus $626 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 114% 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 $102 in Lubumbashi versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $289 – 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: $1,094 in Lubumbashi, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 14% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,641 per month in Lubumbashi and $1,875 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 $1,094 in Lubumbashi and $1,250 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 $706 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 $1,094, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $1,094 in Lubumbashi to $1,250 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.