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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $3,999 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 14% more than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Lubumbashi 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$12.29 CDF 27.6K

-62.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$102 CDF 228.3K

-54.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$10.08 CDF 22.7K

-12.30%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$4.09 CDF 9,181

-25.18%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.99 CDF 2,220

-26.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.79 CDF 4,013

35.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.44 CDF 5,492

54.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$2.04 CDF 4,574

10.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.15 CDF 2,573

57.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$3.03 CDF 6,818

-25.74%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.63 CDF 5,902

-14.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

27.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$7.31 CDF 16.4K

-50.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$15.21 CDF 34.2K

-14.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.05 CDF 4,606

57.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$2.92 CDF 6,562

-44.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$5.03 CDF 11.3K

-52.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$2.98 CDF 6,684

-31.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$2.57 CDF 5,785

-40.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.94 CDF 4,359

-22.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$1.02 CDF 2,302

-3.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$1.24 CDF 2,780

-58.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$3.92 CDF 8,810

13.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$12.73 CDF 28.6K

43.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.14 CDF 2,552

63.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$2.07 CDF 4,658

29.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$1.03 CDF 2,310

36.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$4.62 CDF 10.4K

-32.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$9.96 CDF 22.4K

41.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.35 CDF 3,039

-2.96%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$25.2K CDF 56.6M

10.38%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$30.4K CDF 68.2M

9.40%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$102 CDF 228.1K

20.59%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$19.84 CDF 44.6K

-31.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$60.7 CDF 136.3K

-69.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$72.6 CDF 163.1K

-16.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$132 CDF 297.2K

434.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$4,420 CDF 9.9M

257.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$22.87 CDF 51.4K

156.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$22.64 CDF 50.9K

56.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$60.0 CDF 134.8K

92.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$84.2 CDF 189.1K

-0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$773 CDF 1.7M

-19.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$251 CDF 564.3K

77.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$2,921 CDF 6.6M

-30.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$1,773 CDF 4.0M

-15.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,013 CDF 2.3M

243.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$501 CDF 1.1M

413.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$1,072 CDF 2.4M

-53.36%

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 Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $773 in Lubumbashi. 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $102 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $311 – 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

Phuket vs Lubumbashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $1,094 in Lubumbashi – roughly 14% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,641 in Lubumbashi. 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $1,094 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $132 in Lubumbashi. 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.