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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,246 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $2,722 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $4,197 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Phuket is about 1% cheaper than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Lubumbashi 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$10.06 CDF 22.9K

-56.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$101 CDF 231.0K

-68.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$9.95 CDF 22.7K

-10.25%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.08 CDF 9,298

-28.92%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$1.08 CDF 2,456

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$1.96 CDF 4,472

19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.43 CDF 5,530

53.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.98 CDF 4,503

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$1.23 CDF 2,795

19.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$3.08 CDF 7,029

-49.68%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$2.08 CDF 4,738

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$15.18 CDF 34.6K

29.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$7.66 CDF 17.5K

-55.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$15.64 CDF 35.6K

-27.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$4.75 CDF 10.8K

-37.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$3.04 CDF 6,916

-44.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$4.90 CDF 11.2K

-54.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$3.05 CDF 6,945

-29.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$2.48 CDF 5,651

-38.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$2.66 CDF 6,062

-49.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$0.98 CDF 2,222

15.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$1.22 CDF 2,773

-54.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.89 CDF 8,853

9.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$12.30 CDF 28.0K

55.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.16 CDF 2,641

53.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$2.14 CDF 4,877

29.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

$1.02 CDF 2,327

118.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$4.59 CDF 10.5K

-33.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

$10.19 CDF 23.2K

-61.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$1.51 CDF 3,448

-1.32%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

$25.0K CDF 56.9M

6.39%

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

$30.2K CDF 68.9M

-10.58%

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

$102 ฿3,407

$99.7 CDF 227.3K

2.74%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$19.86 CDF 45.3K

-42.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$60.8 CDF 138.6K

-71.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$72.4 CDF 164.9K

-28.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$135 CDF 306.5K

316.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$4,538 CDF 10.3M

153.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$22.35 CDF 50.9K

182.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$22.06 CDF 50.3K

33.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$59.7 CDF 136.0K

64.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$83.5 CDF 190.2K

6.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$838 CDF 1.9M

-11.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$374 CDF 852.4K

28.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$2,547 CDF 5.8M

-17.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$2,084 CDF 4.7M

-41.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

$1,002 CDF 2.3M

260.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

$504 CDF 1.1M

416.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$1,069 CDF 2.4M

-53.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $838 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 117% higher in Lubumbashi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $101 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $326 – 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: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,246 in Lubumbashi – roughly 1% apart. Lubumbashi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,869 in Lubumbashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $1,246 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $135 in Lubumbashi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Lubumbashi at $1,246. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lubumbashi 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 $1,232 in Phuket to $1,246 in Lubumbashi. 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 Phuket. 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.