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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Phuket costs about 13% more than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

-62.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

-53.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

-14.93%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.98 CDF 9,031

-26.38%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.97 CDF 2,209

-28.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.77 CDF 4,012

36.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.47 CDF 5,600

50.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$2.01 CDF 4,570

10.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.15 CDF 2,618

59.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.92 CDF 6,628

-25.68%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.63 CDF 5,972

-15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

29.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

-50.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

-12.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.01 CDF 4,573

63.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.95 CDF 6,687

-45.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

-52.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.94 CDF 6,677

-29.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$2.46 CDF 5,581

-37.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.95 CDF 4,431

-24.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.99 CDF 2,244

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.27 CDF 2,881

-59.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$4.03 CDF 9,146

9.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

52.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.20 CDF 2,730

48.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.08 CDF 4,724

30.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.98 CDF 2,233

39.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$4.46 CDF 10.1K

-32.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$9.82 CDF 22.3K

43.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.36 CDF 3,084

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$24.7K CDF 56.1M

14.15%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$29.5K CDF 66.9M

11.67%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

23.05%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

-33.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

-69.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

-16.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$132 CDF 299.9K

424.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$4,465 CDF 10.1M

251.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

166.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$22.32 CDF 50.7K

55.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$60.5 CDF 137.3K

89.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

-1.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$764 CDF 1.7M

-19.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$249 CDF 565.0K

75.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

-26.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

-16.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$988 CDF 2.2M

279.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$502 CDF 1.1M

420.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$1,068 CDF 2.4M

-52.44%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $764 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 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $98.0 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $312 – 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: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,117 in Lubumbashi – roughly 13% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,676 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 $1,265 in Phuket and $1,117 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 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 $1,117, 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.