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Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo

🙂 Solo nomad: South Africa is 23.7% cheaper than Democratic Republic of the Congo without rent, and 21.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: South Africa is 28.3% cheaper than Democratic Republic of the Congo without rent, and 31.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.84 R 145
$9.94 CDF 22.2K
-11.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.50 R 631
$87.5 CDF 195.2K
-55.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 R 83.2
$9.85 CDF 22.0K
-48.53%
Cappuccino
$2.04 R 33.40
$5.40 CDF 12.1K
-62.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 R 17.02
$1.66 CDF 3,704
-37.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 R 12.08
$1.40 CDF 3,116
-47.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 R 37.83
$1.98 CDF 4,416
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 R 40.57
$3.66 CDF 8,163
-32.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 R 17.55
$2.20 CDF 4,914
-51.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 R 16.51
$1.62 CDF 3,612
-37.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 R 25.79
$2.15 CDF 4,791
-26.98%
Eggs
$2.33 R 38.26
$3.27 CDF 7,296
-28.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.68 R 126
$6.25 CDF 13.9K
22.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.47 R 73.4
$6.19 CDF 13.8K
-27.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.60 R 108
$9.09 CDF 20.3K
-27.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.55
$2.96 CDF 6,596
-47.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 R 23.80
$1.94 CDF 4,324
-25.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.79
$2.74 CDF 6,121
-44.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.39
$2.51 CDF 5,611
-40.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 R 19.91
$2.35 CDF 5,247
-48.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 R 21.80
$2.49 CDF 5,568
-46.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 R 17.70
$1.87 CDF 4,174
-42.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.34
$1.01 CDF 2,256
-6.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85 R 46.74
$4.62 CDF 10.3K
-38.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.89 R 80.3
$14.82 CDF 33.1K
-67.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 22.64
$1.61 CDF 3,591
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 R 27.65
$3.07 CDF 6,862
-44.95%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 R 28.33
$0.51 CDF 1,145
239.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.33 R 743
$14.79 CDF 33.0K
206.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 R 18.01
$5.04 CDF 11.2K
-78.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 R 18.03
$2.01 CDF 4,488
-45.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.69 R 76.9
$10.17 CDF 22.7K
-53.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 R 21.32
$1.44 CDF 3,206
-9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K R 337.3K
$20.3K CDF 45.2M
1.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K R 396.4K
$21.7K CDF 48.5M
11.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 R 1,811
$215 CDF 480.2K
-48.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.07 R 526
$21.03 CDF 46.9K
52.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.81 R 669
$83.9 CDF 187.3K
-51.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.33 R 514
$53.4 CDF 119.2K
-41.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.44 R 155
$11.20 CDF 25.0K
-15.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.90 R 113
$13.98 CDF 31.2K
-50.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 R 3,074
$337 CDF 752.9K
-44.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,385 R 71.9K
$2,737 CDF 6.1M
60.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.70 R 815
$32.47 CDF 72.5K
53.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.23 R 512
$40.37 CDF 90.1K
-22.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 R 1,526
$71.8 CDF 160.3K
29.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 R 1,307
$99.0 CDF 221.0K
-19.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 R 7,265
$1,263 CDF 2.8M
-64.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 R 6,048
$373 CDF 833.1K
-1.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$890 R 14.6K
$2,765 CDF 6.2M
-67.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 11.9K
$1,052 CDF 2.3M
-31.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,125 R 18.5K
$4,111 CDF 9.2M
-72.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$823 R 13.5K
$863 CDF 1.9M
-4.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,486 R 24.4K
$593 CDF 1.3M
150.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
17
-32.06%

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

Last update for South Africa: January 12, 2026

Last update for Democratic Republic of the Congo: January 11, 2026

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