Last update: Oct 2026

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

Name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Address: CD

For one person, living is cheaper in South Africa: $1,203 a month against $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo despite lower rent and utilities.

58

Cost of Living Index in South Africa
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South Africa Living Index
63

Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Living Index

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🇿🇦 South Africa

$1,203

/mo nomad

🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$1,310

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Africa and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in South Africa and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,203 in South Africa versus $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

South Africa $1,203
Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,310

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,893 in South Africa versus $2,560 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

South Africa $1,893
Democratic Republic of the Congo $2,560

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,583 in South Africa versus $3,810 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

South Africa $2,583
Democratic Republic of the Congo $3,810

Internal cost variation is higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: monthly costs span $400 to $1,736, compared to $618–$1,556 in South Africa. City choice carries more weight in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Living in South Africa costs about 8% less than in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: South Africa 12% lower, the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.67 R 177

$14.90 CDF 33.6K

-28.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.66 R 693

$84.4 CDF 190.7K

-50.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 R 96.5

$9.82 CDF 22.2K

-40.94%

Cappuccino

$2.36 R 39.23

$5.40 CDF 12.2K

-56.30%

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

$1.12 R 18.56

$1.82 CDF 4,117

-38.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 R 15.00

$1.53 CDF 3,457

-41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 R 40.20

$1.95 CDF 4,404

24.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 R 50.9

$4.63 CDF 10.5K

-33.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 R 19.58

$2.03 CDF 4,591

-41.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 R 18.83

$1.70 CDF 3,836

-33.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 R 28.90

$2.54 CDF 5,747

-31.50%

Eggs

$2.57 R 42.80

$3.28 CDF 7,399

-21.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.43 R 140

$8.08 CDF 18.3K

4.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 R 85.1

$8.50 CDF 19.2K

-39.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 R 126

$10.52 CDF 23.8K

-27.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 R 29.52

$3.61 CDF 8,159

-50.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 R 28.90

$2.50 CDF 5,641

-30.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 R 29.43

$3.18 CDF 7,171

-44.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 R 29.26

$2.79 CDF 6,298

-36.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 R 24.81

$2.43 CDF 5,494

-38.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 R 24.38

$2.73 CDF 6,160

-46.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 R 20.52

$2.06 CDF 4,661

-40.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R 18.25

$1.25 CDF 2,831

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 R 54.0

$4.52 CDF 10.2K

-28.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.00 R 83.2

$15.18 CDF 34.3K

-67.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 R 24.90

$1.84 CDF 4,152

-18.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 R 32.26

$3.25 CDF 7,339

-40.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 R 24.58

$0.48 CDF 1,079

208.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 R 986

$18.61 CDF 42.0K

218.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 R 18.21

$5.13 CDF 11.6K

-78.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 R 16.46

$1.31 CDF 2,954

-24.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 R 124

$9.88 CDF 22.3K

-24.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 R 23.76

$1.73 CDF 3,904

-17.34%

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

$35.3K R 587.4K

$20.2K CDF 45.7M

74.59%

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

$32.4K R 539.7K

$23.3K CDF 52.6M

39.17%

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

$133 R 2,208

$91.5 CDF 206.6K

45.07%

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

$34.83 R 580

$20.56 CDF 46.4K

69.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.76 R 662

$70.4 CDF 158.9K

-43.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.09 R 551

$57.0 CDF 128.8K

-41.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.65 R 194

$21.55 CDF 48.7K

-45.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.18 R 119

$15.27 CDF 34.5K

-52.98%

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

$224 R 3,728

$250 CDF 564.4K

-10.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,462 R 90.9K

$5,105 CDF 11.5M

6.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 R 902

$32.34 CDF 73.0K

67.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.13 R 568

$38.91 CDF 87.9K

-12.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 R 1,699

$70.3 CDF 158.7K

45.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 R 1,472

$99.3 CDF 224.2K

-10.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 R 8,189

$1,574 CDF 3.6M

-68.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 R 6,617

$353 CDF 798.0K

12.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 R 15.7K

$3,547 CDF 8.0M

-73.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 R 13.8K

$1,493 CDF 3.4M

-44.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,099 R 18.3K

$3,668 CDF 8.3M

-70.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$769 R 12.8K

$1,003 CDF 2.3M

-23.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 R 25.0K

$629 CDF 1.4M

138.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.23

13.33

-15.75%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 26, 2026

Last update for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

South Africa

$398 33.1%