DR Congo vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

DR Congo South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$954
$972
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2530
$2272
🏠 One person rent
$464
$492
🏘️ Family rent
$1179
$860
🍽️ Food expenses
$297
$276
🚐 Transport expenses
$124
$121
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$876
$1527
💸 GDP per capita
$649
$6253
😃 Human freedom index
5.48
6.92
❤️ Life expectancy
59.7
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
20
41
🌐 English speaking %
1%
31%
🎓 Higher education
41
83
😀 Quality of life
12
37
🏙️ Population
86.8M
62M

The average cost of living in the DR Congo ($954) is 2% less expensive than in South Africa ($972). the DR Congo ranked 94th vs 90th for South Africa in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.9 months in the DR Congo compared to 1.6 months in South Africa. Ranked 184th and 124th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in DR Congo vs South Africa infographic

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Prices in the DR Congo vs South Africa

We calculate prices for the DR Congo and South Africa as a population-weighted mean of 25 and 36 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

DR Congo South Africa
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$7.1
$8.2
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$37.8
$35.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.56
$4.71
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.97
$2.23
 Cappuccino
$4.53
$2.03
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.29
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$641
$491
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$227
$357
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1464
$867
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$826
$678
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$132
$66.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$203
$102
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$22
$41.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.18%
11.47%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$8373
$1199
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$595
$888
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.62
$1.77
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$68.8
$53.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$5.2
$9.36
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.17
$1.32
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.07
$1.12
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.68
$0.99
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.56
$1.45
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.49
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.63
$8.56
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.8
$5.09
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.28
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.61
$1.57
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.38
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.62
$1.5
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$1.59
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.56
$1.39
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.24
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.98
$0.64
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.31
$1.37
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$10
$5.62
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.78
$1.37
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.52
$2.94
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$2.59
$4.76
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.57
$3.55
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.14
$1.85
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$0.75
$1.31
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$41.6
$30.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$7.99
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.3
$29.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.04
$6.65
👖 Brand Jeans
$24.9
$50.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$56.8
$91.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$93.7
$203
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3579
$4974

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in the DR Congo vs South Africa

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In the DR Congo

City Cost of living Population
Kinshasa
$1041
11.9M
Mbuji-Mayi
$957
2.89M
Lubumbashi
$1007
1.79M
Kananga
$932
1.97M
Mbandaka
$810
1.19M
Tshikapa
$902
1.01M
Kisangani
$855
936K
Kolwezi
$947
573K
Likasi
$939
423K
Bukavu
$723
871K
Uvira
$763
590K
Kikwit
$852
398K
Matadi
$821
306K
Bunia
$784
328K
Mwene-Ditu
$826
196K
Isiro
$826
183K
Beni
$768
232K
Boma
$803
163K
Butembo
$760
218K
Gandajika
$815
146K
Gemena
$757
139K
Kindu
$728
172K
Kalemie
$730
147K
Bumba
$796
103K
Mbanza-Ngungu
$801
100K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1079
4.43M
Cape Town
$1120
3.78M
Soweto
$971
1.27M
Pretoria
$909
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$674
839K
Rustenburg
$943
550K
Durban
$834
595K
Randburg
$874
337K
Centurion
$838
237K
East London
$703
267K
Sandton
$997
222K
Port Elizabeth
$970
312K
Benoni
$822
159K
Kroonstad
$788
169K
Springs
$696
122K
Klerksdorp
$689
187K
Kimberley
$859
225K
Bloemfontein
$696
256K
Paarl
$850
112K
Vereeniging
$717
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$768
95.8K
Mthatha
$862
96.1K
Potchefstroom
$717
149K
Uitenhage
$901
104K
Komani
$953
68.9K
George
$790
157K
Middelburg
$841
87.3K
Bethal
$819
60.8K
Upington
$741
121K
Brits
$848
53.5K