How Democratic Republic of the Congo compares across key indices
Cost of Living
47 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
45/100
Healthcare
34/100
Quality of Life
66/200
How far your money goes in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cost of Living
47
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
35
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
47
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
49
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Democratic Republic of the Congo - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
45/100
Crime Index
55/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Democratic Republic of the Congo has 114 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $958 in Bakwa to $1,273 in Kinshasa. Bakwa leads on safety, scoring 48/100. Bakwa ranks highest for quality of life at 71/200.
Bakwa
$958/mo
Bakwa
48/100
Bakwa
71/200
Kinshasa
50/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinshasa | $1,273 | 37/100 | 66/200 | 50/100 | 66 |
| Lubumbashi | $1,110 | 41/100 | 67/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Mbuji-Mayi | $1,108 | 41/100 | 67/200 | 42/100 | 60 |
| Kananga | $1,082 | 42/100 | 68/200 | 41/100 | 58 |
| Kisangani | $1,079 | 42/100 | 68/200 | 40/100 | 58 |
| Bukavu | $1,060 | 43/100 | 68/200 | 39/100 | 56 |
| Kolwezi | $1,059 | 43/100 | 68/200 | 39/100 | 56 |
| Likasi | $1,048 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 38/100 | 55 |
| Tshikapa | $1,048 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 38/100 | 55 |
| Kikwit | $1,038 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 38/100 | 54 |
| Masina | $1,036 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 38/100 | 54 |
| Mbandaka | $1,032 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 37/100 | 54 |
| Goma | $1,030 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 37/100 | 54 |
| Matadi | $1,029 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 37/100 | 54 |
| Uvira | $1,026 | 44/100 | 69/200 | 37/100 | 54 |
| Bunia | $1,025 | 45/100 | 69/200 | 37/100 | 53 |
| Boma | $1,011 | 45/100 | 70/200 | 36/100 | 52 |
| Mwene | $1,011 | 45/100 | 70/200 | 36/100 | 52 |
| Butembo | $1,009 | 45/100 | 70/200 | 36/100 | 52 |
| Isiro | $1,004 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 36/100 | 52 |
| Kindu | $1,000 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Kabinda | $997 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Gandajika | $994 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Bandundu Province | $993 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Kamina | $992 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Gemena | $992 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Mwene-Ditu | $990 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 35/100 | 51 |
| Kipushi | $983 | 46/100 | 70/200 | 34/100 | 50 |
| Kalemie | $981 | 47/100 | 70/200 | 34/100 | 50 |
| Bumba | $979 | 47/100 | 70/200 | 34/100 | 50 |
| Mbanza-Ngungu | $975 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 34/100 | 49 |
| Beni | $974 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 34/100 | 49 |
| Moanda | $970 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 33/100 | 49 |
| Lisala | $966 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 33/100 | 49 |
| Ilebo | $966 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 33/100 | 49 |
| Tshilenge | $965 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 33/100 | 49 |
| Inkisi | $965 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 33/100 | 49 |
| Bukama | $961 | 47/100 | 71/200 | 33/100 | 48 |
| Bakwa | $958 | 48/100 | 71/200 | 32/100 | 48 |
| Kambove | $958 | 48/100 | 71/200 | 32/100 | 48 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
7
Verified records
0
Cities covered
4
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Middle school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Democratic Republic of the Congo
Recommended PartnerReal coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pollution Index
53/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
26.6ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Democratic Republic of the Congo, answered with data
Democratic Republic of the Congo has a cost of living index of 47 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $958 in Bakwa and reach $1,273 in Kinshasa.
Bakwa is the most affordable city in Democratic Republic of the Congo in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $958 for a single person including rent. Bukama is the next most affordable at $961/mo.
Democratic Republic of the Congo has a safety index of 45/100, making it moderately safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Bakwa scores highest on safety at 48/100.
Bakwa ranks highest for quality of life in Democratic Republic of the Congo, scoring 71/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $958/mo for a single person.
Democratic Republic of the Congo scores 34/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Democratic Republic of the Congo's cost of living is roughly 53% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 65% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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