Africa · Brazzaville
Cost of living in Congo
Congo is 64% cheaper than the US, ranking #137 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Congo, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (117), while housing & utilities is the most affordable (40).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $36,000 in Congo.
Quality of life
51/100 · #168 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Congo
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. From 1968 to 1992, the country was named the People’s Republic of the Congo. A quarter-century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990, and a democratically elected government took office in 1992, at which time the country reverted to "the Republic of the Congo" name. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored to power former President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992.
Read the full background
A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and the next elections retained SASSOU-Nguesso. After a year of renewed fighting, SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reelected in 2009 and, after passing a constitutional referendum allowing him to run for additional terms, was reelected again in 2016 and 2021. The Republic of the Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Congo expensive to live in?
Congo is 64% cheaper than the US, ranking #137 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; housing & utilities costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Congo?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $36,000 in Congo, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Congo cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 35.9, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Congo?
Congo scores 51 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#168 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 66 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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