Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩
#138
,
Nomad Score:
42%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
81%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to global standards, especially for food and local services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
76%
Weight: 80
Affordable housing options available, though quality varies; expat-standard apartments can be pricier.
🍎 Food & Groceries
84%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer fresh produce at low prices; imported goods are more expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
87%
Weight: 20
Public transport and shared taxis are very affordable, though infrastructure is basic.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Limited formal entertainment venues; local cultural events are inexpensive.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
63%
Weight: 10
Gyms exist but are limited in number and quality; prices are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
31%
Weight: 30
Congolese franc experiences volatility and inflation risks, affecting purchasing power.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
35%
Weight: 100
Internet is available but often slow and unreliable, especially outside central areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
12%
Weight: 40
Very few formal coworking spaces; digital nomad infrastructure is minimal.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
24%
Weight: 30
Limited cafes offering reliable WiFi; connectivity often unstable.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
15%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads or remote workers.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
8%
Weight: 100
Not a known destination for digital nomads; very low community presence.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
57%
Weight: 30
Work culture is informal; however, infrastructure challenges can impact productivity.
🌳 Environmental Quality
42%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and waste management issues affect environmental quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
38%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is below average with visible litter and limited sanitation services.
🗨️ Language Barrier
49%
Weight: 30
French is official language; limited English spoken outside business circles.
💨 Air Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Air pollution is moderate due to traffic and industrial activity.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
33%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic; advanced care requires travel to larger cities or abroad.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are relatively low but quality is inconsistent.
🏥 Healthcare
35%
Weight: 20
Limited access to quality healthcare services; emergency care is basic.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; rainy season can be intense.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
61%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during rainy season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
45%
Weight: 10
Few public parks and green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
52%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not widespread; many buildings rely on fans.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
20%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation due to equatorial location.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
70%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with diverse ethnic groups and traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
41%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly local bars and informal venues.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
63%
Weight: 15
Proximity to natural parks and wildlife reserves outside the city.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
French language immersion possible; limited formal language schools.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
67%
Weight: 10
Opportunities for cultural tours and visits to nearby natural attractions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
39%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment options like cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
68%
Weight: 25
Local cuisine is flavorful; international options are limited.
🧠 Yoga Studios
10%
Weight: 10
Yoga studios are virtually non-existent.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
40%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available but limited variety of fitness classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
55%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits and vegetables available; processed healthy options are rare.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
UTC+2 time zone is convenient for European and some African remote work schedules.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
23%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads or expats.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
18%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is very small and underdeveloped.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
20%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is minimal with few platforms or support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
10%
Weight: 30
No established coworking spaces with professional amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
25%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup activity but very limited infrastructure and funding.
💳 Local Payment Services
40%
Weight: 10
Mobile money services are growing but cash remains dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Low but growing interest in crypto; limited regulatory clarity.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
54%
Weight: 30
Lubumbashi International Airport offers regional flights; limited direct international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
37%
Weight: 20
Informal minibuses and shared taxis dominate; no formal public transit system.
🚶 Walkability
42%
Weight: 20
Some walkable neighborhoods but infrastructure and safety concerns limit pedestrian comfort.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
15%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps are largely unavailable; reliance on informal taxis.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and roads are not cyclist-friendly.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Limited bus and road connections; air travel is primary for long distances.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
5%
Weight: 10
No formal scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
60%
Weight: 20
Mobile coverage is decent in urban areas but patchy in outskirts.
🔒 VPN Reliability
50%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but internet instability can affect connection quality.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
32%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages; many rely on generators or solar backups.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
20%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is scarce and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
45%
Weight: 40
Visa process can be bureaucratic; some visas available on arrival for select countries.
📊 Tax Friendliness
30%
Weight: 30
Tax system is complex with limited incentives for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
40%
Weight: 15
Some restrictions and government oversight on media and speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
35%
Weight: 20
Political environment is fragile with occasional unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
38%
Weight: 15
Banking procedures are bureaucratic; foreigner-friendly banks are limited.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
30%
Weight: 10
Business registration is slow and involves multiple steps.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa program.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Very limited support or infrastructure for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
5%
Weight: 25
No known digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
12%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums for digital nomads in Lubumbashi.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
30%
Weight: 100
Safety concerns due to petty crime and occasional political unrest.
♀️ Female Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Women may face cultural and safety challenges; limited support networks.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but occasional incidents of discrimination reported.