Daily travel budget for DRC

For a traveler, DR Congo is a very difficult and expensive place to visit. I would not recommend going on a tight budget. Even basic things like a bottle of water can be more expensive than you'd expect. A realistic daily budget is over $200. You will need to factor in costs for visas, which can be over $100, and a substantial amount for activities and permits. You'll also need to have cash on hand, as many places don't accept cards and ATMs can be unreliable.

I was in DR Congo for a humanitarian project, and our budget was over $350 a day. We stayed at places like Hotel Memling in Kinshasa for $200+ a night. We flew between cities because road travel is difficult and dangerous. The flights themselves are not cheap, often costing hundreds of dollars for a one-way trip. The biggest expense by far is the security and logistics. This is a very expensive country to travel in, and you should not go without a substantial amount of money for a safety buffer.

If you're thinking about a trip to DR Congo, your budget should be at the top of your list. I'd recommend a minimum of $250 a day. The country's infrastructure is challenging, so you'll be spending a lot on private transport and guides. For example, a trip to see the Nyiragongo volcano is a several-hundred-dollar activity. hotels outside of the major cities like Kinshasa and Goma are basic and still quite expensive. You'll want to stay in a hotel that is known to be safe, and those cost a lot more.

Let's be clear, DR Congo is not a budget destination. The daily costs are very high, and you should budget a minimum of $150-$200 per day for a basic trip. This doesn't even include big-ticket items like the gorilla trekking permit, which costs around $400-$600. I found that a simple hotel room in Goma can be $80-$120 per night. Local food is cheap, about $5-10 per meal, but transportation is a killer. Hiring a car with a driver is a must for security, and that costs around $100 a day.