Cost guides
What building work really costs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
How much does it cost to build a house in the DRC?
Price ranges per m² in Kolwezi, the reference city, and across the rest of the country, trade by trade, for a 120 m² house in 2026.
- Economy : $250 – $550 /m²
- Standard : $550 – $1,000 /m²
- Premium : $1,000 – $1,800 /m²
Updated August 2, 2026
Construction material prices in the DRC
Cement, rebar, blocks, roofing sheets, sand and timber: the price ranges seen on the Congolese market.
- 50 kg cement bag : $11 – $18
- Reinforcement steel : $1,200 – $1,800 /t
- Structural timber : $250 – $450 /m³
Updated August 2, 2026
Labour costs on a Congolese building site
Daily rates from labourer to site foreman, and what labour really represents in a build budget.
- Labourer : $4 – $10 /day
- Mason : $12 – $20 /day
- Site foreman : $25 – $45 /day
Updated August 2, 2026