Cost of Living in Rwanda

Updated: December 01, 2024

If you've ever considered moving to Rwanda, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Rwanda?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Rwanda and whether the reported $1147 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $364.65.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Rwanda

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	2.35 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	33.12 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	7.52 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	0.94 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.64 $
Cappuccino (regular)	2.39 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	0.7 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.5 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	0.61 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1.07 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.1 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.41 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	4.0 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.15 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	3.18 $
Apples (1 lb)	2.98 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.1 $
Oranges (1 lb)	1.58 $
Tomato (1 lb)	0.86 $
Potato (1 lb)	0.32 $
Onion (1 lb)	0.8 $
Lettuce (1 head)	0.69 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.68 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	8.46 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	0.91 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.22 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	1.76 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	0.37 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	13.15 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	2.82 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	1.29 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	9.98 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	1.18 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	22549.46 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	10217.72 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	49.74 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.08 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	34.75 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	32.2 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	7.65 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	4.7 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	106.52 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	1662.39 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	19.97 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	27.93 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	33.81 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	48.45 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	398.13 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	229.67 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1052.22 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	525.64 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	2810.76 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	26730.5 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	364.65 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	17.45 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 2.35 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 33.12 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 0.61 USD, a loaf of bread 1.07 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.41 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.37 USD and a monthly pass around 13.15 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 49.74 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 32.2 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 7.65 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 106.52 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 1662.39 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 19.97 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 33.81 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 398.13 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 229.67 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 2810.76 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 26730.5 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 364.65 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 17.45% annually.

Cost of Living in Rwanda

Rwanda

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing