Cost of Living Comparison Between Butare and Nyamata Cost of Living Comparison Between Butare and Nyamata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $461 in Butare versus $485 in Nyamata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $721 in Butare versus $775 in Nyamata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $981 in Butare versus $1,065 in Nyamata.

Living in Butare costs roughly 5% less than in Nyamata, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Butare 65% lower, Nyamata 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.70 RWF 2,491

$3.53 RWF 5,166

-51.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.17 RWF 31.0K

$10.34 RWF 15.1K

104.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 RWF 8,136

$6.66 RWF 9,744

-16.52%

Cappuccino

$1.72 RWF 2,511

$1.72 RWF 2,522

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 RWF 844

$0.70 RWF 1,028

-17.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 RWF 529

$0.44 RWF 638

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 RWF 982

$1.01 RWF 1,478

-33.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 RWF 1,554

$1.42 RWF 2,073

-25.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.40 RWF 582

$0.71 RWF 1,037

-43.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 RWF 1,407

$0.81 RWF 1,186

18.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 RWF 1,394

$1.29 RWF 1,885

-26.36%

Eggs

$1.43 RWF 2,090

$1.63 RWF 2,388

-12.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 RWF 3,310

$3.56 RWF 5,204

-36.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 RWF 4,555

$2.72 RWF 3,986

14.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.70 RWF 3,951

$3.66 RWF 5,355

-26.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 RWF 3,415

$2.49 RWF 3,649

-6.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 RWF 1,292

$0.43 RWF 631

104.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 RWF 1,645

$0.70 RWF 1,028

60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 RWF 1,057

$0.58 RWF 847

24.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 RWF 501

$0.48 RWF 695

-29.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 RWF 636

$0.76 RWF 1,112

-43.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 RWF 552

$0.33 RWF 488

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 RWF 840

$0.71 RWF 1,035

-19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.25 RWF 1,834

$1.43 RWF 2,093

-12.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.40 RWF 15.2K

$10.23 RWF 15.0K

1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RWF 1,332

$0.89 RWF 1,302

2.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 RWF 1,993

$1.73 RWF 2,536

-21.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 RWF 429

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 RWF 14.5K

$30.67 RWF 44.9K

-67.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 RWF 3,081

$2.70 RWF 3,946

-21.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 RWF 1,350

$1.45 RWF 2,115

-36.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 RWF 5,463

$3.04 RWF 4,451

22.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 RWF 1,076

$1.19 RWF 1,746

-37.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.8K RWF 24.6M

$26.7K RWF 39.1M

-36.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$8,546 RWF 12.5M

$24.5K RWF 35.9M

-65.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$36.66 RWF 53.6K

$47.33 RWF 69.3K

-22.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.03 RWF 13.2K

$9.04 RWF 13.2K

-0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.19 RWF 26.6K

$17.43 RWF 25.5K

4.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.43 RWF 37.2K

$47.67 RWF 69.8K

-46.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.41 RWF 7,920

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 RWF 5,047

$2.13 RWF 3,122

61.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$93.6 RWF 137.0K

$154 RWF 224.7K

-39.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 RWF 2.0M

$5,159 RWF 7.5M

-73.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.69 RWF 20.0K

$16.90 RWF 24.7K

-18.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.70 RWF 28.8K

$19.52 RWF 28.6K

0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.46 RWF 35.8K

$24.76 RWF 36.2K

-1.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.75 RWF 45.0K

$30.87 RWF 45.2K

-0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 RWF 303.4K

$104 RWF 152.4K

99.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 RWF 204.4K

$68.6 RWF 100.3K

103.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 RWF 462.3K

$341 RWF 498.3K

-7.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 RWF 349.8K

$239 RWF 349.1K

0.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 RWF 272.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Butare: July 28, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Butare and $104 in Nyamata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Butare vs $10.00 in Nyamata. Groceries flip the comparison at $117 vs $124, with Butare cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Butare vs Nyamata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butare wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Nyamata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $691 in Butare and $727 in Nyamata to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $207 in Butare versus $104 in Nyamata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Butare – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $10.00 in Nyamata. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $461 per month in Butare versus $485 in Nyamata – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Butare gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Butare and Nyamata are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Butare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Nyamata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.