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: $468 in Butare versus $472 in Nyamata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $722 in Butare versus $788 in Nyamata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $975 in Butare versus $1,105 in Nyamata.

Living in Butare costs roughly 1% less than in Nyamata, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 RWF 2,602

$3.51 RWF 5,124

-49.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 RWF 30.5K

$10.36 RWF 15.1K

101.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 RWF 8,209

$6.69 RWF 9,770

-15.99%

Cappuccino

$1.78 RWF 2,595

$1.69 RWF 2,465

5.33%

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

$0.58 RWF 852

$0.67 RWF 978

-13.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 RWF 536

$0.40 RWF 590

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 RWF 981

$1.07 RWF 1,562

-37.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 RWF 1,547

$1.41 RWF 2,053

-24.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.36 RWF 531

$0.70 RWF 1,024

-48.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 RWF 1,436

$0.82 RWF 1,193

19.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 RWF 1,312

$1.23 RWF 1,791

-26.83%

Eggs

$1.46 RWF 2,132

$1.69 RWF 2,467

-13.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 RWF 3,219

$3.52 RWF 5,140

-37.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 RWF 4,363

$2.73 RWF 3,983

9.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.73 RWF 3,986

$3.68 RWF 5,371

-25.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 RWF 3,287

$2.44 RWF 3,563

-7.79%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 RWF 1,372

$0.44 RWF 636

113.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 RWF 1,726

$0.71 RWF 1,030

66.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 RWF 1,129

$0.53 RWF 781

45.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 RWF 459

$0.48 RWF 700

-35.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 RWF 680

$0.83 RWF 1,208

-43.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 RWF 505

$0.36 RWF 526

-2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 RWF 839

$0.67 RWF 975

-14.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 RWF 1,733

$1.41 RWF 2,064

-15.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 RWF 14.7K

$10.32 RWF 15.1K

-2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 RWF 1,247

$0.98 RWF 1,424

-13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 RWF 2,065

$1.79 RWF 2,612

-21.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 RWF 388

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.46 RWF 13.8K

$31.02 RWF 45.3K

-69.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 RWF 3,062

$2.59 RWF 3,787

-18.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 RWF 1,354

$1.45 RWF 2,122

-35.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 RWF 5,531

$3.05 RWF 4,447

24.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 RWF 1,136

$1.14 RWF 1,668

-31.58%

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

$16.8K RWF 24.5M

$26.6K RWF 38.8M

-36.83%

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

$8,613 RWF 12.6M

$23.9K RWF 34.9M

-63.97%

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

$36.12 RWF 52.7K

$47.45 RWF 69.3K

-23.88%

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

$9.01 RWF 13.1K

$8.68 RWF 12.7K

3.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 RWF 26.2K

$17.06 RWF 24.9K

5.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.78 RWF 37.6K

$48.02 RWF 70.1K

-46.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.64 RWF 8,226

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 RWF 5,159

$2.02 RWF 2,945

74.75%

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

$94.3 RWF 137.6K

$152 RWF 222.1K

-38.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,326 RWF 1.9M

$5,117 RWF 7.5M

-74.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.16 RWF 20.7K

$17.08 RWF 24.9K

-17.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 RWF 28.8K

$19.60 RWF 28.6K

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.46 RWF 35.7K

$24.24 RWF 35.4K

0.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.97 RWF 45.2K

$31.53 RWF 46.0K

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 RWF 306.9K

$103 RWF 150.7K

103.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 RWF 203.1K

$68.8 RWF 100.4K

102.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 RWF 463.9K

$351 RWF 511.8K

-9.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 RWF 347.2K

$244 RWF 355.6K

-2.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 RWF 269.8K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $210 in Butare and $103 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 $116 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 1% 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 $702 in Butare and $709 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: $210 in Butare versus $103 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 $468 per month in Butare versus $472 in Nyamata – a 1% 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 1% less than in Nyamata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.