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: $476 in Butare versus $487 in Nyamata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $734 in Butare versus $780 in Nyamata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 in Butare versus $1,072 in Nyamata.

Living in Butare costs roughly 2% less than in Nyamata, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 RWF 2,604

$3.54 RWF 5,183

-49.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.03 RWF 30.8K

$10.34 RWF 15.1K

103.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 RWF 8,030

$6.51 RWF 9,530

-15.82%

Cappuccino

$1.71 RWF 2,508

$1.76 RWF 2,579

-2.84%

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

$0.53 RWF 779

$0.68 RWF 995

-22.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 RWF 533

$0.44 RWF 644

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 RWF 971

$1.06 RWF 1,554

-37.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 RWF 1,485

$1.41 RWF 2,061

-28.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.40 RWF 579

$0.71 RWF 1,040

-43.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 RWF 1,323

$0.85 RWF 1,247

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 RWF 1,404

$1.29 RWF 1,885

-25.58%

Eggs

$1.47 RWF 2,153

$1.68 RWF 2,460

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.28 RWF 3,331

$3.52 RWF 5,148

-35.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 RWF 4,405

$2.81 RWF 4,116

7.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.78 RWF 4,065

$3.81 RWF 5,582

-27.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 RWF 3,246

$2.36 RWF 3,462

-5.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 RWF 1,285

$0.43 RWF 631

104.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 RWF 1,718

$0.71 RWF 1,043

64.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 RWF 1,149

$0.57 RWF 836

36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 RWF 500

$0.48 RWF 700

-29.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 RWF 627

$0.78 RWF 1,136

-44.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 RWF 510

$0.37 RWF 536

-5.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 RWF 846

$0.68 RWF 992

-14.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.25 RWF 1,836

$1.37 RWF 2,002

-8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.35 RWF 15.2K

$10.12 RWF 14.8K

2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RWF 1,315

$0.89 RWF 1,298

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 RWF 2,006

$1.81 RWF 2,644

-24.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 RWF 429

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 RWF 14.6K

$30.68 RWF 44.9K

-67.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 RWF 3,101

$2.60 RWF 3,813

-18.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RWF 1,326

$1.40 RWF 2,055

-35.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 RWF 5,737

$3.16 RWF 4,633

24.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 RWF 1,044

$1.13 RWF 1,650

-37.17%

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

$16.6K RWF 24.4M

$27.2K RWF 39.8M

-38.73%

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

$8,748 RWF 12.8M

$24.4K RWF 35.7M

-64.11%

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

$37.09 RWF 54.3K

$47.18 RWF 69.1K

-21.39%

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

$8.97 RWF 13.1K

$8.55 RWF 12.5K

4.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.85 RWF 26.1K

$17.34 RWF 25.4K

2.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.27 RWF 37.0K

$47.14 RWF 69.0K

-46.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 RWF 8,155

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 RWF 5,036

$2.12 RWF 3,104

62.26%

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

$93.2 RWF 136.4K

$154 RWF 225.3K

-39.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,321 RWF 1.9M

$5,216 RWF 7.6M

-74.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.64 RWF 20.0K

$16.77 RWF 24.5K

-18.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 RWF 28.1K

$19.65 RWF 28.8K

-2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.28 RWF 35.5K

$24.12 RWF 35.3K

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.80 RWF 45.1K

$30.85 RWF 45.2K

-0.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 RWF 302.9K

$106 RWF 154.6K

95.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 RWF 202.3K

$68.7 RWF 100.5K

101.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 RWF 457.9K

$348 RWF 510.2K

-10.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 RWF 350.3K

$238 RWF 348.8K

0.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 RWF 266.1K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Butare and $106 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 $125, 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 2% 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 $714 in Butare and $731 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 $106 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 $476 per month in Butare versus $487 in Nyamata – a 2% 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 2% less than in Nyamata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.