Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Rwanda Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Rwanda

Name: Rwanda
Address: RW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,319 per month in Canada vs $503 in Rwanda, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Canada vs $802 in Rwanda, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,437 per month in Canada vs $1,101 in Rwanda, rent included.

The cost of living in Canada is about 361% higher than in Rwanda on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 74% above the global median, while Rwanda is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($1,332–$3,143) than in Rwanda ($369–$788), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.63 CA$26.11

$3.44 RWF 5,029

441.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$27.85 RWF 40.7K

165.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.31

$6.16 RWF 9,007

77.27%

Cappuccino

$3.76 CA$5.28

$2.25 RWF 3,293

67.11%

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

$2.19 CA$3.07

$0.86 RWF 1,253

154.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$0.53 RWF 778

228.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.31

$1.03 RWF 1,501

475.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 CA$8.35

$2.01 RWF 2,945

196.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CA$3.20

$0.69 RWF 1,010

230.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.74

$1.03 RWF 1,506

159.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.30

$1.21 RWF 1,764

212.40%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.90

$1.62 RWF 2,367

116.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.70 CA$16.40

$3.92 RWF 5,733

198.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.30 CA$17.24

$3.98 RWF 5,822

209.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.44 CA$21.65

$3.47 RWF 5,079

344.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$6.00

$2.64 RWF 3,865

62.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$0.82 RWF 1,206

76.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.62

$1.38 RWF 2,016

190.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.98

$1.04 RWF 1,527

310.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$0.46 RWF 672

484.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.71

$0.76 RWF 1,116

248.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$0.41 RWF 592

543.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 CA$2.65

$0.78 RWF 1,139

142.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.77 CA$20.71

$1.70 RWF 2,492

768.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.32 CA$18.67

$10.29 RWF 15.0K

29.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 CA$4.15

$1.02 RWF 1,492

190.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 CA$4.59

$1.71 RWF 2,500

91.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 CA$3.67

$0.33 RWF 488

693.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.1 CA$110

$28.12 RWF 41.1K

177.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 CA$4.79

$2.70 RWF 3,953

26.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.23 RWF 1,796

21.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.07 CA$40.76

$4.19 RWF 6,133

593.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.68

$1.14 RWF 1,667

5.26%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$24.3K RWF 35.6M

4.75%

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

$20.6K CA$28.8K

$22.5K RWF 32.9M

-8.49%

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

$152 CA$212

$48.81 RWF 71.4K

210.45%

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

$46.70 CA$65.5

$9.29 RWF 13.6K

402.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 CA$86.7

$21.17 RWF 31.0K

192.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.36 CA$60.8

$31.33 RWF 45.8K

38.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.05 CA$25.31

$4.35 RWF 6,365

314.94%

Cinema Ticket

$11.51 CA$16.13

$3.38 RWF 4,950

240.53%

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

$806 CA$1,130

$138 RWF 201.4K

485.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K CA$17.0K

$4,312 RWF 6.3M

181.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.6

$18.96 RWF 27.7K

192.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.80 CA$58.6

$23.13 RWF 33.8K

80.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$126

$28.23 RWF 41.3K

217.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$149

$34.21 RWF 50.0K

209.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 CA$1,864

$427 RWF 624.8K

211.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$281 RWF 410.9K

329.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,112 CA$2,961

$853 RWF 1.2M

147.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,833 CA$2,570

$559 RWF 817.1K

228.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,639 CA$6,503

$3,429 RWF 5.0M

35.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,849 CA$5,396

$2,974 RWF 4.3M

29.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,948 CA$4,133

$284 RWF 415.8K

936.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

16.43

-61.47%

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

Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026

Last update for Rwanda: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $266 in Rwanda. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,481 in Ottawa and $573 in Kigali.

Average salary: $2,904 in Canada vs $242 in Rwanda. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 382% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 240% more in Canada.

Public transport is 364% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 1100% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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

Canada vs Rwanda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rwanda is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 287% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Rwanda, contributing to the overall 287% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Rwanda, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Rwanda is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.