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 $2,217 per month in Canada vs $533 in Rwanda, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,254 per month in Canada vs $836 in Rwanda, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,291 per month in Canada vs $1,139 in Rwanda, rent included.

The cost of living in Canada is about 316% higher than in Rwanda on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 61% above the global median, while Rwanda is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($912–$3,779) than in Rwanda ($375–$870), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 CA$25.35

$3.07 RWF 4,504

495.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$98.8

$25.80 RWF 37.8K

176.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.20

$6.93 RWF 10.2K

58.15%

Cappuccino

$3.95 CA$5.47

$2.35 RWF 3,449

68.09%

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

$2.07 CA$2.88

$0.82 RWF 1,197

152.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.42

$0.52 RWF 758

234.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.23

$1.01 RWF 1,482

487.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 CA$7.89

$1.98 RWF 2,911

187.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$0.75 RWF 1,100

197.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$1.03 RWF 1,517

163.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.16

$1.23 RWF 1,804

202.44%

Eggs

$3.61 CA$5.01

$1.60 RWF 2,354

125.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 CA$14.99

$3.89 RWF 5,706

177.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 CA$16.95

$4.06 RWF 5,952

200.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 CA$21.75

$4.08 RWF 5,991

284.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.89

$2.69 RWF 3,947

57.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$0.88 RWF 1,298

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.57

$1.59 RWF 2,328

152.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.67

$1.02 RWF 1,489

300.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.72

$0.50 RWF 737

436.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CA$3.40

$0.78 RWF 1,139

214.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$0.46 RWF 678

480.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.50

$0.79 RWF 1,162

127.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.05

$1.97 RWF 2,890

634.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 CA$18.84

$10.01 RWF 14.7K

35.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$1.06 RWF 1,551

167.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$1.59 RWF 2,338

105.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 CA$3.41

$0.33 RWF 484

645.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 CA$104

$28.26 RWF 41.5K

165.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 CA$4.37

$2.63 RWF 3,860

19.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 CA$2.14

$2.07 RWF 3,037

-25.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.55 CA$38.21

$3.48 RWF 5,112

691.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$1.75 RWF 2,573

-33.71%

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

$28.4K CA$39.3K

$26.0K RWF 38.1M

9.13%

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

$19.5K CA$27.0K

$23.6K RWF 34.7M

-17.63%

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

$155 CA$215

$86.7 RWF 127.2K

78.62%

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

$43.47 CA$60.3

$7.86 RWF 11.5K

453.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 CA$83.8

$20.19 RWF 29.6K

199.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 CA$57.1

$30.40 RWF 44.6K

35.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.79 CA$27.45

$4.32 RWF 6,335

358.10%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 CA$15.98

$3.35 RWF 4,920

244.18%

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

$786 CA$1,089

$134 RWF 197.2K

484.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K CA$20.6K

$9,343 RWF 13.7M

58.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 CA$76.3

$19.87 RWF 29.1K

176.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.25 CA$57.2

$17.34 RWF 25.4K

137.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 CA$122

$26.81 RWF 39.3K

228.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$147

$35.26 RWF 51.7K

200.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 CA$1,797

$617 RWF 905.3K

109.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 CA$1,619

$346 RWF 507.0K

237.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 CA$2,835

$1,271 RWF 1.9M

60.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,779 CA$2,467

$788 RWF 1.2M

125.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,786 CA$6,638

$3,410 RWF 5.0M

40.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,973 CA$5,510

$3,005 RWF 4.4M

32.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,078 CA$4,270

$289 RWF 423.8K

965.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.86

16.2

-70.00%

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

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Last update for Rwanda: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,228 in Canada vs $210 in Rwanda. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,496 in Ottawa and $664 in Kigali.

Average salary: $2,981 in Canada vs $232 in Rwanda. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 485% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 175% more in Canada.

Public transport is 445% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 1185% 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 277% 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 277% 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.