Cost of Living Comparison Between Gisenyi and Nyamata Cost of Living Comparison Between Gisenyi and Nyamata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $408 per month in Gisenyi vs $472 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $658 per month in Gisenyi vs $786 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $907 per month in Gisenyi vs $1,101 in Nyamata, rent included.

Gisenyi is about 14% cheaper than Nyamata, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Gisenyi and Nyamata are more affordable than the global median – Gisenyi 70% lower, Nyamata 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 RWF 5,979

$3.44 RWF 5,019

19.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.27 RWF 22.3K

$10.57 RWF 15.4K

44.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 RWF 8,810

$6.79 RWF 9,910

-11.05%

Cappuccino

$2.16 RWF 3,151

$1.71 RWF 2,498

26.32%

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

$0.81 RWF 1,176

$0.71 RWF 1,033

14.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 RWF 761

$0.44 RWF 640

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 RWF 1,547

$1.07 RWF 1,557

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 RWF 2,861

$1.38 RWF 2,013

42.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 RWF 983

$0.66 RWF 958

1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 RWF 1,574

$0.86 RWF 1,255

25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 RWF 1,890

$1.24 RWF 1,805

4.84%

Eggs

$1.68 RWF 2,453

$1.64 RWF 2,394

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.03 RWF 5,878

$3.59 RWF 5,231

12.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.45 RWF 6,487

$2.81 RWF 4,095

58.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 RWF 5,546

$3.61 RWF 5,272

5.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 RWF 3,441

$2.41 RWF 3,509

-2.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 RWF 1,449

$0.41 RWF 597

141.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RWF 2,172

$0.71 RWF 1,033

109.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 RWF 1,590

$0.54 RWF 791

101.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 RWF 759

$0.50 RWF 736

4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 RWF 1,134

$0.82 RWF 1,198

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 RWF 420

$0.36 RWF 529

-19.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 RWF 1,182

$0.66 RWF 966

22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 RWF 2,556

$1.41 RWF 2,063

24.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.19 RWF 14.9K

$10.41 RWF 15.2K

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RWF 1,307

$0.94 RWF 1,374

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RWF 2,500

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.09 RWF 137

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.65 RWF 44.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 RWF 4,422

$2.66 RWF 3,880

13.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 RWF 2,056

$1.41 RWF 2,054

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.86 RWF 5,639

$3.08 RWF 4,492

25.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 RWF 1,661

$1.19 RWF 1,731

-4.20%

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

$26.5K RWF 38.7M

$27.1K RWF 39.6M

-2.19%

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

$30.2K RWF 44.1M

$24.3K RWF 35.4M

24.51%

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

$47.13 RWF 68.8K

$46.98 RWF 68.5K

0.32%

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

$3.07 RWF 4,481

$8.74 RWF 12.7K

-64.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.86 RWF 26.1K

$17.54 RWF 25.6K

1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.34 RWF 69.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.52 RWF 5,132

$2.12 RWF 3,087

66.04%

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

$152 RWF 222.3K

$152 RWF 221.1K

0.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,149 RWF 7.5M

$5,213 RWF 7.6M

-1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.35 RWF 25.3K

$17.27 RWF 25.2K

0.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.53 RWF 28.5K

$19.15 RWF 27.9K

1.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.18 RWF 35.3K

$24.53 RWF 35.8K

-1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.74 RWF 46.3K

$31.53 RWF 46.0K

0.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$98.0 RWF 143.0K

$105 RWF 152.5K

-6.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.21 RWF 71.8K

$68.8 RWF 100.3K

-28.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 RWF 439.6K

$349 RWF 509.3K

-13.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 RWF 174.3K

$241 RWF 351.5K

-50.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 RWF 268.5K

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 Gisenyi: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $98.0 in Gisenyi versus $105 in Nyamata. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Gisenyi versus $11.00 in Nyamata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $124 – making Nyamata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Gisenyi vs Nyamata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nyamata costs about 16% more than Gisenyi, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $611 per month in Gisenyi and $708 in Nyamata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gisenyi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Gisenyi and $11.00 in Nyamata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Nyamata – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $408 in Gisenyi and $472 in Nyamata, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gisenyi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Gisenyi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nyamata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.