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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $446 per month in Gisenyi vs $556 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $684 per month in Gisenyi vs $894 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $922 per month in Gisenyi vs $1,231 in Nyamata, rent included.

Gisenyi is about 20% cheaper than Nyamata, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Gisenyi and Nyamata are more affordable than the global median – Gisenyi 68% lower, Nyamata 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 RWF 3,435

$2.41 RWF 3,535

-2.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.01 RWF 22.0K

$11.82 RWF 17.3K

26.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 RWF 8,973

$6.93 RWF 10.2K

-11.69%

Cappuccino

$2.40 RWF 3,524

$1.71 RWF 2,512

40.35%

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

$0.83 RWF 1,210

$0.71 RWF 1,044

16.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 RWF 796

$0.38 RWF 563

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 RWF 1,530

$1.00 RWF 1,465

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 RWF 2,905

$1.66 RWF 2,427

19.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 RWF 1,147

$0.74 RWF 1,089

5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RWF 1,513

$0.83 RWF 1,217

24.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 RWF 1,918

$1.27 RWF 1,859

3.15%

Eggs

$1.69 RWF 2,471

$1.61 RWF 2,357

4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.10 RWF 6,017

$3.51 RWF 5,150

16.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 RWF 6,707

$2.78 RWF 4,075

64.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 RWF 6,262

$4.07 RWF 5,961

4.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 RWF 3,583

$2.47 RWF 3,622

-1.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 RWF 1,293

$0.43 RWF 628

104.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 RWF 2,273

$0.71 RWF 1,037

118.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 RWF 1,540

$0.56 RWF 822

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 RWF 738

$0.47 RWF 683

6.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 RWF 1,128

$0.77 RWF 1,130

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 RWF 423

$0.35 RWF 519

-17.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 RWF 1,161

$0.66 RWF 974

19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 RWF 2,904

$1.32 RWF 1,941

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 RWF 14.7K

$10.16 RWF 14.9K

-1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 RWF 1,375

$0.93 RWF 1,366

1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 RWF 2,357

$1.61 RWF 2,355

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 RWF 151

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 RWF 44.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 RWF 4,009

$2.62 RWF 3,841

4.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 RWF 2,939

$1.99 RWF 2,920

0.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 RWF 4,918

$3.02 RWF 4,427

10.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 RWF 2,618

$1.23 RWF 1,799

45.53%

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

$25.8K RWF 37.8M

$26.4K RWF 38.7M

-2.26%

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

$29.5K RWF 43.2M

$24.1K RWF 35.3M

22.47%

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

$84.8 RWF 124.4K

$85.8 RWF 125.7K

-1.10%

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

$3.08 RWF 4,516

$6.89 RWF 10.1K

-55.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.38 RWF 31.3K

$16.76 RWF 24.6K

27.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 RWF 149.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.46 RWF 5,079

$2.09 RWF 3,062

65.55%

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

$115 RWF 168.1K

$115 RWF 168.9K

-0.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,715 RWF 9.8M

$6,674 RWF 9.8M

0.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.57 RWF 25.8K

$17.70 RWF 26.0K

-0.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.69 RWF 23.0K

$15.54 RWF 22.8K

0.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.04 RWF 32.3K

$22.49 RWF 33.0K

-2.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.25 RWF 50.2K

$33.49 RWF 49.1K

2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 RWF 421.3K

$103 RWF 151.4K

178.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.47 RWF 72.5K

$68.2 RWF 99.9K

-27.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 RWF 444.0K

$344 RWF 504.8K

-12.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 RWF 173.6K

$239 RWF 351.1K

-50.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 RWF 271.2K

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: September 1, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Gisenyi versus $103 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 $12.00 in Nyamata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $125 – 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 25% 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 $670 per month in Gisenyi and $835 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 $12.00 in Nyamata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% 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 $446 in Gisenyi and $556 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.