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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $414 per month in Gisenyi vs $472 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $661 per month in Gisenyi vs $778 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $908 per month in Gisenyi vs $1,085 in Nyamata, rent included.

Gisenyi is about 12% cheaper than Nyamata, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Gisenyi and Nyamata are more affordable than the global median – Gisenyi 69% lower, Nyamata 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 RWF 5,949

$3.45 RWF 5,051

17.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.01 RWF 21.9K

$10.31 RWF 15.1K

45.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 RWF 8,790

$6.66 RWF 9,737

-9.76%

Cappuccino

$2.17 RWF 3,167

$1.69 RWF 2,474

28.40%

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

$0.82 RWF 1,201

$0.70 RWF 1,024

17.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 RWF 765

$0.43 RWF 630

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 RWF 1,476

$1.02 RWF 1,496

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 RWF 2,992

$1.37 RWF 2,005

49.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 RWF 960

$0.71 RWF 1,033

-7.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 RWF 1,515

$0.87 RWF 1,270

19.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 RWF 1,827

$1.23 RWF 1,798

1.63%

Eggs

$1.63 RWF 2,382

$1.65 RWF 2,413

-1.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.00 RWF 5,855

$3.69 RWF 5,390

8.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 RWF 6,550

$2.85 RWF 4,173

57.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.63 RWF 5,306

$3.75 RWF 5,481

-3.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 RWF 3,584

$2.42 RWF 3,537

1.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 RWF 1,456

$0.41 RWF 596

143.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 RWF 2,102

$0.66 RWF 964

118.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 RWF 1,671

$0.58 RWF 845

96.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 RWF 703

$0.51 RWF 745

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 RWF 1,181

$0.77 RWF 1,126

5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 RWF 420

$0.34 RWF 494

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 RWF 1,187

$0.68 RWF 993

19.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 RWF 2,588

$1.35 RWF 1,972

31.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 RWF 14.9K

$10.10 RWF 14.8K

0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 RWF 1,303

$0.90 RWF 1,318

-1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 RWF 2,521

$1.81 RWF 2,648

-4.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 RWF 162

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.74 RWF 45.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 RWF 4,586

$2.56 RWF 3,750

22.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 RWF 2,044

$1.43 RWF 2,091

-2.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 RWF 5,537

$3.18 RWF 4,646

19.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 RWF 1,735

$1.13 RWF 1,652

5.31%

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

$26.4K RWF 38.5M

$26.7K RWF 39.0M

-1.26%

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

$30.4K RWF 44.4M

$23.9K RWF 34.9M

27.40%

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

$46.74 RWF 68.3K

$46.50 RWF 68.0K

0.52%

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

$3.06 RWF 4,476

$8.76 RWF 12.8K

-65.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.22 RWF 26.6K

$17.50 RWF 25.6K

4.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.80 RWF 68.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.50 RWF 5,111

$2.04 RWF 2,990

71.57%

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

$154 RWF 224.7K

$151 RWF 220.5K

1.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,088 RWF 7.4M

$5,047 RWF 7.4M

0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.17 RWF 25.1K

$16.85 RWF 24.6K

1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.25 RWF 28.1K

$19.81 RWF 29.0K

-2.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.96 RWF 35.0K

$23.90 RWF 34.9K

0.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.54 RWF 46.1K

$31.08 RWF 45.4K

1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 RWF 143.7K

$105 RWF 153.0K

-6.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.6 RWF 74.0K

$68.3 RWF 99.9K

-25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 RWF 440.9K

$340 RWF 497.8K

-11.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 RWF 177.1K

$241 RWF 351.8K

-49.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 RWF 269.0K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $98.3 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 $10.00 in Nyamata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 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 14% 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 $621 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 $10.00 in Nyamata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 $414 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.