Cost of Living Comparison Between Kigali and Nyamata Cost of Living Comparison Between Kigali and Nyamata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $781 in Kigali versus $472 in Nyamata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kigali versus $786 in Nyamata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,658 in Kigali versus $1,101 in Nyamata.

Living in Kigali is roughly 66% more expensive than Nyamata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kigali 42% lower, Nyamata 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.25 RWF 6,201

$3.44 RWF 5,019

23.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.20 RWF 41.1K

$10.57 RWF 15.4K

166.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 RWF 9,385

$6.79 RWF 9,910

-5.30%

Cappuccino

$2.15 RWF 3,141

$1.71 RWF 2,498

25.73%

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

$0.83 RWF 1,207

$0.71 RWF 1,033

16.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 RWF 756

$0.44 RWF 640

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 RWF 1,482

$1.07 RWF 1,557

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 RWF 3,081

$1.38 RWF 2,013

52.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 RWF 1,026

$0.66 RWF 958

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 RWF 1,560

$0.86 RWF 1,255

24.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 RWF 1,815

$1.24 RWF 1,805

Eggs

$1.69 RWF 2,467

$1.64 RWF 2,394

3.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.21 RWF 6,143

$3.59 RWF 5,231

17.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 RWF 6,302

$2.81 RWF 4,095

53.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.69 RWF 5,384

$3.61 RWF 5,272

2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 RWF 3,483

$2.41 RWF 3,509

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 RWF 1,481

$0.41 RWF 597

148.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 RWF 2,083

$0.71 RWF 1,033

101.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 RWF 1,606

$0.54 RWF 791

103.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 RWF 706

$0.50 RWF 736

-4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 RWF 1,134

$0.82 RWF 1,198

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 RWF 744

$0.36 RWF 529

41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 RWF 1,090

$0.66 RWF 966

13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 RWF 2,565

$1.41 RWF 2,063

24.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.36 RWF 15.1K

$10.41 RWF 15.2K

-0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 RWF 1,389

$0.94 RWF 1,374

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 RWF 2,597

$1.71 RWF 2,500

4.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 RWF 533

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.51 RWF 40.1K

$30.65 RWF 44.7K

-10.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 RWF 4,459

$2.66 RWF 3,880

15.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 RWF 2,039

$1.41 RWF 2,054

-0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 RWF 5,717

$3.08 RWF 4,492

27.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 RWF 1,727

$1.19 RWF 1,731

-0.84%

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

$26.6K RWF 38.8M

$27.1K RWF 39.6M

-1.98%

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

$30.1K RWF 43.9M

$24.3K RWF 35.4M

24.04%

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

$46.68 RWF 68.1K

$46.98 RWF 68.5K

-0.64%

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

$8.59 RWF 12.5K

$8.74 RWF 12.7K

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.98 RWF 26.2K

$17.54 RWF 25.6K

2.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.78 RWF 42.0K

$47.34 RWF 69.1K

-39.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.73 RWF 5,435

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 RWF 5,008

$2.12 RWF 3,087

61.79%

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

$152 RWF 222.1K

$152 RWF 221.1K

0.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,049 RWF 7.4M

$5,213 RWF 7.6M

-3.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.23 RWF 25.1K

$17.27 RWF 25.2K

-0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 RWF 28.8K

$19.15 RWF 27.9K

3.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.90 RWF 34.9K

$24.53 RWF 35.8K

-2.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.15 RWF 45.4K

$31.53 RWF 46.0K

-1.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 RWF 829.0K

$105 RWF 152.5K

443.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 RWF 521.0K

$68.8 RWF 100.3K

419.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,077 RWF 1.6M

$349 RWF 509.3K

208.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$696 RWF 1.0M

$241 RWF 351.5K

188.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,400 RWF 5.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,028 RWF 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$303 RWF 442.4K

$184 RWF 268.5K

64.76%

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 Kigali: June 2, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Kigali and $105 in Nyamata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kigali pays 65% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $28.00 in Kigali vs $11.00 in Nyamata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $124 per month, with Nyamata cheaper across the board.

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

Kigali vs Nyamata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nyamata wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Kigali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nyamata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Kigali pays 65% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $568 in Kigali versus $105 in Nyamata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Kigali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Nyamata – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $28.00 in Kigali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $472 in Nyamata versus $781 in Kigali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nyamata but tight or insufficient in Kigali. The gap between the two cities makes Nyamata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Nyamata delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $472 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nyamata hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Kigali and Nyamata are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nyamata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Kigali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.