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: $788 in Kigali versus $472 in Nyamata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,231 in Kigali versus $778 in Nyamata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,673 in Kigali versus $1,085 in Nyamata.

Living in Kigali is roughly 67% more expensive than in Nyamata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kigali 41% lower, Nyamata 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 RWF 5,940

$3.45 RWF 5,051

17.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.39 RWF 40.1K

$10.31 RWF 15.1K

165.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 RWF 9,697

$6.66 RWF 9,737

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$2.15 RWF 3,137

$1.69 RWF 2,474

27.22%

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

$0.81 RWF 1,184

$0.70 RWF 1,024

15.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 RWF 825

$0.43 RWF 630

30.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 RWF 1,501

$1.02 RWF 1,496

0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 RWF 3,010

$1.37 RWF 2,005

50.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 RWF 959

$0.71 RWF 1,033

-7.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 RWF 1,566

$0.87 RWF 1,270

22.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 RWF 1,859

$1.23 RWF 1,798

3.25%

Eggs

$1.66 RWF 2,424

$1.65 RWF 2,413

0.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.21 RWF 6,149

$3.69 RWF 5,390

14.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 RWF 6,546

$2.85 RWF 4,173

57.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 RWF 5,359

$3.75 RWF 5,481

-2.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 RWF 3,525

$2.42 RWF 3,537

-0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 RWF 1,461

$0.41 RWF 596

143.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RWF 2,177

$0.66 RWF 964

125.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 RWF 1,605

$0.58 RWF 845

89.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 RWF 762

$0.51 RWF 745

1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 RWF 1,188

$0.77 RWF 1,126

5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 RWF 693

$0.34 RWF 494

38.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RWF 1,166

$0.68 RWF 993

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 RWF 2,598

$1.35 RWF 1,972

31.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 RWF 14.7K

$10.10 RWF 14.8K

-0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 RWF 1,300

$0.90 RWF 1,318

-1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 RWF 2,595

$1.81 RWF 2,648

-2.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 RWF 493

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.87 RWF 40.7K

$30.74 RWF 45.0K

-9.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 RWF 4,621

$2.56 RWF 3,750

23.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 RWF 2,035

$1.43 RWF 2,091

-2.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.86 RWF 5,646

$3.18 RWF 4,646

21.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 RWF 1,731

$1.13 RWF 1,652

4.42%

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

$26.7K RWF 39.1M

$26.7K RWF 39.0M

0.13%

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

$29.8K RWF 43.6M

$23.9K RWF 34.9M

25.09%

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

$45.93 RWF 67.2K

$46.50 RWF 68.0K

-1.23%

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

$8.60 RWF 12.6K

$8.76 RWF 12.8K

-1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 RWF 26.0K

$17.50 RWF 25.6K

1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.54 RWF 41.7K

$46.80 RWF 68.4K

-39.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.88 RWF 5,679

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 RWF 4,940

$2.04 RWF 2,990

65.69%

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

$156 RWF 228.3K

$151 RWF 220.5K

3.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,189 RWF 7.6M

$5,047 RWF 7.4M

2.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.23 RWF 25.2K

$16.85 RWF 24.6K

2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 RWF 28.1K

$19.81 RWF 29.0K

-2.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.61 RWF 36.0K

$23.90 RWF 34.9K

2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.38 RWF 45.9K

$31.08 RWF 45.4K

0.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 RWF 837.4K

$105 RWF 153.0K

447.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 RWF 515.3K

$68.3 RWF 99.9K

415.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,095 RWF 1.6M

$340 RWF 497.8K

221.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$691 RWF 1.0M

$241 RWF 351.8K

187.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,380 RWF 4.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,974 RWF 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$300 RWF 438.8K

$184 RWF 269.0K

63.14%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $573 in Kigali and $105 in Nyamata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kigali pays 63% 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: $27.00 in Kigali vs $10.00 in Nyamata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $125 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 67% 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.

Average pay runs 63% higher in Kigali, 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: $573 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 18% 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 $10.00 versus $27.00 in Kigali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Nyamata gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 67% less than in Kigali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.