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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Nyamata costs about 16% more than Gisenyi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 RWF 5,019

$4.10 RWF 5,979

-16.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.57 RWF 15.4K

$15.27 RWF 22.3K

-30.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 RWF 9,910

$6.04 RWF 8,810

12.42%

Cappuccino

$1.71 RWF 2,498

$2.16 RWF 3,151

-20.83%

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

$0.71 RWF 1,033

$0.81 RWF 1,176

-12.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 RWF 640

$0.52 RWF 761

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 RWF 1,557

$1.06 RWF 1,547

0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 RWF 2,013

$1.96 RWF 2,861

-29.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 RWF 958

$0.67 RWF 983

-1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 RWF 1,255

$1.08 RWF 1,574

-20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 RWF 1,805

$1.30 RWF 1,890

-4.62%

Eggs

$1.64 RWF 2,394

$1.68 RWF 2,453

-2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 RWF 5,231

$4.03 RWF 5,878

-10.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.81 RWF 4,095

$4.45 RWF 6,487

-36.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.61 RWF 5,272

$3.80 RWF 5,546

-5.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 RWF 3,509

$2.36 RWF 3,441

2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.41 RWF 597

$0.99 RWF 1,449

-58.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 RWF 1,033

$1.49 RWF 2,172

-52.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 RWF 791

$1.09 RWF 1,590

-50.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 RWF 736

$0.52 RWF 759

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 RWF 1,198

$0.78 RWF 1,134

5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 RWF 529

$0.29 RWF 420

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RWF 966

$0.81 RWF 1,182

-18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 RWF 2,063

$1.75 RWF 2,556

-19.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.41 RWF 15.2K

$10.19 RWF 14.9K

2.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 RWF 1,374

$0.90 RWF 1,307

4.44%

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)

$2.66 RWF 3,880

$3.03 RWF 4,422

-12.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 RWF 2,054

$1.41 RWF 2,056

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 RWF 4,492

$3.86 RWF 5,639

-20.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 RWF 1,731

$1.14 RWF 1,661

4.39%

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

$27.1K RWF 39.6M

$26.5K RWF 38.7M

2.24%

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

$24.3K RWF 35.4M

$30.2K RWF 44.1M

-19.69%

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

$46.98 RWF 68.5K

$47.13 RWF 68.8K

-0.32%

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

$8.74 RWF 12.7K

$3.07 RWF 4,481

184.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 RWF 25.6K

$17.86 RWF 26.1K

-1.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.34 RWF 69.1K

Cinema Ticket

$2.12 RWF 3,087

$3.52 RWF 5,132

-39.77%

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

$152 RWF 221.1K

$152 RWF 222.3K

-0.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,213 RWF 7.6M

$5,149 RWF 7.5M

1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.27 RWF 25.2K

$17.35 RWF 25.3K

-0.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.15 RWF 27.9K

$19.53 RWF 28.5K

-1.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.53 RWF 35.8K

$24.18 RWF 35.3K

1.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.53 RWF 46.0K

$31.74 RWF 46.3K

-0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 RWF 152.5K

$98.0 RWF 143.0K

6.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.8 RWF 100.3K

$49.21 RWF 71.8K

39.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 RWF 509.3K

$301 RWF 439.6K

15.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 RWF 351.5K

$119 RWF 174.3K

101.65%

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 Nyamata: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gisenyi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $105 in Nyamata versus $98.0 in Gisenyi. 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 $11.00 in Nyamata versus $15.00 in Gisenyi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $124 vs $147 – 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

Nyamata vs Gisenyi: 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 $708 per month in Nyamata and $611 in Gisenyi. 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 $11.00 in Nyamata and $15.00 in Gisenyi. 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 $472 in Nyamata and $408 in Gisenyi, 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.