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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Nyamata costs about 25% more than Gisenyi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 RWF 3,535

$2.34 RWF 3,435

2.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.82 RWF 17.3K

$15.01 RWF 22.0K

-21.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 RWF 10.2K

$6.12 RWF 8,973

13.24%

Cappuccino

$1.71 RWF 2,512

$2.40 RWF 3,524

-28.75%

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

$0.71 RWF 1,044

$0.83 RWF 1,210

-14.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 RWF 563

$0.54 RWF 796

-29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 RWF 1,465

$1.04 RWF 1,530

-3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 RWF 2,427

$1.98 RWF 2,905

-16.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 RWF 1,089

$0.78 RWF 1,147

-5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 RWF 1,217

$1.03 RWF 1,513

-19.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 RWF 1,859

$1.31 RWF 1,918

-3.05%

Eggs

$1.61 RWF 2,357

$1.69 RWF 2,471

-4.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.51 RWF 5,150

$4.10 RWF 6,017

-14.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 RWF 4,075

$4.57 RWF 6,707

-39.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 RWF 5,961

$4.27 RWF 6,262

-4.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 RWF 3,622

$2.44 RWF 3,583

1.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.43 RWF 628

$0.88 RWF 1,293

-51.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 RWF 1,037

$1.55 RWF 2,273

-54.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 RWF 822

$1.05 RWF 1,540

-46.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 RWF 683

$0.50 RWF 738

-6.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 RWF 1,130

$0.77 RWF 1,128

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 RWF 519

$0.29 RWF 423

20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RWF 974

$0.79 RWF 1,161

-16.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.32 RWF 1,941

$1.98 RWF 2,904

-33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.16 RWF 14.9K

$10.00 RWF 14.7K

1.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 RWF 1,366

$0.94 RWF 1,375

-1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 RWF 2,355

$1.61 RWF 2,357

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 RWF 151

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 RWF 44.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 RWF 3,841

$2.73 RWF 4,009

-4.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 RWF 2,920

$2.00 RWF 2,939

-0.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 RWF 4,427

$3.35 RWF 4,918

-9.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 RWF 1,799

$1.79 RWF 2,618

-31.28%

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

$26.4K RWF 38.7M

$25.8K RWF 37.8M

2.31%

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

$24.1K RWF 35.3M

$29.5K RWF 43.2M

-18.35%

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

$85.8 RWF 125.7K

$84.8 RWF 124.4K

1.11%

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

$6.89 RWF 10.1K

$3.08 RWF 4,516

123.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.76 RWF 24.6K

$21.38 RWF 31.3K

-21.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 RWF 149.3K

Cinema Ticket

$2.09 RWF 3,062

$3.46 RWF 5,079

-39.60%

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

$115 RWF 168.9K

$115 RWF 168.1K

0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,674 RWF 9.8M

$6,715 RWF 9.8M

-0.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.70 RWF 26.0K

$17.57 RWF 25.8K

0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.54 RWF 22.8K

$15.69 RWF 23.0K

-0.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.49 RWF 33.0K

$22.04 RWF 32.3K

2.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.49 RWF 49.1K

$34.25 RWF 50.2K

-2.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 RWF 151.4K

$287 RWF 421.3K

-64.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.2 RWF 99.9K

$49.47 RWF 72.5K

37.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 RWF 504.8K

$303 RWF 444.0K

13.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 RWF 351.1K

$118 RWF 173.6K

102.26%

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 Nyamata: September 1, 2026

Last update for Gisenyi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Nyamata versus $287 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 $12.00 in Nyamata versus $15.00 in Gisenyi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $125 vs $149 – 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 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 $835 per month in Nyamata and $670 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 $12.00 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 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 $556 in Nyamata and $446 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.