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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $556 in Nyamata versus $869 in Kigali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $894 in Nyamata versus $1,358 in Kigali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,231 in Nyamata versus $1,848 in Kigali.

Living in Nyamata costs roughly 36% less than in Kigali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nyamata 60% lower, Kigali 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 RWF 3,535

$2.78 RWF 4,081

-13.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.82 RWF 17.3K

$30.48 RWF 44.7K

-61.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 RWF 10.2K

$6.59 RWF 9,666

5.16%

Cappuccino

$1.71 RWF 2,512

$2.49 RWF 3,657

-31.33%

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

$0.71 RWF 1,044

$0.74 RWF 1,087

-4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 RWF 563

$0.56 RWF 816

-32.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 RWF 1,465

$1.00 RWF 1,470

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 RWF 2,427

$2.33 RWF 3,411

-28.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 RWF 1,089

$0.81 RWF 1,188

-8.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 RWF 1,217

$1.08 RWF 1,583

-23.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 RWF 1,859

$1.25 RWF 1,839

1.60%

Eggs

$1.61 RWF 2,357

$1.60 RWF 2,342

0.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.51 RWF 5,150

$4.27 RWF 6,262

-17.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 RWF 4,075

$4.46 RWF 6,533

-37.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 RWF 5,961

$4.54 RWF 6,655

-10.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 RWF 3,622

$2.39 RWF 3,510

3.35%

Banana (1kg)

$0.43 RWF 628

$0.93 RWF 1,363

-53.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 RWF 1,037

$1.49 RWF 2,191

-52.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 RWF 822

$0.99 RWF 1,458

-43.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 RWF 683

$0.51 RWF 749

-7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 RWF 1,130

$0.79 RWF 1,154

-2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 RWF 519

$0.65 RWF 955

-46.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RWF 974

$0.83 RWF 1,224

-20.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.32 RWF 1,941

$2.10 RWF 3,077

-37.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.16 RWF 14.9K

$10.22 RWF 15.0K

-0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 RWF 1,366

$1.02 RWF 1,491

-8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 RWF 2,355

$1.58 RWF 2,310

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 RWF 516

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 RWF 44.6K

$25.32 RWF 37.1K

20.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 RWF 3,841

$2.72 RWF 3,993

-3.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 RWF 2,920

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 RWF 4,427

$3.41 RWF 5,003

-11.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 RWF 1,799

$1.76 RWF 2,584

-30.11%

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

$26.4K RWF 38.7M

$25.8K RWF 37.8M

2.38%

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

$24.1K RWF 35.3M

$29.1K RWF 42.7M

-17.32%

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

$85.8 RWF 125.7K

$84.7 RWF 124.2K

1.22%

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

$6.89 RWF 10.1K

$7.07 RWF 10.4K

-2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.76 RWF 24.6K

$21.25 RWF 31.2K

-21.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 RWF 149.3K

$26.94 RWF 39.5K

278.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.19 RWF 6,150

Cinema Ticket

$2.09 RWF 3,062

$3.47 RWF 5,090

-39.77%

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

$115 RWF 168.9K

$111 RWF 163.4K

3.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,674 RWF 9.8M

$9,386 RWF 13.8M

-28.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.70 RWF 26.0K

$17.06 RWF 25.0K

3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.54 RWF 22.8K

$15.43 RWF 22.6K

0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.49 RWF 33.0K

$21.99 RWF 32.2K

2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.49 RWF 49.1K

$33.43 RWF 49.0K

0.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 RWF 151.4K

$667 RWF 978.4K

-84.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.2 RWF 99.9K

$415 RWF 608.9K

-83.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 RWF 504.8K

$1,371 RWF 2.0M

-74.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 RWF 351.1K

$857 RWF 1.3M

-72.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,340 RWF 4.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,084 RWF 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 RWF 271.2K

$275 RWF 403.6K

-32.80%

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 Kigali: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 in Nyamata and $667 in Kigali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kigali pays 49% 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: $12.00 in Nyamata vs $30.00 in Kigali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $125 vs $152 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

Nyamata vs Kigali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nyamata wins on cost – living expenses run 56% 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.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Kigali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $103 in Nyamata versus $667 in Kigali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% 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 $12.00 versus $30.00 in Kigali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $556 in Nyamata versus $869 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 $556 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nyamata hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Nyamata and Kigali 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 56% less than in Kigali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.