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: $472 in Nyamata versus $788 in Kigali.

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

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

Living in Nyamata costs roughly 40% less than in Kigali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 RWF 5,051

$4.06 RWF 5,940

-15.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.31 RWF 15.1K

$27.39 RWF 40.1K

-62.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 RWF 9,737

$6.63 RWF 9,697

0.45%

Cappuccino

$1.69 RWF 2,474

$2.15 RWF 3,137

-21.40%

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

$0.70 RWF 1,024

$0.81 RWF 1,184

-13.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 RWF 630

$0.56 RWF 825

-23.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 RWF 1,496

$1.03 RWF 1,501

-0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 RWF 2,005

$2.06 RWF 3,010

-33.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 RWF 1,033

$0.66 RWF 959

7.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 RWF 1,270

$1.07 RWF 1,566

-18.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 RWF 1,798

$1.27 RWF 1,859

-3.15%

Eggs

$1.65 RWF 2,413

$1.66 RWF 2,424

-0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 RWF 5,390

$4.21 RWF 6,149

-12.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 RWF 4,173

$4.48 RWF 6,546

-36.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.75 RWF 5,481

$3.66 RWF 5,359

2.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 RWF 3,537

$2.41 RWF 3,525

0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.41 RWF 596

$1.00 RWF 1,461

-59.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 RWF 964

$1.49 RWF 2,177

-55.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 RWF 845

$1.10 RWF 1,605

-47.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 RWF 745

$0.52 RWF 762

-1.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 RWF 1,126

$0.81 RWF 1,188

-4.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 RWF 494

$0.47 RWF 693

-27.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RWF 993

$0.80 RWF 1,166

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.35 RWF 1,972

$1.78 RWF 2,598

-24.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 RWF 14.8K

$10.03 RWF 14.7K

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RWF 1,318

$0.89 RWF 1,300

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 RWF 2,648

$1.77 RWF 2,595

2.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 RWF 493

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.74 RWF 45.0K

$27.87 RWF 40.7K

10.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 RWF 3,750

$3.16 RWF 4,621

-18.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 RWF 2,091

$1.39 RWF 2,035

2.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 RWF 4,646

$3.86 RWF 5,646

-17.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 RWF 1,652

$1.18 RWF 1,731

-4.24%

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

$26.7K RWF 39.0M

$26.7K RWF 39.1M

-0.13%

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

$23.9K RWF 34.9M

$29.8K RWF 43.6M

-20.06%

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

$46.50 RWF 68.0K

$45.93 RWF 67.2K

1.24%

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

$8.76 RWF 12.8K

$8.60 RWF 12.6K

1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.50 RWF 25.6K

$17.77 RWF 26.0K

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.80 RWF 68.4K

$28.54 RWF 41.7K

63.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.88 RWF 5,679

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 RWF 2,990

$3.38 RWF 4,940

-39.64%

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

$151 RWF 220.5K

$156 RWF 228.3K

-3.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,047 RWF 7.4M

$5,189 RWF 7.6M

-2.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.85 RWF 24.6K

$17.23 RWF 25.2K

-2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 RWF 29.0K

$19.22 RWF 28.1K

3.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.90 RWF 34.9K

$24.61 RWF 36.0K

-2.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.08 RWF 45.4K

$31.38 RWF 45.9K

-0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 RWF 153.0K

$573 RWF 837.4K

-81.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.3 RWF 99.9K

$352 RWF 515.3K

-80.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 RWF 497.8K

$1,095 RWF 1.6M

-68.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 RWF 351.8K

$691 RWF 1.0M

-65.17%

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)

$184 RWF 269.0K

$300 RWF 438.8K

-38.70%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kigali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Nyamata and $573 in Kigali. 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: $10.00 in Nyamata vs $27.00 in Kigali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $125 vs $147 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 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.

On paper, salaries run 63% 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: $105 in Nyamata versus $573 in Kigali. 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, 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 67% less than in Kigali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.