Cost of Living Comparison Between Rwanda and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Rwanda and Canada

Name: Canada
Address: CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $503 per month in Rwanda vs $2,319 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $802 per month in Rwanda vs $3,378 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,101 per month in Rwanda vs $4,437 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Rwanda is roughly 78% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Rwanda sits 62% below the global median, while Canada is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($1,332–$3,143) than in Rwanda ($369–$788), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 RWF 5,029

$18.63 CA$26.11

-81.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.85 RWF 40.7K

$74.0 CA$104

-62.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.16 RWF 9,007

$10.92 CA$15.31

-43.59%

Cappuccino

$2.25 RWF 3,293

$3.76 CA$5.28

-40.16%

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

$0.86 RWF 1,253

$2.19 CA$3.07

-60.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 RWF 778

$1.74 CA$2.43

-69.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 RWF 1,501

$5.93 CA$8.31

-82.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 RWF 2,945

$5.95 CA$8.35

-66.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 RWF 1,010

$2.28 CA$3.20

-69.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RWF 1,506

$2.67 CA$3.74

-61.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 RWF 1,764

$3.78 CA$5.30

-67.99%

Eggs

$1.62 RWF 2,367

$3.50 CA$4.90

-53.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 RWF 5,733

$11.70 CA$16.40

-66.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 RWF 5,822

$12.30 CA$17.24

-67.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.47 RWF 5,079

$15.44 CA$21.65

-77.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 RWF 3,865

$4.28 CA$6.00

-38.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 RWF 1,206

$1.45 CA$2.04

-43.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 RWF 2,016

$4.01 CA$5.62

-65.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 RWF 1,527

$4.27 CA$5.98

-75.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 RWF 672

$2.69 CA$3.77

-82.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 RWF 1,116

$2.65 CA$3.71

-71.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 RWF 592

$2.64 CA$3.70

-84.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RWF 1,139

$1.89 CA$2.65

-58.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 RWF 2,492

$14.77 CA$20.71

-88.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 RWF 15.0K

$13.32 CA$18.67

-22.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 RWF 1,492

$2.96 CA$4.15

-65.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RWF 2,500

$3.28 CA$4.59

-47.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 RWF 488

$2.62 CA$3.67

-87.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.12 RWF 41.1K

$78.1 CA$110

-63.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 RWF 3,953

$3.42 CA$4.79

-21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 RWF 1,796

$1.50 CA$2.10

-18.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 RWF 6,133

$29.07 CA$40.76

-85.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 RWF 1,667

$1.20 CA$1.68

-5.00%

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

$24.3K RWF 35.6M

$25.5K CA$35.7K

-4.53%

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

$22.5K RWF 32.9M

$20.6K CA$28.8K

9.28%

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

$48.81 RWF 71.4K

$152 CA$212

-67.79%

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

$9.29 RWF 13.6K

$46.70 CA$65.5

-80.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.17 RWF 31.0K

$61.8 CA$86.7

-65.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 RWF 45.8K

$43.36 CA$60.8

-27.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.35 RWF 6,365

$18.05 CA$25.31

-75.90%

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 RWF 4,950

$11.51 CA$16.13

-70.63%

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

$138 RWF 201.4K

$806 CA$1,130

-82.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,312 RWF 6.3M

$12.1K CA$17.0K

-64.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.96 RWF 27.7K

$55.4 CA$77.6

-65.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.13 RWF 33.8K

$41.80 CA$58.6

-44.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$28.23 RWF 41.3K

$89.7 CA$126

-68.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.21 RWF 50.0K

$106 CA$149

-67.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 RWF 624.8K

$1,329 CA$1,864

-67.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 RWF 410.9K

$1,207 CA$1,692

-76.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 RWF 1.2M

$2,112 CA$2,961

-59.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 RWF 817.1K

$1,833 CA$2,570

-69.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,429 RWF 5.0M

$4,639 CA$6,503

-26.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,974 RWF 4.3M

$3,849 CA$5,396

-22.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 RWF 415.8K

$2,948 CA$4,133

-90.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.43

6.33

159.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rwanda: July 14, 2026

Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $266 in Rwanda vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $573 in Kigali and $1,481 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $242 in Rwanda vs $2,904 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 382% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 240% more in Canada.

Public transport is 364% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 1100% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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

Rwanda vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rwanda is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 287% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Rwanda, contributing to the overall 287% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Rwanda, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Rwanda is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.