Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rwanda and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Rwanda: $803 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

🇷🇼 Rwanda
$803
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,526
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Rwanda is 52.2% cheaper than Istanbul without rent, and 47.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rwanda is 54.2% cheaper than Istanbul without rent, and 45.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 RWF 4,613
$11.88 ₺585
-73.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.44 RWF 37.4K
$55.1 ₺2,714
-53.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.65 RWF 9,771
$9.14 ₺450
-27.24%
Cappuccino
$2.37 RWF 3,489
$4.24 ₺209
-44.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 RWF 1,083
$1.75 ₺86.0
-57.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 RWF 828
$0.54 ₺26.83
3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 RWF 1,456
$4.69 ₺231
-78.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 RWF 3,061
$5.97 ₺294
-65.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 RWF 1,250
$1.26 ₺62.1
-32.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 RWF 1,456
$0.95 ₺46.81
4.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 RWF 1,869
$2.31 ₺114
-45.02%
Eggs
$1.59 RWF 2,336
$2.47 ₺122
-35.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.85 RWF 5,658
$10.55 ₺520
-63.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.17 RWF 6,134
$5.60 ₺276
-25.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.15 RWF 6,104
$21.21 ₺1,045
-80.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 RWF 4,043
$1.93 ₺95.1
42.49%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 RWF 1,209
$2.29 ₺113
-64.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 RWF 2,299
$1.28 ₺63.1
21.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 RWF 1,442
$1.84 ₺90.8
-46.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 RWF 692
$0.67 ₺32.86
-29.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 RWF 1,095
$0.59 ₺29.31
25.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 RWF 675
$1.33 ₺65.4
-65.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 RWF 1,171
$0.59 ₺29.10
35.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 RWF 2,939
$2.36 ₺116
-15.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.98 RWF 14.7K
$13.47 ₺664
-25.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 RWF 1,680
$2.42 ₺119
-52.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 RWF 2,327
$3.54 ₺174
-55.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 RWF 523
$0.83 ₺40.64
-56.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.50 RWF 41.9K
$66.5 ₺3,273
-57.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 RWF 4,017
$1.35 ₺66.6
102.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 RWF 3,042
$0.85 ₺42.05
143.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 RWF 4,936
$10.86 ₺535
-69.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 RWF 2,682
$1.47 ₺72.3
23.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K RWF 38.7M
$51.6K ₺2.5M
-48.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K RWF 34.4M
$44.4K ₺2.2M
-47.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 RWF 127.5K
$89.2 ₺4,395
-2.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.85 RWF 11.5K
$11.60 ₺572
-32.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43 RWF 30.0K
$16.10 ₺793
26.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.34 RWF 44.6K
$77.3 ₺3,805
-60.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.26 RWF 6,260
$22.66 ₺1,116
-81.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32 RWF 4,882
$8.34 ₺411
-60.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 RWF 196.3K
$974 ₺48.0K
-86.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,439 RWF 13.9M
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-63.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.45 RWF 30.1K
$52.7 ₺2,597
-61.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.15 RWF 25.2K
$39.16 ₺1,929
-56.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.57 RWF 39.1K
$103 ₺5,083
-74.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.32 RWF 51.9K
$96.6 ₺4,759
-63.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$609 RWF 895.5K
$994 ₺49.0K
-38.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$336 RWF 494.1K
$629 ₺31.0K
-46.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 RWF 1.9M
$2,024 ₺99.7K
-37.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 RWF 1.2M
$1,155 ₺56.9K
-31.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,308 RWF 4.9M
$3,160 ₺155.7K
4.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,054 RWF 4.5M
$1,838 ₺90.5K
66.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rwanda
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$292 RWF 429.3K
$1,203 ₺59.3K
-75.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.2
41.09
-60.57%

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

Last update for Rwanda: October 6, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rwanda
$336
Istanbul
$629 87.2% $293
Groceries & Markets
Rwanda
$148
Istanbul
$264 78.7% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rwanda
$115
Istanbul
$117 1.6% $1.9
Eating Out
Rwanda
$88
Istanbul
$218 148% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Rwanda
$45
Istanbul
$131 193% $86
Getting Around
Rwanda
$43
Istanbul
$75 75.2% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Rwanda
$37
Istanbul
$94 154% $57
Good to know
🇷🇼 Rwanda
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
08:08 8:08 AM
09:08 9:08 AM
1 h ahead of Rwanda
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,246,394
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to RWF – Rwandan Franc Converter

Rwandan Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,470 RWF (10,000 RWF = 6.8 USD). 1 EUR = 1,649 RWF (10,000 RWF = 6.07 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.25 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rwanda Istanbul 4,780 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rwanda
  • Istanbul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?