Cost of Living Comparison Between Rwanda and Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Rwanda and Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Rwanda versus $1,646 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $799 in Rwanda versus $2,401 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,098 in Rwanda versus $3,155 in Spain.

Living in Rwanda costs about 70% less than in Spain on average.

Rwanda (63% below) and Spain (23% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,133 to $3,262, compared to $366$781 in Rwanda. City choice carries more weight in Spain.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.39 RWF 4,951
$16.17 €13.91
-79.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.47 RWF 40.1K
$57.3 €49.27
-52.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.04 RWF 8,814
$10.62 €9.14
-43.13%
Cappuccino
$2.17 RWF 3,162
$2.38 €2.05
-8.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 RWF 1,232
$2.59 €2.23
-67.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 RWF 721
$1.91 €1.64
-74.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 RWF 1,543
$3.49 €3.00
-69.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 RWF 2,903
$4.03 €3.46
-50.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.66 RWF 967
$1.24 €1.07
-46.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 RWF 1,511
$1.59 €1.37
-34.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 RWF 1,770
$1.59 €1.37
-23.90%
Eggs
$1.60 RWF 2,334
$3.05 €2.62
-47.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.87 RWF 5,643
$14.55 €12.52
-73.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.02 RWF 5,861
$8.42 €7.24
-52.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.58 RWF 5,216
$15.52 €13.35
-76.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 RWF 3,915
$2.54 €2.18
5.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 RWF 1,280
$2.01 €1.73
-56.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 RWF 2,129
$2.09 €1.80
-30.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.00 RWF 1,465
$2.53 €2.18
-60.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 RWF 681
$1.85 €1.59
-74.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 RWF 1,179
$1.89 €1.63
-57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 RWF 587
$1.35 €1.16
-70.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 RWF 1,136
$0.74 €0.64
5.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70 RWF 2,476
$6.35 €5.47
-73.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.24 RWF 14.9K
$5.66 €4.87
80.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 RWF 1,408
$1.25 €1.08
-22.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 RWF 2,378
$2.06 €1.77
-20.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 RWF 496
$1.69 €1.46
-79.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.67 RWF 40.4K
$35.10 €30.20
-21.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 RWF 3,937
$4.42 €3.80
-38.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 RWF 1,777
$1.34 €1.15
-8.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 RWF 6,217
$26.32 €22.64
-83.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 RWF 1,647
$1.84 €1.58
-38.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K RWF 35.2M
$38.8K €33.4K
-37.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K RWF 32.9M
$31.6K €27.2K
-28.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.1 RWF 73.1K
$150 €129
-66.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 RWF 13.8K
$20.56 €17.69
-54.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.31 RWF 31.1K
$34.49 €29.67
-38.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.45 RWF 45.9K
$47.96 €41.25
-34.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.28 RWF 6,249
$16.05 €13.80
-73.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 RWF 5,159
$8.99 €7.73
-60.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$138 RWF 201.1K
$509 €438
-72.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,359 RWF 6.4M
$9,884 €8,502
-55.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.98 RWF 27.7K
$86.5 €74.4
-78.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.10 RWF 33.7K
$37.14 €31.95
-37.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$27.73 RWF 40.5K
$92.0 €79.1
-69.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.43 RWF 50.2K
$109 €93.6
-68.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 RWF 620.5K
$1,045 €899
-59.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 RWF 425.1K
$834 €717
-65.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$886 RWF 1.3M
$1,689 €1,453
-47.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$566 RWF 825.5K
$1,238 €1,065
-54.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,367 RWF 4.9M
$4,378 €3,766
-23.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,036 RWF 4.4M
$2,747 €2,363
10.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rwanda
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$281 RWF 409.7K
$2,073 €1,783
-86.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.43
3.51
368.09%

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

Last update for Rwanda: May 30, 2026

Last update for Spain: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $264 in Rwanda, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $568 in Kigali vs $1,566 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $244 in Rwanda, $2,030 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 240% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 165% more in Spain.

Public transport is 136% more expensive in Spain.

Salaries are 732% higher in Spain, giving Spain stronger purchasing power.

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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Rwanda compare to Spain?
At $574 per month in Rwanda and $2,198 in Spain, there's a 283% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Rwanda vs Spain?
Rwanda is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Rwanda or Spain?
Rent in Spain beats Rwanda across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Rwanda and Spain on $800 per month?
In Rwanda, $800 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Rwanda or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. Rwanda wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Rwanda vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries