Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Rwanda Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Rwanda

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 56.5% more expensive than Rwanda without rent, and 48.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 55.8% more expensive than Rwanda without rent, and 44.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$3.38 RWF 4,767
167.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$28.14 RWF 39.7K
38.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$6.13 RWF 8,655
-20.07%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$2.28 RWF 3,218
-13.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$0.81 RWF 1,138
18.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$0.5 RWF 699
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$1.02 RWF 1,444
113.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$2.08 RWF 2,941
22.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$0.66 RWF 932
66.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$1.05 RWF 1,481
-1.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
$1.21 RWF 1,710
28.93%
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$1.66 RWF 2,348
35.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$3.78 RWF 5,341
102.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$3.94 RWF 5,566
17.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
$3.48 RWF 4,906
97.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$2.78 RWF 3,919
-43.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$0.82 RWF 1,163
73.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$1.38 RWF 1,952
4.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$1.01 RWF 1,420
47.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$0.46 RWF 656
171.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$0.81 RWF 1,145
65.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$0.44 RWF 615
147.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$0.74 RWF 1,038
29.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$1.76 RWF 2,483
64.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
$10.49 RWF 14.8K
-51.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$0.94 RWF 1,329
46.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$1.7 RWF 2,394
-1.18%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$0.37 RWF 515
362.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
$28.15 RWF 39.7K
59.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
$2.86 RWF 4,041
-61.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$1.22 RWF 1,723
-10.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
$4.1 RWF 5,782
17.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.19 RWF 1,681
10.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
$24K RWF 33.9M
-12.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
$22.5K RWF 31.7M
5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$50.8 RWF 71.6K
122.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
$9.13 RWF 12.9K
262.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$21.59 RWF 30.5K
92.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$30.83 RWF 43.5K
2.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
$4.29 RWF 6,055
120.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
$3.38 RWF 4,777
98.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
$138 RWF 194.2K
34.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
$4,281 RWF 6M
1.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
$18.87 RWF 26.6K
157.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
$22.78 RWF 32.2K
34.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
$28.02 RWF 39.6K
228.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
$34.81 RWF 49.1K
128.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$430 RWF 606.9K
2.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$285 RWF 401.7K
30.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$874 RWF 1.2M
0.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$558 RWF 788.1K
29.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
$2,709 RWF 3.8M
-62.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$3,084 RWF 4.4M
-73.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Rwanda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$271 RWF 383.2K
418.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
16.43
-29.70%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rwanda: October 26, 2025

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