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Cost Of Living In Rwanda

cost of living in Rwanda

Cost of living in Rwanda ... Comprehensive article

Welcome to the land of a thousand hills and a thousand smiles” ….  With this kind phrase, the Rwandan authorities concluded the email notifying me of the acceptance of my tourist visa application. Although the email was issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior, it certainly reflects the language and touches of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which played a crucial role in transforming the horrific image of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide into an image of a developed and hospitable country, immersed in greenery, cleanliness, and safety. Which has made living in Rwanda a completely different experience from its regional surroundings.

How live looks like in Rwanda

Life in Rwanda is still largely centered in the capital city of Kigali, where most activities and services are available. Therefore exploring the cost of living in Kigali covering subsequently the cost of living in Rwanda.

The description of life in Kigali can vary depending on the purpose of the visitor, whether they are a passing tourist, an explorer of investment opportunities in Rwanda, or someone coming for work or study. However, generally speaking, Rwanda is characterized by excellent weather for most of the year. It is considered the cleanest capital in Africa, as well as the safest and least corrupt. Additionally, the high quality of the streets and smooth traffic flow, with minimal congestion, contribute to a pleasant living environment. Furthermore, you will find yourself surrounded by greenery and flowers everywhere due to the favorable climate and fertile soil.

As a result, people from different nationalities who have visited Rwanda often share positive experiences, describing life there as calm, smooth, and peaceful. The high level of security and the rule of law have played a significant role in improving all aspects of life, such as freedom of movement, housing options, transportation, and investment encouragement. The Rwandan security forces are known for their high efficiency, reducing the prevalence of corruption and misuse of power, which contrasts with many surrounding countries.

Cost of residence in Kigali Rwanda

Housing options in Kigali and Rwanda in general are relatively cheap compared to many other countries, thanks to the availability of various neighborhoods and diverse areas for foreigners to reside. There are common options for luxurious hotels, budget hotels, guesthouses, furnished apartments, and even innovative types of traditional housing.

Hotels and guesthouses are the most common choice and are suitable for short-term stays that do not exceed a few days or a week. The average price is around $30, but prices can increase depending on the location, luxury, and services offered, reaching up to $200 for hotels during the off-peak season. Prices can also go as low as $10 for very small rooms without any amenities.

Furnished apartments are commonly rented on a monthly basis in Kigali. Prices start from $200 for a studio apartment and go up to $700 for a larger 3-bedroom apartment. Prices can increase to several thousand dollars for fully furnished villas with swimming pools, usually located in upscale neighborhoods.

Outside the capital city of Kigali, there are no other cities that are attractive enough to be considered permanent housing options. However, there are many charming tourist destinations for short-term stays, such as Kivu overlooking Lake Kivu and the natural reserves that offer multi-day trips.

Although there are several cities and provinces in Rwanda that are rapidly developing, most foreigners living outside the capital are either students at provincial universities or individuals connected to jobs or business there. 
In other words, those who have no reason to live outside Kigali tend to remain in the capital, despite the lower cost of rent in other provinces. 

Nyabisindo area at the middle of Kigali
A street in Nyabisindo area, Kigali

Cost of living in Rwanda

The first thing that is said about living in Rwanda is that you can manage your life according to the level you desire with the lowest cost if you want. This point is not as simple as it seems, because many countries do not have this flexibility, either because of the penetration of coercive systems into people’s lives or because of the high prices of some life requirements, particularly for foreigners.

However, a variety of factors have contributed to creating a special flexibility in the cost and nature of life in Rwanda. For example, in housing, European communities prefer neighborhoods where the average rent for an apartment reaches $700, but you can find an apartment with the same specifications for $400 in another neighborhood, which enjoys the same safety and services, and only differs in architectural styles and population composition.

The most important factor in the cost of living is the prices of food commodities, such as vegetables, meat, groceries, and others. Here, prices in Kigali can be described as moderate or appropriate. It is necessary to provide some examples of prices in Kigali at the time of writing this article in January 2024.

cost of food and grocery items in Kigali Rwanda
Wheat flour is used for Mandazi & chapati

food and grocery items pricing in Rwanda

The income of the Rwandan individual is low, and this has somewhat contributed to reducing the cost of what is known as the basic food basket in Rwanda. Although the country suffers from the problem of the lack of maritime borders, as it is practically located in the middle of Africa and its imports go through a long route from the ports of Tanzania and Kenya, the Rwandan government’s policies of localizing industries and combating unjustified imports have started to bear fruit. It can be noticed that many dominant products in the market are produced in Rwanda and have reasonable quality and excellent price.

Item Price in USD
Potato 1 KG
0.65
Tomato 1 KG
0.80
Onion 1 KG
1
Beef 1 KG
5
Whole Chick 1.5 KG
5
Natural Milk 1 Ltr
0.5
bread 6 PCs
0.45
Cooking Oil 1 Ltr
3
Wheat Flour 1 KG
1
Sugar 1 KG
1.5
LPG cylinder 12 K
15
Car Fuel Ltr Avg.
1.26
Small Apartment Electricity *
50

* Notes: 
– The electricity price is estimated for a two-bedroom apartment with one living room and one bathroom with a water heater, and the bathroom heater is considered the highest electricity-consuming appliance in the Rwandan lifestyle. 
– The exchange rate of the US dollar against the Rwandan franc at the time of writing this article is: 1 dollar = 1370 Rwandan francs at forex bureaus / 1350 at the National Bank of Rwanda (prices at October 2024)

cost of vegetable & Fruits is reasonable in Rwanda
Kimironko Market in Kigali Rwanda

Cost of Transportation and Public Transit

Despite continuous improvement, transportation and public transit in Rwanda still require further development. Internal transportation lines waste a considerable amount of passengers’ time due to the scarcity of vehicles and the inefficiency of digitally recording trip loading processes.

As for taxis, their fares are somewhat high, especially considering that the capital and the country as a whole are very small. However, several other factors have made taxis a dull option, such as drivers’ poor English proficiency, vehicle quality, and extreme slowness in most cases upon request.

As a result, most residents and foreigners alike have turned to the popular mode of transportation prevalent throughout most of Africa: riding behind commercial motorcyclists, which are ubiquitous and driven by highly skilled drivers. Rwandan authorities ensure that they pass rigorous exams and require them to wear helmets for both the driver and passenger.

The prices for motorcycle rides range from 500 Rwandan francs (less than half a dollar) to 2000 francs for longer trips.

Regarding roads, they have posed a challenge for the government as Rwanda is predominantly mountainous. However, the government has excelled in overcoming this challenge. The paved road network covers most routes and destinations, with very high road quality. Despite the narrow streets due to small spaces and the engineering complexities of building roads in mountainous regions, the quality remains remarkably high.

cost of Moto taxi is cheapest in Rwanda
Moto taxi around Kimironko Market in Kigali

Summary

From a financial perspective, the cost of living in Rwanda is considered affordable when compared directly to prices in Europe, North America, and some capitals in the Middle East and Africa. Moreover, the quality of life can be described as good, considering the level of personal safety, the availability of services, and general stability.

However, individuals and families planning for long-term residency should conduct further research, especially into details directly affecting them, such as healthcare services, schools, universities, and how well they align with the needs of the family in all aspects.

6 thoughts on “Cost Of Living In Rwanda”

    1. I am not a development expert, but from what I see, Rwanda is moving forward despite being surrounded by many challenges. For example, the issue you mentioned about the low cost of services and wages possibly being a negative indicator is, at the same time, an attractive factor for small and medium-sized business investors and tourists. This could potentially change many things in Rwanda in the near future

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