Cost of Living

Kigali, Rwanda

Live cost-of-living data for Kigali — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
28/ 10072% cheaper than New York
-14% rent since Jul 2026
$302/mo
Median Income
78/100
Safety
30%
Income Tax
tropical highland
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
45/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$300/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$210/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$800/month
Food & Groceries
35/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.5/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1/kg
Transportation
40/100
Monthly Transit Pass$35/month
One-Way Ticket$0.71/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.86/km
Utilities
40/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$85/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$70/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
45/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$300/course
Entertainment
40/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
42/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
38/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
40/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$45/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6/meal
Childcare
45/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$600/month
Babysitter (per hour)$10/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$15/pack
Fitness & Sports
40/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

15 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
45/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Kimihurura, Nyarutarama, Kacyiru

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kigali cheap to live in?

Kigali has a cost of living index of 28/100, where New York = 100. It is 72% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,020–$1,428 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kigali?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kigali costs approximately $300/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $210/month.

Is Kigali good for digital nomads?

Kigali has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 15 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Kigali?

The median net monthly salary in Kigali is approximately $302 USD. The income tax rate is around 30%.

How does Kigali compare to New York for cost of living?

Kigali (cost index 28) is 72% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,800/month by moving from New York to Kigali.

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