Cost of living in Kigali for a month.
Quick answer: Numbeo's crowd-sourced estimate, updated in October 2026, puts the cost of living in Kigali for one person at about RWF 636,000 (around $430) a month, excluding rent. Rent is the biggest single cost. In Kigali Rent's listing data for August to October 2026, the typical furnished apartment asked about $747 a month. Add the two and a single person renting a typical furnished place is looking at roughly $1,180 a month, before extras such as health insurance, school fees or a car. Prices are rising fast: urban inflation was 17.2% in September 2026. Treat every figure here as a dated guide that varies with area, lifestyle and the exchange rate.
Cost-of-living totals for Kigali often disagree and rarely give a source or date. This guide uses named, dated sources, including Rwanda's regulators, the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) and the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). Where they differ, we show both.
The exchange rate used in this guide
Dollar figures are converted at RWF 1,475 to US$1, rounded from the BNR's official reference rate of RWF 1,475.225 on 16 October 2026. Banks and bureaux add their own margins.
A monthly budget for one person, line by line
| Item | Typical monthly figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished apartment, typical asking rent | about $747 (≈ RWF 1.1 million) | Kigali Rent, listings 4 Aug–17 Oct 2026 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre | RWF 985,000 (≈ $668) | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside the centre | RWF 612,000 (≈ $415) | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| Basic utilities for an 85 m² apartment | RWF 124,000 (range 65,000–250,000) | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| Home broadband, 60 Mbps or faster | RWF 31,000 (range 15,000–50,000) | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| Mobile plan with calls and 10 GB+ | RWF 10,300 (range 5,000–20,000) | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| Gym membership | RWF 39,000 (range 20,000–70,000) | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| Everyday costs excluding rent | RWF 636,000 (≈ $430) | Numbeo estimator, October 2026 |
Numbeo's figures average prices submitted by users: 394 entries from 37 contributors over the past year, last updated on 2 October 2026. That's a small sample, so read the ranges too.
Putting Numbeo's own numbers together, one person renting a 1-bedroom apartment comes to about RWF 1.25 million (≈ $846) a month outside the centre or RWF 1.62 million (≈ $1,099) in the city centre. Numbeo doesn't say whether these rents are furnished.
Expat.com's Kigali guide (November 2025) gives a single-person budget of RWF 1,410,000 ($1,024), including RWF 800,000 rent, RWF 200,000 groceries, RWF 100,000 utilities, RWF 100,000 health insurance, RWF 150,000 eating out and RWF 60,000 transport. It was published before most of 2026's price rises.
Rent: the line that decides your budget
Kigali Rent's market data is based on 252 asking rents observed between 4 August and 17 October 2026. These are asking prices, not signed leases.
- Across all listings: a typical asking rent of about $728 a month, with the middle half between $544 and $1,500.
- By size: about $512 for a 1-bedroom, $746 for a 2-bedroom and $1,026 for a 3-bedroom.
- Furnished vs unfurnished: about $747 against $669, comparing like-for-like bedroom counts.
- By area: Nyarutarama had the highest typical asking rent at about $2,293, against $880 in Kimihurura. Kacyiru showed $625, but from only five listings.
Its October figure rose 33.4% on September, from 44 listings, so expect movement.
Two things matter more than the headline:
- Size doesn't scale price evenly. A typical 3-bedroom asks about twice as much as a 1-bedroom, not three times, so sharing a larger apartment can lower the cost per person.
- Inclusions change the comparison. Expat.com says Kigali rents usually exclude utilities, which add RWF 50,000 to 150,000 a month. A furnished monthly stay may include some or all of them, so compare total monthly prices. Our guide to monthly apartment rent in Kigali explains what to check.
If you book short-stay accommodation, ask whether the price includes tax. According to the Rwanda Revenue Authority, the standard VAT rate is 18%, and since 1 July 2025 accommodation providers, including apartments and Airbnb hosts, must charge a 3% tourism tax on the price before VAT. Our comparison of a serviced apartment vs Airbnb vs hotel in Kigali covers how this affects the total.
Send your dates and monthly budget on WhatsApp and we’ll suggest apartments that fit →
Electricity and water tariffs
Electricity. REG's residential tariff, in force since 1 October 2025, is charged in monthly blocks: RWF 89 per kWh for the first 20 kWh, RWF 310 per kWh from 21 to 50 kWh, and RWF 369 per kWh above 50 kWh. These rates exclude VAT and the regulatory fee, and RURA's decision allows quarterly adjustments. As an illustration, 100 kWh in a month would cost RWF 29,530 at these rates before VAT and the fee.
Water. In April 2026, WASAC confirmed that the water tariffs in force since 1 February 2019 had not changed. Domestic rates including VAT are RWF 402 per m³ for 0–5 m³, RWF 852 for 6–20 m³, about RWF 1,000 for 21–50 m³ and RWF 1,037 above 50 m³.
Ask whether the apartment has a prepaid electricity meter, who tops it up, and whether cooking gas is included.
Phone and internet
MTN Rwanda's "Tubitayeho" bundles, as listed on its website in October 2026, give 15 GB for RWF 2,000, 30 GB for RWF 3,000 or 60 GB for RWF 5,000, each valid for 30 days and released as a daily allowance (500 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB a day). Offers change, so dial *345# to see what's available on your line. You need your original passport to register a SIM.
If you work online, ask whether Wi-Fi is included and for a recent speed test. Our Kigali airport to city guide covers buying a SIM when you land.
Getting around
Buses. RURA's Kigali bus fares, in force since 6 April 2026, are based on distance at RWF 59.28 per passenger per kilometre, with higher multipliers on short trips. That makes RWF 237 for up to 2 km, RWF 504 for 10 km and RWF 1,112 for 25 km, the full Nyabugogo–Kabuga route. Buses are cashless, so you need a Tap&Go card.
Moto-taxis. RURA's 2021 fare decision sets RWF 300 for trips under 2 km. In August 2022, the latest change listed on RURA's tariff page, it raised the rate for the 2 to 40 km band from RWF 107 to RWF 117 per km. Expat.com puts typical moto fares at RWF 500 to 1,500, depending on distance.
Cars. Uber doesn't operate in Rwanda; the Move and YEGO apps show a price before you confirm. Petrol's maximum pump price has been RWF 2,938 a litre since 17 April 2026, up from RWF 2,303 earlier that month. Living close to where you spend your days is one of the easiest savings.
Food and eating out
Numbeo's October 2026 averages:
| Item | Average price |
|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | RWF 4,000 |
| Three-course meal for two, mid-range restaurant | RWF 45,000 |
| Cappuccino | RWF 3,575 |
| Local draught beer, 1 pint | RWF 1,500 |
| Milk, 1 litre | RWF 1,233 |
| Eggs, 12 | RWF 2,409 |
| White rice, 1 kg | about RWF 1,920 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | about RWF 6,780 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | about RWF 1,560 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | about RWF 1,150 |
Per-kg prices are converted from Numbeo's per-pound figures.
Expat.com notes that local produce is affordable, imported foods such as cheese and cereals cost much more, and Kimironko Market is the city's largest market for fresh produce. One caveat for 2026: NISR's urban index shows local food prices up 24.7% in a year, against 8.5% for imported food, with vegetables up 35.1%. Cooking at home with local produce is still the cheaper habit, but don't rely on last year's prices.
How inflation affects your Kigali budget
NISR's urban consumer price index rose 17.2% in the year to September 2026, up from 15.7% in August and 7.3% a year earlier. The biggest rises were in transport (22.4%), food and soft drinks (20.9%), restaurants and hotels (18.9%) and housing, water, electricity and fuels (18.3%).
So any budget published before 2026 probably understates today's prices: the urban index rose about 15% between November 2025 and September 2026. If you earn in dollars, the BNR reported the franc had weakened about 1.5% against the dollar between end-December 2025 and 9 October 2026. Keep a buffer for both, especially for stays of two months or more.
Is Rwanda expensive to live in?
It depends on the comparison. On Numbeo's indices, Kigali's everyday costs are 72.5% lower than New York's, excluding rent, and rents 84.9% lower. Against local incomes, rent is high: Numbeo's average net monthly salary is RWF 408,000, against RWF 985,000 for a city-centre 1-bedroom.
Cost of living: Kigali vs Nairobi and Kampala
Numbeo's city comparisons, checked on 19 October 2026:
| Measure | Nairobi compared with Kigali | Kampala compared with Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday costs, excluding rent | 21.0% higher | 10.9% lower |
| Rent | 31.0% lower | 40.6% lower |
| Overall, including rent | 4.2% higher | 20.4% lower |
| Restaurants | 25.1% higher | 8.7% lower |
| Groceries | 39.8% higher | About the same |
Nairobi's everyday prices are higher but its rents lower, so the two come out close once rent is included. Expat.com's 2025 guide calls Kigali about 22% cheaper than Nairobi. Samples are small: 37 contributors for Kigali, 89 for Nairobi, 47 for Kampala.
Visa costs for a month in Kigali
Rwanda's immigration directorate lists a holiday visa at US$50 for a single entry valid 30 days or US$70 for multiple entries valid 90 days. African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie citizens get 30 days free, and East African Community citizens up to six months. The holiday visa can be extended only in exceptional circumstances, so for a stay over 30 days, check migration.gov.rw before you book. We can't advise on immigration.
Questions to ask before you book a monthly stay
- What's the total monthly price, and in which currency?
- Are electricity, water, gas, Wi-Fi and cleaning included?
- Does the price include 18% VAT and the 3% tourism tax?
- How much is the deposit, and when is it returned?
- Can you issue an invoice in my company's name?
- How far is it from where I'll spend most days, and what will that journey cost?
How we can help
At Kigali Stays we match travellers with short-stay and monthly furnished apartments in Kigali. We can offer or source apartments in Kimihurura, Kacyiru and Remera, we have 2–3 bedroom apartments for teams, and we can issue invoices in a company's name. Tell us your dates, monthly budget, how many people are staying and where you'll spend your days. We'll suggest apartments that fit, and you can ask exactly what each price includes. See our monthly stays page, read more on monthly apartment rent in Kigali, or browse more guides on our blog.
Planning a month in Kigali?
Send your dates, monthly budget, how many people are staying and where you’ll spend your days. We’ll reply on WhatsApp with furnished apartments that fit, and you can ask exactly what each price includes.
Figures in this article come from the sources named above, checked on 19 October 2026. Prices, tariffs and exchange rates change, so treat them as a guide and check current rates before you commit to a stay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of living in Kigali per month?
Numbeo's October 2026 estimate is about RWF 636,000 (around $430) a month for one person and $1,522 for a family of four, both excluding rent. Kigali Rent's data puts the typical furnished asking rent at about $747 a month.
How much money do I need for a month in Kigali?
For one person in a typical furnished apartment, Numbeo's living costs plus Kigali Rent's typical furnished rent come to roughly $1,180 a month. It depends on the area, what the rent includes and how often you eat out.
Is Rwanda expensive to live in?
Compared with cities such as New York, no: Numbeo puts Kigali's everyday costs 72.5% lower, excluding rent. Compared with local incomes, rent is high, and imported goods cost more because Rwanda is landlocked.
Is Kigali cheaper than Nairobi?
For everyday costs, yes. Numbeo puts Nairobi's costs excluding rent 21% higher than Kigali's. Nairobi's rents are 31% lower, though, so including rent the two cities are within about 4% of each other.
How much is electricity in Kigali?
REG's residential tariff is RWF 89 per kWh for the first 20 kWh each month, RWF 310 from 21 to 50 kWh and RWF 369 above 50 kWh, excluding VAT and the regulatory fee. Ask whether utilities are included in your rent.
How much does mobile data cost in Rwanda?
In October 2026, MTN Rwanda listed 30-day bundles of 15 GB for RWF 2,000, 30 GB for RWF 3,000 and 60 GB for RWF 5,000, released as a daily allowance. Dial *345# to see the current offers on your line.
Your Kigali stay starts with a conversation.
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