How Rwanda compares across key indices
Cost of Living
27 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
75/100
Healthcare
46/100
Quality of Life
102/200
How far your money goes in Rwanda
Cost of Living
27
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
21
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
27
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
29
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Rwanda - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
75/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Rwanda has 45 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $543 in Kibuye to $705 in Kigali. Kibuye leads on safety, scoring 79/100. Kibuye ranks highest for quality of life at 110/200.
Kibuye
$543/mo
Kibuye
79/100
Kibuye
110/200
Kigali
57/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kigali | $705 | 70/100 | 107/200 | 57/100 | 70 |
| Gisenyi | $578 | 76/100 | 109/200 | 46/100 | 59 |
| Musanze | $575 | 76/100 | 109/200 | 46/100 | 59 |
| Nyagatare | $563 | 77/100 | 110/200 | 44/100 | 57 |
| Gitarama | $559 | 78/100 | 110/200 | 44/100 | 57 |
| Muhanga | $557 | 78/100 | 110/200 | 44/100 | 57 |
| Butare | $549 | 78/100 | 110/200 | 43/100 | 56 |
| Kibuye | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Rwamagana | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Kibungo | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Cyangugu | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Shyorongi | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Byumba | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Ndera | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Kirambo | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Kagano | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Ngororero | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Nzega | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Macuba | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Karengera | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Nyanza | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Bugarama | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Gihombo | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Karambi | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Bushekeri | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Nyabitekeli | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Busogo | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Shangi | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Kayonza | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Cyato | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Kirimbi | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Gitesi | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Bushenge | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Nyamata | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Ruhango | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Gikongoro | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Mahembe | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Mukamira | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Mugina | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
| Umutara | $543 | 79/100 | 110/200 | 42/100 | 55 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Rwanda. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
37
Verified records
4
Cities covered
6
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
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Primary, Middle school
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Ages and grades
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Ages and grades
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Ages and grades
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Ages and grades
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Tuition
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Ages and grades
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Tuition
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Ages and grades
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Ages and grades
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Ages and grades
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Middle school
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Ages and grades
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
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Ages and grades
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Kigali
Ages and grades
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High school
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Kigali
Ages and grades
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High school
Tuition
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Ages and grades
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High school
Tuition
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Kigali
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Kigali
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Kigali
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Rwanda
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A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Rwanda
Pollution Index
63/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
31.3ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Rwanda, answered with data
Rwanda has a cost of living index of 27 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $563 in Nyagatare and reach $705 in Kigali.
Nyagatare is the most affordable city in Rwanda in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $563 for a single person including rent. Musanze is the next most affordable at $575/mo.
Rwanda has a safety index of 75/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Nyagatare scores highest on safety at 77/100.
Nyagatare ranks highest for quality of life in Rwanda, scoring 110/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $563/mo for a single person.
Rwanda scores 46/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Rwanda's cost of living is roughly 73% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 79% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
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