Cost Of Living in Burundi 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Burundi

Whether you're living in Burundi or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Burundi is 820,000 BIF. Expenses can range from 120,000 BIF at the minimum level to 5.5M BIF at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Burundi is 1.4M BIF. Expenditure can range from 460,000 BIF to 7.3M BIF per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Burundi is 1.8M BIF per month. Families spend anywhere from 640,000 BIF to 12M BIF.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Burundi is 610,000 BIF. Students spend from 92,000 BIF to 4.1M BIF per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Burundi

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Burundi is 87% This means that on average, people spend around 87% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 15% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
78%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

73%

86%

Couple
83%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

77%

91%

Family
91%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

85%

100%

How do people spend their money in Burundi?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Burundi typically spend from 12% to 31% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 23% being the average. The average spend on housing is 360,000 BIF with expenditure ranging from 27,000 BIF to 3.6M BIF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Burundi ranges from 5% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 60,000 BIF with 4,600 BIF and 600,000 BIF being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 9,200 BIF to 1.2M BIF on commuting with 120,000 BIF being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Burundi is 300,000 BIF. The cost of groceries can range between 23,000 BIF to 3M BIF. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Burundi allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 6,400 BIF to 830,000 BIF with 83,000 BIF being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 3,700 BIF to 480,000 BIF with 48,000 BIF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 71,000 BIF per month with 5,500 BIF being the minimum spent amount and 710,000 BIF being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Burundi every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Burundi manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 55% of the surveyed people in Burundi said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 45% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Burundi

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 8% to 28% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 15% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 350,000 BIF on average with savings ranging from 27,000 BIF to 3.5M BIF.

58% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 53% of couples said the same. 48% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Burundi?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 11% to 30% of their monthly income to savings, with 19% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 240,000 BIF with 27,000 BIF and 1.6M BIF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 9% to 29% of their monthly income, with 17% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 410,000 BIF with 140,000 BIF and 2.2M BIF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Burundi can save anywhere between 8% to 26% of their monthly income, with 14% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 540,000 BIF with 190,000 BIF and 3.5M BIF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Burundi

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Burundi. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 13% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 21% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Burundi

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Burundi

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Burundi?

Around 48% of surveyed residents think that living in Burundi is affordable with proper budgeting while 52% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Burundi

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options55%

Few low-cost options45%

Based on the survey, 55% of the people living in Burundi have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 45% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Burundi whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes47%

No53%

Based on the survey, 53% of the people living in Burundi said that they don't have an emergency fund while 47% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Burundi

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy43%

We asked residents of Burundi whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 57% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 43% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Burundi have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 51% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 49% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance51%

Easily manages finances49%

Financial goals of people in Burundi

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Burundi, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 43% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 6% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 14% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Burundi

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Burundi and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Burundi is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Burundi about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Burundi

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Burundi

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 30% of the people in Burundi have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 70% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Burundi

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 32% of the people's monthly income in Burundi goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Burundi pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 19% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 15% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 17% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 10% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Burundi

8% of debtors in Burundi confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 30% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 14% of people and personal loans rose at 44%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Burundi.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Burundi

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Burundi how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Burundi

Rent Cost in Burundi

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

99,000 BIF

150,000 BIF

400,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35

$52

$140

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

150,000 BIF

240,000 BIF

590,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$52

$83

$210

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

200,000 BIF

300,000 BIF

790,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$69

$100

$280

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

240,000 BIF

400,000 BIF

1.1M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$83

$140

$380

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

470,000 BIF

1.2M BIF

2.4M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$410

$830

Townhouse monthly rent cost

400,000 BIF

590,000 BIF

1.7M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140

$210

$590

House monthly rent cost

470,000 BIF

1.2M BIF

2.4M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$410

$830

Villa monthly rent cost

590,000 BIF

1.5M BIF

2.4M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$520

$830

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Burundi ranges between 99,000 BIF and 400,000 BIF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 150,000 BIF to 590,000 BIF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 200,000 BIF and 790,000 BIF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 240,000 BIF to 1.1M BIF. The average rent of a townhouse in Burundi is around 590,000 BIF while house rental costs can be as high as 1.2M BIF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 590,000 BIF to 2.4M BIF per month.

Apartment and house prices in Burundi

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

20M BIF

30M BIF

59M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6,900

$10,000

$21,000

1-bedroom apartment price

24M BIF

40M BIF

150M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8,300

$14,000

$52,000

2-bedroom apartment price

40M BIF

120M BIF

240M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14,000

$41,000

$83,000

3-bedroom apartment price

130M BIF

200M BIF

590M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$46,000

$69,000

$210,000

Townhouse price

170M BIF

400M BIF

1,500M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$59,000

$140,000

$520,000

House price

200M BIF

1,200M BIF

1,700M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$69,000

$410,000

$590,000

Villa price

240M BIF

1,300M BIF

2,000M BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$83,000

$460,000

$690,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Burundi can range from 20M BIF to 59M BIF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 24M BIF to 150M BIF. A villa can cost you 1,300M BIF on average with prices ranging from 240M BIF to 2,000M BIF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Burundi can be x82 to x189 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x82 multiples of the average monthly salary in Burundi.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Burundi is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Burundi

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Burundi

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

6,900 BIF

49,000 BIF

330,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$17

$120

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

18,000 BIF

62,000 BIF

400,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.4

$22

$140

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

32,000 BIF

92,000 BIF

600,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$32

$210

Internet and cable cost

5,900 BIF

12,000 BIF

16,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$4.1

$5.5

Mobile phone bill and charges

4,700 BIF

7,900 BIF

24,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.8

$8.3

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Burundi ranges between 6,900 BIF and 330,000 BIF with average being 49,000 BIF, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 62,000 BIF with 18,000 BIF and 400,000 BIF being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 92,000 BIF. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 5,900 BIF to 16,000 BIF with 12,000 BIF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 7,900 BIF but can range between 4,700 BIF and 24,000 BIF depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Burundi is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Burundi

Prices and cost of goods and services in Burundi

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

1,200 BIF

2,400 BIF

4,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.41

$0.83

$1.4

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Burundi is approximatly 2,400 BIF with meal cost ranging from 1,200 BIF to 4,000 BIF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

4,000 BIF

5,900 BIF

12,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$2.1

$4.1

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 4,000 BIF and 12,000 BIF with 5,900 BIF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Burundi.

Fine dining meal for one price

7,900 BIF

12,000 BIF

47,000 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.1

$17

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 7,900 BIF to 47,000 BIF with the average cost being 12,000 BIF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Burundi.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

990 BIF

1,600 BIF

2,400 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.35

$0.55

$0.83

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Burundi is around 1,600 BIF. Price ranges between 990 BIF and 2,400 BIF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

790 BIF

950 BIF

1,200 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.28

$0.33

$0.41

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Burundi is 950 BIF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 1,200 BIF and the minimum being 790 BIF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

590 BIF

790 BIF

1,200 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.21

$0.28

$0.41

A dozen eggs costs around 790 BIF on average with 590 BIF and 1,200 BIF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

1,300 BIF

1,700 BIF

2,500 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.47

$0.61

$0.86

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Burundi is between 1,300 BIF and 2,500 BIF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,700 BIF.

Pack of beef price

1,600 BIF

2,400 BIF

4,700 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.55

$0.83

$1.7

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 2,400 BIF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

640 BIF

870 BIF

1,200 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.22

$0.30

$0.43

A bag of rice in Burundi costs around 870 BIF on average with prices rangeing between 640 BIF and 1,200 BIF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

240 BIF

320 BIF

590 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.08

$0.11

$0.21

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 240 BIF to 590 BIF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

420 BIF

550 BIF

910 BIF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.15

$0.19

$0.32

A bag of apples costs 550 BIF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Burundi is around 27%. This means that people spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 130,000 BIF per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 18,000 BIF and 880,000 BIF depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 190,000 BIF per month. That number can be get as low as 64,000 BIF or a high as 1M BIF. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 120,000 BIF to 2.1M BIF with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Burundi

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Burundi

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Burundi

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Burundi