Cost Of Living For a Single Person in Kigali 2025

Average monthly spending for a single person or individual in Kigali

How much money does an individual need in a month to survive in Kigali?

A single person in Kigali spends around 510,000 RWF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a single individual can survive with a monthly budget as low as 71,000 RWF or as high as 3.4M RWF. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Single person expenditure to income ratio in Kigali

Analysing the how affordable it is for an individual to live in Kigali

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. Individuals usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a single individual ranges between 70% to 80%.

Individuals in Kigali spend around 82% of their monthly income. Some individuals spend as low as 75% of their income while some as high as 90%.

How do individuals spend their money in Kigali?

We asked thousands of individuals about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Kigali typically spend from 16% to 40% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 28% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 180,000 RWF with expenditure ranging from 26,000 RWF to 1.2M RWF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for individuals

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Kigali ranges from 5% to 14% of total expenses with 9% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly cost of utilities is 30,000 RWF with 4,300 RWF and 200,000 RWF being the upper and lower limits for a single person.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for individuals

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a single person resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a single person would expect to spend from 5,700 RWF to 270,000 RWF in a month on commuting with 41,000 RWF being the norm for most individuals. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 10%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for individuals

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical person in a month in Kigali is 81,000 RWF. The cost of groceries can range between 11,000 RWF to 540,000 RWF. Individuals spend on average about 20% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 25% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Kigali allocate 7% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 13%. The range of medical expenses range from 6,400 RWF to 300,000 RWF with 46,000 RWF being the norm for most individuals.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for individuals

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 3,500 RWF to 170,000 RWF with 25,000 RWF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 5% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most individuals.

Education and schooling expenditure for individuals

Spending on education can vary drastically between different individuals. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of individuals with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 10,000 RWF per month with 1,400 RWF being the minimum spent amount and 68,000 RWF being the maximum.

What percentage of individuals in Kigali are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of individuals that reported their ability to save money

Almost 61% of surveyed individuals in Kigali said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 39% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do individuals manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for individuals

Interpretation and Analysis

Individuals that are able to save money can put anywhere from 15% to 35% of their monthly income to their savings, with 24% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly amount of money that individuals can put aside is 150,000 RWF with 17,000 RWF and 1M RWF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Kigali

Reasons that make it difficult for individuals to save money

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

Around 4% of the individuals said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 11% 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. 13% of individuals 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. 22% 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. 14% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% 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 individuals in Kigali

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 Kigali

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked individuals one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Kigali?

Around 54% of surveyed individuals think that living in Kigali is affordable with proper budgeting while 46% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Kigali

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 individuals how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options59%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 59% of the individuals living in Kigali have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Individuals

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 individuals of Kigali whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes54%

No46%

Based on the survey, 46% of the individuals living in Kigali said that they don't have an emergency fund while 54% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Rwanda

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 Leteracy46%

We asked individuals in Kigali whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 54% 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 46% 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 single people of Rwanda have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 44% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 56% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance44%

Easily manages finances56%

Financial goals of individuals in Kigali

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Kigali, 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 9% of individuals said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 47% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 11% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 5% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 16% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Kigali

Percentage of individuals who are in debt

According to the survey, 29% of the individuals in Kigali have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 72% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Kigali

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 33% of a single person's monthly income in Kigali goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Kigali pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 21% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 16% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 18% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 8% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Kigali

6% of debtors in Kigali confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 32% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 12% of people and personal loans rose at 46%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Kigali.

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 Kigali

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked individuals of Kigali 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 Kigali

Rent Cost in Kigali

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

61,000 RWF

92,000 RWF

240,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$48

$71

$190

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

92,000 RWF

150,000 RWF

370,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$71

$110

$290

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

120,000 RWF

180,000 RWF

490,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$95

$140

$380

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

150,000 RWF

240,000 RWF

670,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$190

$520

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

290,000 RWF

730,000 RWF

1.5M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$570

$1,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

240,000 RWF

370,000 RWF

1M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$290

$820

House monthly rent cost

290,000 RWF

730,000 RWF

1.5M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$570

$1,100

Villa monthly rent cost

370,000 RWF

920,000 RWF

1.5M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$710

$1,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Kigali ranges between 61,000 RWF and 240,000 RWF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 92,000 RWF to 370,000 RWF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 120,000 RWF and 490,000 RWF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 150,000 RWF to 670,000 RWF. The average rent of a townhouse in Kigali is around 370,000 RWF while house rental costs can be as high as 730,000 RWF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 370,000 RWF to 1.5M RWF per month.

Apartment and house prices in Kigali

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

12M RWF

18M RWF

37M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9,500

$14,000

$29,000

1-bedroom apartment price

15M RWF

24M RWF

92M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11,000

$19,000

$71,000

2-bedroom apartment price

24M RWF

73M RWF

150M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19,000

$57,000

$110,000

3-bedroom apartment price

81M RWF

120M RWF

370M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$64,000

$95,000

$290,000

Townhouse price

100M RWF

240M RWF

920M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$82,000

$190,000

$710,000

House price

120M RWF

730M RWF

1,000M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$95,000

$570,000

$820,000

Villa price

150M RWF

810M RWF

1,200M RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$640,000

$950,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Kigali can range from 12M RWF to 37M RWF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 15M RWF to 92M RWF. A villa can cost you 810M RWF on average with prices ranging from 150M RWF to 1,200M RWF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Kigali can be x102 to x209 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x102 multiples of the average monthly salary in Kigali.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Kigali is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 42% 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 Kigali

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / A single person

4,300 RWF

30,000 RWF

200,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.3

$24

$160

Internet and cable cost

3,300 RWF

6,600 RWF

8,800 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$5.2

$6.9

Mobile phone bill and charges

2,700 RWF

4,400 RWF

13,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$3.5

$10

The average monthly energy and water consumption of individuals is around 30,000 RWF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 3,300 RWF to 8,800 RWF with 6,600 RWF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 4,400 RWF but can range between 2,700 RWF and 13,000 RWF 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 Kigali is around 6.3%. This means that people pay 6.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.2% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Kigali

Prices and cost of goods and services in Kigali

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

Fast food combo meal price

660 RWF

1,300 RWF

2,200 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.52

$1

$1.7

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Kigali is approximatly 1,300 RWF with meal cost ranging from 660 RWF to 2,200 RWF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

2,300 RWF

3,500 RWF

7,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.7

$5.4

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 2,300 RWF and 7,000 RWF with 3,500 RWF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Kigali.

Fine dining meal for one price

4,700 RWF

7,000 RWF

28,000 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$5.4

$22

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 4,700 RWF to 28,000 RWF with the average cost being 7,000 RWF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Kigali.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

550 RWF

880 RWF

1,300 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.43

$0.69

$1

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Kigali is around 880 RWF. Price ranges between 550 RWF and 1,300 RWF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

440 RWF

530 RWF

660 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.35

$0.41

$0.52

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Kigali is 530 RWF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 660 RWF and the minimum being 440 RWF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

330 RWF

440 RWF

660 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.26

$0.35

$0.52

A dozen eggs costs around 440 RWF on average with 330 RWF and 660 RWF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

750 RWF

980 RWF

1,400 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.59

$0.76

$1.1

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Kigali is between 750 RWF and 1,400 RWF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 980 RWF.

Pack of beef price

880 RWF

1,300 RWF

2,700 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.69

$1

$2.1

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 1,300 RWF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

360 RWF

490 RWF

690 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.28

$0.38

$0.54

A bag of rice in Kigali costs around 490 RWF on average with prices rangeing between 360 RWF and 690 RWF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

130 RWF

180 RWF

330 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.10

$0.14

$0.26

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 130 RWF to 330 RWF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

240 RWF

310 RWF

510 RWF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.18

$0.24

$0.40

A bag of apples costs 310 RWF 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 Kigali is around 29%. This means that individuals spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for individuals