Cost of living comparison

 Lusaka, Zambia
compared to
 Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali vs. Lusaka Cost of Living Summary

Kigali is 6.1% more expensive than Lusaka.

Restaurants
pay 18.6% more in Kigali
Groceries
pay 19.2% less in Kigali
Transportation
pay 30.1% more in Kigali
Housing
pay 30.4% more in Kigali
Childcare
pay 15.4% more in Kigali
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.0% less in Kigali
Clothing
pay 31.6% less in Kigali

The cost of housing, transportation, restaurants, and childcare in Kigali are more expensive than in Lusaka. Expenses including clothing, groceries, and entertainment and sports are lower in Kigali.

Kigali vs. Lusaka Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Kigali instead of Lusaka, you would:

pay 18.6% more for restaurants

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $7.21
ZMW197.29
$3.26
RWF4,676
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$3.82
ZMW104.55
$6.16
RWF8,833
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.71
ZMW19.52
$0.89
RWF1,282

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pay 19.2% less for groceries

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Bread
1 loaf
$0.74
ZMW20.23
$1.01
RWF1,445
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.64
ZMW99.47
$2.26
RWF3,236
Milk (1 gallon) $4.85
ZMW132.75
$2.66
RWF3,807

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pay 30.1% more for transportation

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.77
ZMW130.38
$4.48
RWF6,419
Monthly public transit pass $37.04
ZMW1,013.27
$24.66
RWF35,333
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $8,004.53
ZMW218,998.98
$20,668.41
RWF29,617,255

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pay 30.4% more for housing

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$125.92
ZMW3,445.07
$26.20
RWF37,541
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $214.42
ZMW5,866.47
$489.52
RWF701,461
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $114.96
ZMW3,145.20
$271.95
RWF389,701

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pay 15.4% more for childcare

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $176.79
ZMW4,836.85
$149.39
RWF214,076
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,570.42
ZMW179,762.77
$9,609.00
RWF13,769,425

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pay 1.0% less for entertainment and sports

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $0.97
ZMW26.45
$1.09
RWF1,559
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.07
ZMW56.73
$2.22
RWF3,175
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.49
ZMW68.10
$2.36
RWF3,377

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pay 31.6% less for clothing

 
Lusaka
Kigali
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$18.43
ZMW504.37
$16.68
RWF23,902
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$18.78
ZMW513.92
$21.76
RWF31,176
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$90.18
ZMW2,467.17
$26.59
RWF38,104

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: May 2025
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