Travel Costs in Rwanda
All figures are approximate estimates in USD for comparison.
- Budget / day
- $45
- Mid-range / day
- $120
- Luxury / day
- $450
- Budget meal
- $3
- Coffee
- $2.5
- Local transport
- $0.5
- Budget hotel
- $20
- Mid-range hotel
- $70
Overview
Rwanda is relatively affordable for everyday expenses like food and local transport, but costs can spike dramatically if you plan to do gorilla trekking, which requires a permit costing $1,500 USD per person. Kigali is one of the cleaner and more organized African capitals, with a decent range of accommodation options, though mid-range and luxury properties tend to command prices comparable to Western cities. Outside of permit-based wildlife experiences, Rwanda sits in the moderate range for East African destinations.
Notes
Book your gorilla trekking permit well in advance through the Rwanda Development Board to secure availability, and consider traveling in the shoulder season (January or June) for slightly better hotel rates. Using moto-taxis (motorcycle taxis) for short trips in Kigali is extremely cheap and faster than regular taxis in traffic.