Rwanda Travel Budget - Visit Rwanda on a Budget or Travel in Style


How much does it cost to travel to Rwanda?

You should plan to spend around $19 (RWF24,378) per day on your vacation in Rwanda. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $2.18 (RWF2,802) on meals
  • $1.50 (RWF1,922) on local transportation
  • $29 (RWF36,750) on hotels

A one week trip to Rwanda for two people costs, on average, $266 (RWF341,291). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $19
    RWF24,378
  • One Week Per person
    $133
    RWF170,645
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $266
    RWF341,291
  • One Month Per person
    $569
    RWF731,338
  • One Week For a couple
    $266
    RWF341,291
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $531
    RWF682,582
  • One Month For a couple
    $1,139
    RWF1,462,675
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Rwanda cost?

A one week trip to Rwanda usually costs around $133 (RWF170,645) for one person and $266 (RWF341,291) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Rwanda on average costs around $266 (RWF341,291) for one person and $531 (RWF682,582) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Rwanda will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Rwanda on average costs around $569 (RWF731,338) for one person and $1,139 (RWF1,462,675) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




How much do package tours cost in Rwanda?

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Rwanda is $825 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.



Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Rwanda expensive to visit?

Rwanda is a very affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 10% of countries in the world for its affordability. Many budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring this country in depth.

Within Africa, Rwanda is very affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 10% of countries in Africa for its affordability. Very few countries in the region are as affordable as Rwanda.

For more details, see Is Rwanda Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Rwanda?

The average Rwanda trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Rwanda travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.



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Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) RWF36,750 ($29)
Local Transportation 1 RWF1,922 ($1.50)
Food 2 RWF2,802 ($2.18)
Tips and Handouts 1 RWF1,838 - 5,513 ($1 - 4)
Alcohol 2 RWF1,884 - 5,652 ($1 - 4)
Accommodation Budget in Rwanda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Rwanda is $14 (RWF18,375). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Rwanda is $29 (RWF36,750). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $14
    RWF18,375
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $29
    RWF36,750

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Hotel Prices in Rwanda

Looking for a hotel in Rwanda? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.



Local Transportation Budget in Rwanda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Rwanda is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $1.50 (RWF1,922) per person, per day, on local transportation in Rwanda.


  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $1.50
    RWF1,922

Recommended Services


Food Budget in Rwanda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Rwanda can vary, the average cost of food in Rwanda is $2.18 (RWF2,802) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Rwanda should cost around $0.87 (RWF1,121) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Rwanda is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $2.18
    RWF2,802

Recommended



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Tips and Handouts Budget in Rwanda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Rwanda is $2.86 (RWF3,675) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Rwanda is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $2.86
    RWF3,675



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Alcohol Budget in Rwanda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $2.93 (RWF3,768) on alcoholic beverages in Rwanda per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $2.93
    RWF3,768

Recommended


Water Budget in Rwanda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $1.34 (RWF1,719) on bottled water in Rwanda per day. The public water in Rwanda is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $1.34
    RWF1,719


Rwanda On a Budget
Rwanda is a landlocked East African country that shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both Kenya and Uganda provide access into the country. While most travelers do not think of visiting Rwanda, it is easier to visit than you might expect. A popular draw in the country is the Silverback Mountain Gorillas, but there are plenty of other things to see and experience. Rwanda has both diverse wildlife and beautiful landscape that is made up of rolling, green hills. The Nyungwe Tropical Forest is a great place for birdwatching and wildlife viewing.

Most people still associate Rwanda with the shocking and devastating war that took place in 1994. While the memories are sketched deep in the hearts and minds of the residents, the country has come a long way toward creating a more peaceful and tolerant country. While you will probably never separate this country from the war in its past, do look beyond that and you'll likely have a unique experience in a less visited, but culturally rich African country.

There are very few places in Rwanda that accept credit cards, particularly outside of Kigali. For this reason travelers will have to carry larger sums of money. This is particularly true when traveling outside of the capital city where ATMs are almost nonexistent. It is good to travel with some US Dollars in addition to Rwandan Francs. You will get the best exchange rate for newer (after 2006), fifty dollar bills.

Hotel costs in Rwanda are slightly higher than the nearby Uganda or Kenyan options. The accommodation is generally quite basic and minimal. There are some nicer hotels in the capital city with the current, best option being the Serana. The nearby hotel, Hotel des Milles Collines, was featured in the movie "Hotel Rwanda." The actual movie was shot in South Africa though so very little will be recognizable to movie buffs.
At A Glance
  • Although the thought of Rwanda often brings scary memories into the minds of most people, the country today is actually quite stable and safe. It has a lot to offer travelers who take the time to visit, from diverse wildlife to beautiful countryside. It's easier to travel around than you might expect and can make for a very interesting travel destination.

  • There are three different national parks in the country. Akagera National Park is on the border with Tanzania. It has an extensive lake system and several interesting ecosystems. Volcanoes National Park is the place to go to see the mountain gorillas. It crosses the border into both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nyungwe National Park is in the southwestern part of the country and is a great place to visit the mountain rainforest.

  • If you're flying into Kigali from outside of Africa there are several international cities with connecting flights. The most common options are Brussels, Amsterdam, and Istanbul. Look into Turkish Airlines and KLM. More recently RwandAir has started flying to Dubai.

  • You'll find plenty of ATMs in Kigali. ATMs usually offer the best exchange rate, depending on your bank. Once you're outside of the capital city there are very few ATMs so make sure you have plenty of money. It's good to have small bills as well.

  • Trips within Rwanda are often made by Matatu. These are white minibuses, similar to what you can find elsewhere in East Africa. They are usually packed very full of people and animals so don't expect a comfortable journey.



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Top Tourist Attractions
Lake Kivu: Lake Kivu is a large lake in western Rwanda that's a nice place to relax and spend a few days. The lake, which is on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, flows into the Ruzizi River which travels south towards Lake Tanganyika.

The Genocide Memorial: This is an emotional memorial to one of the world's most horrific events which took place in 1994. The memorial itself is free of charge but you can pick up an audio guide for $10 at the entrance. If you spend any time in Rwanda, you should definitely make a point of visiting this memorial.

Parc National des Volcans: Parc National des Volcans is the place to see Silverback Mountain Gorillas. It is probably the most popular travel destination in Rwanda. It's possible to visit as a day trip from Kigali, but if time and money allows, you should spend more time there. At the time of writing (July, 2012) the entrance fee was $750 per person. You are also required to make the trip with an official taxi, which should cost you about $50.

Popular Foods
Rwandan cuisine usually includes ingredients such as plantains, potatoes, beans, rice, and cassava. The most common meats are fish, goat, and chicken. Dishes are often heavy on the starches and light on the meats. In the capital city of Kigali you'll find the greatest diversity of restaurants with some western options such as Chinese, Indian or Italian. Western restaurants are generally substantially more expensive than local options, but can provide a little diversity.

Brochettes: Brochettes are local goat kebabs that are quite good and found in most restaurants and bars. The goat meat, which comes exclusively from male goats, is served grilled on skewers with no vegetables. You have your choice of meat type including muscle, liver, intestine, heart, and testicle. The meat is brushed with oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper for taste.

Frites-banane: Fried plantains are quite common throughout the country. They are served alone or as a side dish in many restaurants. It's a light but filling snack at any time of the day.

Melange: Melange is a common lunch buffet that includes beans, rice, potatoes, bananas, a few vegetables and some light meats. They are most common in restaurants found in the city. Do take note that these buffets are not all you can eat. You have one trip to the buffet bar during which you can fill your plate as high as you desire for a set price. They're a great, low cost but filling food option for those who are traveling on a budget.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.