Shoestring
$44 / day
Hostel bed, buffet lunches, motos and buses, one paid museum a day.
- Bed$20
- Food$12
- Getting around$4.0
- Things to do$8.0
Prices & costs
5 min read · Updated 2026
Real options and prices
Daily budgets and fixed costs
Switch currency to see prices in francs, dollars, euros or pounds.
Mid-range
$151 / day
Guesthouse or boutique room, a mix of local and international restaurants, ride-hailing.
- Bed$78
- Food$36
- Getting around$12
- Things to do$25
Comfort
$405 / day
Upscale hotel, restaurant dinners, private driver, guided experiences.
- Bed$205
- Food$80
- Getting around$60
- Things to do$60
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kigali Genocide Memorial | Free–20 audio guide | Free entry. Allow at least two hours. |
| Nyamirambo Women's Centre walking tour | $25–35 | Half a day, book ahead. |
| Nyandungu Eco-Park entry | $3.0–10 | Higher rate for non-residents. |
| Inema Arts Center | Free | Free entry. Thursday evening events are worth timing for. |
| Kigali city tour (half day) | $45–80 | Per person, usually includes transport. |
| Gorilla trekking permit | $1,500 | Not in Kigali, but it dominates most Rwanda budgets. |
| Tourist visa on arrival | $50 | 30 days; many nationalities are visa-free. |
| Local SIM with data | $5.0–12 | MTN or Airtel, bring your passport. |
Quick answers
Shoestring day
~$45
Hostel, buffets, motos
Mid-range day
~$150
Boutique stay, ride-hailing
Comfort day
~$400
Upscale hotel, driver
Currency
RWF
Rwandan franc
Step by step
- 1
Pick your travel style
Use the daily budgets below as a starting point for your own plan.
- 2
Add fixed costs
Visa, SIM card, tours and permits sit outside daily budgets.
- 3
Plan how to pay
Cards in hotels, cash or mobile money for markets and motos.
- 4
Build your full trip
Use the calculator on the main Kigali guide to total your days.
Cash, cards and mobile money
Withdraw francs from bank ATMs (Bank of Kigali, Equity, I&M) — they accept Visa and most Mastercards. Hotels, supermarkets and established restaurants take cards.
Mobile money (MTN MoMo) is used everywhere, even for motos. Visitors can register with a local SIM and passport.
- Bring newer, large US dollar notes if changing cash — old or small notes get worse rates.
- Forex bureaus in town usually beat airport rates.
- Keep some small franc notes for motos, tips and markets.
How to save money
Kigali is fair-priced, and prices are rarely inflated for visitors. A few habits still help.
- Eat a buffet lunch and make dinner your bigger meal.
- Many museums and galleries are free or under $10.
- Shop at markets for fruit, crafts and fabric, and agree prices kindly.
- Visit in the rainy months (March–May) for lower hotel rates.
Local tips
- • Prices in shops are fixed; bargaining is only normal at markets.
- • Ask whether hotel quotes include 18% VAT and service.
- • Gorilla permits ($1,500) dominate most Rwanda budgets — plan them first.
- • Tell your bank you are travelling so cards are not blocked.
Keep planning Kigali
Where to stay
Hostels from $15 to luxury hotels — sorted by budget, with the best area for each type of trip.
Open guide
Food & dining
Buffet lunches, brochettes, coffee and fine dining — what to order and the real price per plate.
Open guide
Getting around
Motos, buses, ride-hailing and airport rides — real fares and how to use each safely.
Open guide