Rwanda vs. Malaysia Cost of Living Summary

Rwanda is 3.7% more expensive than Malaysia overall.

Restaurants
pay 31.6% more in Rwanda
Groceries
pay 32.9% less in Rwanda
Transportation
pay 81.7% more in Rwanda
Housing
pay 20.7% more in Rwanda
Childcare
pay 11.8% more in Rwanda
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.4% less in Rwanda
Clothing
pay 50.9% less in Rwanda

The cost of transportation, restaurants, housing, and childcare in Rwanda are more expensive than in Malaysia. Expenses including clothing, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Rwanda. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Rwanda.

Rwanda vs. Malaysia Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Rwanda instead of Malaysia, you would:

pay 31.6% more for restaurants

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $3.22
MYR13.31
$3.45
RWF5,000
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.41
MYR18.24
$6.89
RWF9,999
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.73
MYR3.01
$0.86
RWF1,244

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pay 32.9% less for groceries

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Bread
1 loaf
$1.02
MYR4.21
$1.05
RWF1,517
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.79
MYR32.19
$2.26
RWF3,273
Milk (1 gallon) $6.67
MYR27.55
$2.64
RWF3,833

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pay 81.7% more for transportation

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Gasoline (1 gallon) $1.86
MYR7.67
$4.42
RWF6,414
Monthly public transit pass $15.26
MYR63.08
$29.30
RWF42,498
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,849.31
MYR148,147.28
$26,543.61
RWF38,497,764

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pay 20.7% more for housing

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$27.18
MYR112.33
$19.48
RWF28,248
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $349.73
MYR1,445.27
$575.44
RWF834,601
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $247.40
MYR1,022.40
$322.51
RWF467,756

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pay 11.8% more for childcare

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $170.62
MYR705.09
$166.62
RWF241,653
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,229.51
MYR25,743.43
$7,842.43
RWF11,374,339

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pay 36.4% less for entertainment and sports

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.72
MYR15.38
$1.03
RWF1,500
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.63
MYR10.85
$2.31
RWF3,355
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.18
MYR17.26
$1.72
RWF2,500

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pay 50.9% less for clothing

 
Malaysia
Rwanda
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$59.37
MYR245.35
$19.19
RWF27,832
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$29.69
MYR122.68
$19.30
RWF27,998
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$70.68
MYR292.07
$22.98
RWF33,331

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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: December 2025
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