Moving to Rwanda from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Rwanda? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Rwanda. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kigali averages 80°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Rwanda compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Rwanda performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Rwanda across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) |
National Weather Service
Rwanda Meteorology AgencyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Rwanda. To live, work, or study long-term in Rwanda, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Rwanda's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Rwanda
Visa on Arrival
Rwanda passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Rwanda?
From major Rwanda cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Rwanda are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to Iowa?
Rwanda performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Rwanda compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Rwanda?
The official languages in Rwanda are English, French and Kinyarwanda. In Iowa, the official language is English.
