Moving to Russia from Rwanda

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Rwanda to Russia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Rwanda to Russia, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 80°F in Kigali, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Rwanda to Russia.

Living there in 2020
43 ↓ 4% vs 2015

people born in Rwanda live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Russia compared to Rwanda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
RU
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
RU
10.6

Rwanda generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
RU
$3,204
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
0.9
RU
51.1

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
RU
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
RU
14.0t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though Russia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.6
RU
27.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
RU
4.1%

Russia performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
11.4%
RU
2.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$1,124
RU
$17,547

Russia performs significantly better than Rwanda across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

RW
68.0 yrs
RU
73.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
29.4
RU
4.1

Russia generally does better on family life, though Rwanda leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Rwanda Revenue Authority (2016), Federal Tax Service of Russia (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Moscow
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Moscow
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Rwanda and Russia. To live, work, or study long-term in Russia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Russia's immigration authority.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Russia

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter Russia.
Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa on Arrival
Russia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Russia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Russia: 27.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Russia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Russia safe for expats?

Rwanda generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 0.9 in Rwanda. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in Russia compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

The official language in Russia is Russian. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW RU
Population 14,569,341 143,513,328
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +250 +7
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 112