Moving to Rwanda from Sierra Leone
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sierra Leone to Rwanda? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sierra Leone to Rwanda.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Rwanda compared to Sierra Leone.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sierra Leone generally does better on safety, though Rwanda leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sierra Leone generally does better on environment, though Rwanda leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Sierra Leone generally does better on infrastructure, though Rwanda leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Sierra Leone generally does better on employment & economy, though Rwanda leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Rwanda generally does better on family life, though Sierra Leone leads in education spending.
Data: National Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Freetown | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) | 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) | 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Freetown | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) | 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) |
| Mar | 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) |
| Apr | 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) | 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) |
| May | 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) | 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) | 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) | 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) |
| Sep | 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) | 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) |
Data:
Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency,
Rwanda Meteorology Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sierra Leone 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.
Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Rwanda
Visa Free
Rwanda passport holder visiting Sierra Leone
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Rwanda?
Connectivity is usually fine (Rwanda: 0.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Rwanda offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Rwanda safe for expats?
Sierra Leone generally does better on safety, though Rwanda leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Rwanda is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Sierra Leone.
How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to Sierra Leone?
Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Rwanda, compared to 0.4 in Sierra Leone. Rwanda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).
What's the weather like in Rwanda compared to Sierra Leone?
The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.
What language do they speak in Rwanda?
The official languages in Rwanda are English, French and Kinyarwanda. In Sierra Leone, the official language is English.
