Moving to Rwanda from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Rwanda — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Rwanda. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Africa to Rwanda.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Rwanda performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
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
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda 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
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Rwanda leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Rwanda leads in water stress level.
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
Rwanda generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa 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
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Rwanda leads in life expectancy.
Data: South African Revenue Service, 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 | Pretoria | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Rwanda Meteorology Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa 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.
South Africa passport holder visiting Rwanda
Visa Free
Rwanda passport holder visiting South Africa
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?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Rwanda has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Rwanda safe for expats?
Rwanda performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Rwanda is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to South Africa?
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Rwanda, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Rwanda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Rwanda compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Rwanda?
The official languages in Rwanda are English, French and Kinyarwanda. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Rwanda
At a Glance
ZA
|
RW
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 13,173,730 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Rwandan Franc (RWF) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | English, French, Kinyarwanda |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +250 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 112 |