Moving to Rwanda from Zambia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Zambia to Rwanda — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Zambia 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 Zambia to Rwanda.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Rwanda performs significantly better than Zambia 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Zambia 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
share of households with internet
Zambia generally does better on infrastructure, though Rwanda leads in internet access.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Zambia generally does better on employment & economy, though Rwanda leads in top income tax rate.
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
Zambia generally does better on family life, though Rwanda leads in infant mortality.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lusaka | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) |
Data:
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD),
Rwanda Meteorology Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.
Zambia passport holder visiting Rwanda
Visa Free
Rwanda passport holder visiting Zambia
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?
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 Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Rwanda is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to Zambia?
Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Rwanda, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Rwanda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in Rwanda compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Rwanda?
The official languages in Rwanda are English, French and Kinyarwanda. In Zambia, the official language is English.
