Hi,
I'm planning on visiting Rwanda later this year and trying to work out a budget - I'd be really grateful for any ideas/guidance on general costs e.g. how much is the bus from Kigali to Ruhengeri? How much would a decent mid-range hotel be in Kigali? How much is a beer?
Many thanks!
J
Hi there -
I paid $60 for a nice (but not the best) hotel in Ruhengeri. A Primus beer I think was between 2-3 - but they are big - not 12oz (if you are American)...
depending on your previous travel experiences, rwanda is really expensive. i'm surprised that travel in east africa costs what it does (having lived in asia for several years), but rwanda is nearly double the rest of east africa.
in kigali, i've stayed in dump hostels for $10 a night, and a nicer guesthouse (with shared bath) will be around $30-40. a "mid-range" hotel, if i know what that is, is going to cost you at least $60-70 in kigali, and a little cheaper in ruhengeri (which i think is now named musanze or something like that).
i don't know bus prices as my last several visits to rwanda were in a private vehicle. mutzig beers are great, and you can find them on tap at some of the nicer restaurants in kigali ($3).
Bus from Kigali to Gisenyi is RFr2800, nearly USD5 so Ruhengeri is less. With USD60, you can get a good hotel in Kigali.
I found Rwanda quite expensive compared to other African contries.. expect to pay about 40 usd for a midrange hotel. Public transport is quite good, and not very expensive.. I totaly forgot prices of it.
To answer the remaining bit of your inquiry - transport. In general it is relatively cheap, though taxi (cars) are not. There are also motorbike taxis and they are inexpensive. For instance, a one-way trip on a relatively comfortable coaster bus to Ruhengheri is RWF1400.
Thanks to the above posters for the price info (especially the beer situation!). How much are meals in the restaurants? We are going to be in Kigali and Ruhengeri for a week will be eating lunches and dinners out. Thanks!