Kigali vs Hanoi Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Kigali vs Hanoi: everyday costs favor Kigali (~7% CPI gap), housing index favors Kigali, wage stretch favors Hanoi. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Kigali
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (3551% gap, Hanoi ahead); Utilities (2086% gap, Kigali ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $88 lower in Kigali than in Hanoi (~16% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $88 (favoring Kigali).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Kigali | CPI 23.1 vs 24.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Kigali | Rent index 14.2 vs 16.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Kigali | Groceries index 32.4 vs 32.4 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Kigali | One-way ticket 548.1 vs 11122.66 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Kigali | Utilities (85m²) 38340 vs 838200 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Kigali | Internet 26554.5 vs 576072 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Hanoi | Restaurant index 20 vs 22 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Hanoi | Avg net salary 61732160 vs 1690740 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Hanoi | PP index 39.2 vs 20.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Hanoi leads with a 3551% gap.
Avg net salary 61732160 vs 1690740 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Kigali — Lower housing / rent index (16% gap).
- Families: Kigali — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Kigali; purchasing power favors Hanoi.
- Remote Workers: Kigali — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Kigali (~7% gap).
- Budget Living: Kigali — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Kigali is the overall cost winner on CPI (~7% lower everyday-cost index than Hanoi).
- Housing: Kigali leads on rent index (16% gap).
- Food / groceries: Kigali is lower (0% gap).
- Purchasing power: Hanoi scores higher (94% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (3551%), favoring Hanoi.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$88 cheaper in Kigali.
Analysis
Kigali versus Hanoi is not a single number. With a 7% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Kigali, while housing follows Kigali's rent index. Purchasing power (20.2 vs 39.2) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.