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Kigali is a very safe city, even at night, and the people are generally friendly and hospitable. The cost of living is quite affordable compared to many other places. The city itself is very pretty with great scenery, especially if you find a place with a good view. The government operates efficiently, and the power grid is stable, which is a plus for those staying long-term.
However, the food scene is generally disappointing, with few great restaurant options. Traffic can be chaotic, and navigating the roads—whether by car or mototaxi—can be risky, requiring caution. Shopping options are quite limited, and essential items can be expensive. Service in restaurants is often slow, which can be frustrating. Additionally, tap water isn’t safe to drink unless boiled, so having access to clean water is a must.
While Kigali lacks a vibrant nightlife and the local culture can feel insular, it could be a great place for those looking for a calm, scenic environment. There’s definite potential for growth, and visitors who prioritize safety, affordability, and a relaxed lifestyle may find it worthwhile.
AI-generated summary of reviews
Spent 2 months in Kigali and criss-crossed the country from there as my base. Pros: friendly people in the city (not so much in the far North rural areas of Rwanda if you travel on your own near Virunga). Clean air. A few good restaurants. Safe in the city (Kigali), even at night. Amazing wildlife and scenery/landscapes if you get a place with a good view and some nature around. Government entities have their sh*t straight more than many other nations. Average internet. Stable power grid. Cons: dangerous near Virunga unless you go on a guided tour, water is unpotable and unsafe from the tap unless boiled even in Kigali, locals stare at you without interruption (not in a frightening way but it's uncomfortable), dangerous to navigate the traffic unless you're used to complete road chaos, slow/poor service in restaurants, everyone asks you for money even the children in rural villages where tourists don’t go, need a car/motorcycle to do anything (not a walkable city), very poor selection of anything in terms of shopping needs and expensive. There's a lot of potential here and I'd gladly come back overall, just watch your safety (health, road, and up North).
2 years ago
I've spent a total of ~2 months in Kigali. Pros: very safe, pretty affordable, very pretty, hospitable people, great coffee. Cons: a bit dull, culture is very insular (respectful but quite conservative), food is bad, police state vibes are kind of weird. A certain kind of person who doesn't care about nightlife at all, is open to experiencing a foreign culture that's more inward-oriented, and wants to live a really chill lifestyle in a green, pleasant city would really like it. I personally need some more action and didn't vibe with the reservedness of the people there, lovely as they are.
3 years ago
Spent 1 month here with my girlfriend. The place has potential, but is not quite there yet. Pollution can be pretty bad. Otherwise it's very pretty and the people are helpful. You can find workable Internet, but not everywhere. Try Nyarutarama, which has a lot of embassies. Not extremely cheap, but affordable. Definitely take a trip to Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park in the North. Food isn't that great. The most common and cheapest way of getting around is by mototaxi, but beware, they can be very careless - we had an accident on day 1 that required medical attention. You need to haggle with taxi drivers, otherwise they'll rip you off. Car rentals could be cheaper for what you get. Malaria is not that much of an issue in the capital. Otherwise, Kigali is very safe for an African capital, you are mostly free to walk around at night. Very hilly, so be prepared for that. Hospital care was OK, although lacking - needed to go to a different hospital for an X-Ray machine that worked, but the doctors were very professional and care was cheap ($10 for an X-Ray at King Faizal hospital, rebandaging and wound cleaning between $8 to $12 each time).
All in all, I'm happy we went and will probably be back at some point - lots of growth potential.
5 years ago