Top expat cities

Rwanda

Rubavu

#3 Top 5 cities

Rubavu by the lake can be pleasant for a quieter stay, but expat support and services are much thinner than in Kigali.

Country overview

Population

172 357

Year-round temperatures

Day: 24°C až 28°C

Night: 15°C až 18°C

Climate

Moderate tropical lakeside climate with warm days and fewer extremes than lowland areas.

Distance to the sea

1250 km

Social atmosphere

6/10

Costs

Housing cost 6/10
Food cost 7/10

Business friendliness

4/10

Safety

3/10

Petty crime and road risk are compounded by the city's immediate proximity to Goma and the unstable DRC border, where fighting, shelling, and border closures can affect Rwanda at short notice.

Natural disaster resilience

2/10

Earthquakes, volcanic hazards from nearby Nyiragongo, landslides, flooding, and severe Lake Kivu storms create high natural-hazard exposure.

Other scores

Other scores

Internet availability 5/10
Internet speed 5/10
Internet stability 5/10
Electricity stability 6/10

Community types

  • Couples
  • Retirees
  • Long-term expats

Largest nationality groups

  • 🇫🇷French
  • 🇺🇸Americans

Pros / Cons

Pros

  • +Pleasant atmosphere
  • +Quiet atmosphere
  • +Good for long-term stay

Cons

  • −Smaller expat scene
  • −Fewer work opportunities
  • −Less dynamic environment