Cost of Doing Business in Rwanda
Main costs at a glance
| Cost | Official price | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration | Free online | Office of the Registrar General |
| Investment certificate | USD 500 | Rwanda Development Board |
| Trading licence tax | FRW 30,000 to 2 million a year | Rwanda Revenue Authority |
| Electricity, industry | FRW 97 to 175 per kWh, VAT excluded | RURA |
| Electricity, commercial | FRW 355 to 376 per kWh, VAT excluded | RURA |
| Water, industry | FRW 736 per m³, VAT excluded | WASAC |
| Diesel | FRW 2,927 per litre, VAT included | RURA |
| Land in the Kigali SEZ | USD 50 per m², 1 hectare minimum | Prime Economic Zones |
| Work permit for a skilled employee | FRW 150,000 | Immigration (DGIE) |
Source: Office of the Registrar General: Business registration; Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre, investment registration; Rwanda Revenue Authority: Trading licence; Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority: Public notice on electricity end-user tariffs, October 2025; WASAC: Tariff charges; The New Times: Transport fares remain unchanged as diesel price increases; U.S. Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, Rwanda; Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Employment permits1,9,10,3,5,6,7,8
Where the costs are high
- Freight. Rwanda is landlocked, so imports travel about 1,500 to 1,700 km by road from the coast.
- Electricity for shops and offices. Non-residential users without an industry tariff pay up to FRW 376 per kWh.
- Fuel. RURA sets the maximum pump price, and it rose sharply in 2026 with world oil prices.
Where Rwanda is cheap
- Setting up. Company registration is free and takes hours, not weeks.
- Wages. Half of paid employees earned less than FRW 39,000 a month in 2025.
- Industrial power. Large factories pay FRW 110 per kWh, and steel, mining and cement plants FRW 97.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to register a company in Rwanda?
Online company registration with the Registrar General is free. An optional investment certificate from the Rwanda Development Board costs USD 500.
How much does electricity cost for industry in Rwanda?
Electricity for small to large industry costs FRW 110 to 175 per kWh, VAT excluded.
What is the average salary in Rwanda?
Paid employees earned an average of FRW 83,110 a month in 2025.
The costs, one by one
Start-up costs
Registration is free; the certificate, licences and permits are what you pay for.
Free Online company registration
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Salaries by role
Average pay by sector, the median wage and the employer’s cost on top.
FRW 83,110 Average monthly income of paid employees, 2025
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Office rents
Rent per m², plus service charge and 18% VAT.
18% VAT on office rent
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Industrial land in the economic zones
Serviced plots in the Kigali SEZ from USD 50 per m², one hectare minimum, lease only.
USD 50 Listed price per m² in the Kigali SEZ
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Residential rents
No VAT on long leases; budget with quotes, not averages.
0% VAT on residential leases of more than 90 days
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Electricity (REG)
From FRW 97 per kWh for heavy industry to FRW 376 for shops and offices.
FRW 110 Per kWh for large industry, over 1 million kWh a year
Read more
Water (WASAC)
FRW 736 per m³ for industry and up to FRW 895 for other businesses.
FRW 736 Per m³ for industry, VAT excluded
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Fuel
Petrol FRW 2,938 and diesel FRW 2,927 a litre, the maximum set by RURA.
FRW 2,938 Maximum price of petrol per litre, VAT included
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Telecoms and internet
Mobile data at under FRW 1 per MB in bundles, calls from FRW 35 a minute.
FRW 0.79 Average price per MB of bundled mobile data, Q2 2026
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Logistics to Mombasa and Dar es Salaam
About USD 3,500 a container from either port, four to six days by road.
USD 3,500 Road freight rate, Mombasa to Kigali, 2025
Read more
Sources
- Office of the Registrar General: Business registration
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Labour Force Survey, annual report 2025
- Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority: Public notice on electricity end-user tariffs, October 2025
- Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority: Northern Corridor Transport Observatory report 2025
- WASAC: Tariff charges
- The New Times: Transport fares remain unchanged as diesel price increases
- U.S. Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, Rwanda
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Employment permits
- Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre, investment registration
- Rwanda Revenue Authority: Trading licence
Figures checked 8 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
