Office Rents in Rwanda
How office rents are quoted
- Base rent per m² a month, in Rwandan francs or US dollars.
- Service charge per m² for security, cleaning, shared power and the common areas.
- 18% VAT on top of both, when the landlord is registered for VAT.
- Parking, generator and fit-out are often extra, so ask for the full monthly cost in writing.
Source: Rwanda Revenue Authority: Tax handbook 20251
There are no official figures for office rents in Rwanda. Asking rents on listing sites are not achieved rents. Get at least three quotes in the same area before you sign.
A worked example
The rent below is an example to show the arithmetic, not a market figure.
| Item | RWF a month |
|---|---|
| Example base rent and service charge | 1,000,000 |
| VAT at 18% | 180,000 |
| Total paid to the landlord | 1,180,000 |
| Total for a year | 14,160,000 |
Source: Rwanda Revenue Authority: Tax handbook 20251
A VAT-registered tenant can usually reclaim the VAT on rent as input tax, so the real cost is the rent before VAT.1
What drives the price
- Location: the city centre, Kimihurura, Kacyiru and Remera are the main office areas.
- Grade: Kigali Heights, opposite the Kigali Convention Centre, has 31,150 m² of Grade A office and retail space. Kigali Innovation City, a 61.2-hectare district in the Kigali Special Economic Zone, is planned with Grade A offices.
- Taxes on the building: the owner pays property tax of 0.3% of the value of a commercial building each year, and land tax on the plot, which the City of Kigali raised in 2025.
- Inflation: housing, water, electricity and fuel prices in towns rose 18.3% in the year to September 2026, and rent reviews follow.
Source: Fusion Capital: Kigali Heights; Rwanda Development Board: Kigali Innovation City, request for proposals for student housing; Rwanda Revenue Authority: Immovable property tax; The New Times: City of Kigali explains newly adjusted land tax; National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Consumer Price Index, September 20264,5,2,3,6
Cheaper ways to start
Every company registered in Rwanda needs a physical address in the country. A desk in a coworking space or a serviced office meets that need and can be paid by the month, with VAT and services included.7
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official office rent index?
No. Every figure is a landlord’s quote.
Is VAT charged on office rent?
Yes, 18%. A VAT-registered tenant can usually reclaim it as input tax.
Does a company need a physical address?
Yes. A desk in a coworking space or a serviced office meets that need.
Sources
- Rwanda Revenue Authority: Tax handbook 2025 (PDF)
- Rwanda Revenue Authority: Immovable property tax
- The New Times: City of Kigali explains newly adjusted land tax
- Fusion Capital: Kigali Heights
- Rwanda Development Board: Kigali Innovation City, request for proposals for student housing (PDF)
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (PDF)
- Office of the Registrar General: Business registration
Figures checked 9 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.
