Prices in Rwanda rose by 15.7 per cent in August 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, driven mainly by increases in transport, housing, food and hospitality costs, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.
Figures released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) show that urban consumer prices also increased by 1.8 per cent between July and August.
Transport prices rose by 24.2 per cent compared with August 2025, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 20.4 per cent.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages became 16.3 per cent more expensive over the same period. Within that category, meat prices increased by 36.7 per cent and vegetable prices rose by 24.7 per cent.
Prices in restaurants and hotels increased by 15.6 per cent, while education costs rose by 13.3 per cent.
Among selected urban indices, energy prices recorded the largest annual increase at 45.4 per cent. Fresh-product prices rose by 20.9 per cent, while locally produced goods increased by 17.4 per cent.
Imported goods became 10.8 per cent more expensive. Underlying inflation, which excludes fresh products and energy, stood at 11.5 per cent.
Rural inflation reached 16 per cent year-on-year and 3.1 per cent month-on-month.
Across urban and rural areas, Rwanda’s overall Consumer Price Index increased by 15.9 per cent compared with August 2025 and by 2.6 per cent from July 2026.
The annual average urban inflation rate stood at 10.6 per cent.
NISR calculates the Consumer Price Index using a basket of approximately 1,622 products. More than 29,000 prices are collected monthly in urban areas and over 10,000 in rural areas from markets, shops, hospitals, schools and other outlets.
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