Rwanda’s urban inflation accelerated to 14.5% in July 2026, up from 13.6% in June, as households faced sharp increases in transport, housing and utility costs, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
The latest figures show that the rise in consumer prices was driven largely by higher costs for food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased by 13.1% compared with July 2025.
Transport prices rose by 24.2% over the year, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 21%. Prices for restaurants and accommodation services also climbed by 14.2%.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco recorded a 9.8% increase.
On a monthly basis, prices in urban areas rose by 0.9% between June and July. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 1.5%, while transport costs rose by 1.3%.
Prices excluding food and energy-related products increased by 11.4% year on year, indicating that inflationary pressure extended beyond the most volatile components of the consumer basket.
Rural inflation also rises
In rural areas, consumer prices increased by 13.3% in July compared with the same month last year, up from 12.1% in June.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 12.3%, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased by 11.5%.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels became 20.1% more expensive, while transport recorded the steepest annual increase at 38.8%.
Despite the annual increase, rural prices fell by 0.2% between June and July, mainly because housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel prices declined by 3.6%.
Overall inflation reaches 13.8%
When urban and rural prices are combined, Rwanda’s consumer prices increased by 13.8% in July 2026 compared with July 2025, up from 12.7% in June.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 12.6%, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose by 11%.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 20.5%, transport costs rose by 27.5%, and restaurant and accommodation prices went up by 12.8%.
On a monthly basis, overall consumer prices increased by 0.3%, driven mainly by a 0.7% rise in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices.
