Moving to Kenya from Australia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Australia to Kenya — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Australia to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 59.0% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$107,867 salary in Australia would need to be roughly KES3,749,901 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Australia to Kenya.

What does your salary buy?

A$107,867 KES3,749,901

To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 68.3% less

Groceries

pay 53.6% less

Transportation

pay 25.5% less

Housing

pay 71.0% less

Childcare

pay 67.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 58.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 AUD = 89.83 KES (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Australia to Kenya.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AU
0.8
KE
4.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AU
4.5
KE
28.2

Australia performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AU
$7,691
KE
$274
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AU
39.8
KE
1.0

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AU
10.0
KE
33.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AU
14.1t
KE
0.4t

Australia generally does better on environment, though Kenya leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AU
35.1
KE
1.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AU
4.6%
KE
33.2%

Australia performs better than Kenya across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
3.7%
KE
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AU
$59,500
KE
$5,700

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AU
83.1 yrs
KE
69.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AU
3.0
KE
27.9

Australia performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics.

Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Nairobi Rain: 40.3 in/yr (1024 mm)
74° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Canberra Nairobi
Jan–Mar 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) 77°/54°F (25°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 73°/55°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) 72°/50°F (22°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
View all months
Month Canberra Nairobi
Jan 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C)
Feb 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C)
Apr 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C)
May 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C)
Jun 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C)
Jul 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C)
Aug 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C)
Sep 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C)
Nov 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C)
Dec 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C)

Data: Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology, Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Kenya. To live, work, or study long-term in Kenya, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kenya's immigration authority.

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Kenya.
Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Kenya passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Kenya than Australia?

Yes — Kenya is on average about 61% cheaper than Australia. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Kenya?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly KES937,475 in Kenya on a A$107,867 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Kenya?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Kenya has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Kenya safe for expats?

Australia performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.

How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Australia?

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).

What's the weather like in Kenya compared to Australia?

The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.

What language do they speak in Kenya?

The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Australia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

AU KE
Population 26,141,369 55,864,655
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Languages English English, Swahili
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +61 +254
Time zones 8 1
Emergency number 000 999