Moving to Kenya from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Kenya — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 70.3% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly KES2,176,762 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Swahili. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nairobi averages 74°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.
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 Iceland to Kenya.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,423,000 → KES2,176,762
To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 80.9% less
Groceries
pay 67.2% less
Transportation
pay 54.5% less
Housing
pay 76.9% less
Childcare
pay 62.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.5% less
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 Iceland to Kenya.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Iceland generally does better on environment, though Kenya leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Iceland performs better than Kenya across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Iceland performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics.
Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland 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.
Iceland passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kenya passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa RequiredData: 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 Iceland?
Yes — Kenya is on average about 78% cheaper than Iceland. 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 KES544,190 in Kenya on a ISK9,423,000 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?
Iceland performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Iceland?
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
