Moving to Kenya from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Kenya — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 55.5% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly KES4,427,717 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nairobi averages 74°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, 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 Iowa to Kenya.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KES4,427,717
To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 68.0% less
Groceries
pay 54.4% less
Transportation
pay 1.5% more
Housing
pay 72.8% less
Childcare
pay 72.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 57.7% 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 Iowa to Kenya.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Kenya performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Kenya across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kenya passport holder visiting United States
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 Iowa?
Yes — Kenya is on average about 54% cheaper than Iowa. 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 KES1,106,929 in Kenya on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Kenya?
Usually fine from major cities in Kenya. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Iowa?
Kenya performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Iowa, the official language is English.
