Moving to Kenya from Iran

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Iran to Kenya? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Iran to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 2.0 times more expensive than Iran overall. A IRR103,125,000,000 salary in Iran would need to be roughly KES5,915,643 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.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iran and Kenya.

What does your salary buy?

IRR103,125,000,000 KES5,915,643

To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.5% less

Groceries

pay 47.3% more

Transportation

pay 2.5 times more

Housing

pay 65.0% more

Childcare

pay 4.9 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IRR = 0.0001 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

The numbers behind daily life in Kenya compared to Iran.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IR
2.4
KE
4.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IR
20.6
KE
28.2

Iran 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

IR
$1,064
KE
$274
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IR
15.1
KE
1.0

Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IR
51.0
KE
33.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IR
9.1t
KE
0.4t

Kenya performs significantly better than Iran across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IR
12.3
KE
1.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IR
81.3%
KE
33.2%

Iran generally does better on infrastructure, though Kenya leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IR
9.1%
KE
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IR
$16,200
KE
$5,700

Iran generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IR
75.2 yrs
KE
69.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IR
14.8
KE
27.9

Iran generally does better on family life, though Kenya leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tehran Rain: 9.1 in/yr (230 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tehran Nairobi
Jan–Mar 52°/35°F (11°/2°C) 77°/54°F (25°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/61°F (28°/16°C) 73°/55°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 94°/72°F (35°/22°C) 72°/50°F (22°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
View all months
Month Tehran Nairobi
Jan 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C) 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C)
Feb 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C) 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C)
Mar 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C) 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C)
Apr 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C) 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C)
May 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C) 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C) 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C)
Jul 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C) 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C)
Aug 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C) 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C)
Sep 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C)
Oct 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C)
Nov 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C)
Dec 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C) 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iran 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.

Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting Kenya

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

Kenya passport holder visiting Iran

Visa on Arrival
Kenya passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Iran.

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 Iran?

On average Kenya is about 39% less expensive than Iran, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kenya?

Budget about KES1,478,911 for 3 months in Kenya (based on a IRR103,125,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Kenya?

Connectivity is usually fine (Kenya: 1.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kenya offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Kenya safe for expats?

Iran performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.4 in Iran.

How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Iran?

Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 15.1 in Iran. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iran: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 72°F in Tehran. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Tehran gets 9.1 in.

What language do they speak in Kenya?

The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Iran, the official language is Persian (Farsi).

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At a Glance

IR KE
Population 86,758,304 55,864,655
Currency Iranian Rial (IRR) Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Languages Persian (Farsi) English, Swahili
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +98 +254
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 115 999