Moving to Bhutan from Kenya

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Kenya to Bhutan — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Kenya to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha.

Get free moving quotes to Bhutan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Kenya and Bhutan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KE
4.9
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
BT
12.2

Bhutan performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KE
$274
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
BT
5.5

Bhutan 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

KE
33.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
BT
2.0t

Kenya performs better than Bhutan 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

KE
1.9
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
BT
1.4%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KE
5.7%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
BT
$14,000

Bhutan performs significantly better than Kenya across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KE
69.7 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
BT
27.0

Bhutan generally does better on family life, though Kenya leads in literacy rate.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Thimphu
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Thimphu
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Kenya passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bhutan.
Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting Kenya

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Bhutan?

With 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Bhutan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Kenya and Bhutan.

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Bhutan performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Kenya?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

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

Share this

At a Glance

KE BT
Population 55,864,655 867,775
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages English, Swahili Dzongkha
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +254 +975
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999