Moving to France from Kenya
What to Expect
Considering a move from Kenya to France? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Kenya to France, you would find that France is 3.2 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,693,750 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly €166,172 in France to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paris averages 60°F vs 74°F in Nairobi, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kenya and France.
What does your salary buy?
KES9,693,750 → €166,172
To maintain the same standard of living in France
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 4.1 times more
Groceries
pay 2.7 times more
Transportation
pay 72.7% more
Housing
pay 4.1 times more
Childcare
pay 2.9 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.7 times more
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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Kenya to France.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in France compared to Kenya.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
France performs significantly 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 France 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
Kenya generally does better on environment, though France leads in air pollution deaths.
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
France performs significantly 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
Kenya generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.
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
France performs significantly better than Kenya across all family life metrics.
Data: Revenue Authority, 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 | Nairobi | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Nairobi | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) |
| Feb | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) |
| Mar | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) |
| Apr | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) |
| May | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) |
| Aug | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) |
| Sep | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) |
| Nov | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) |
| Dec | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) |
Kenya Meteorological Department
Météo-FranceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kenya and France. To live, work, or study long-term in France, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check France's immigration authority.
Kenya passport holder visiting France
Visa Required
France passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in France than Kenya?
On average France is around 153% pricier than Kenya, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to France?
Budget about €41,543 for 3 months in France (based on a KES9,693,750 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from France?
Connectivity is usually fine (France: 49.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does France offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is France safe for expats?
France performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in France is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.
How is healthcare in France compared to Kenya?
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.4 doctors per 10,000 people in France, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. France scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).
What's the weather like in France compared to Kenya?
The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.
What language do they speak in France?
The official language in France is French. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.
