Moving to Germany from Kenya

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Kenya to Germany — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Kenya to Germany, you would find that Germany is 3.4 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,693,750 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly €166,963 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 74°F in Nairobi, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Kenya to Germany.

What does your salary buy?

KES9,693,750 €166,963

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 4.8 times more

Groceries

pay 2.6 times more

Transportation

pay 85.6% more

Housing

pay 5.4 times more

Childcare

pay 2.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KES = 0.0068 EUR (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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Kenya to Germany, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
1,786 ↑ 26% vs 2022

people moved from Kenya to Germany · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Germany?

Top countries of origin for Germany's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Kenya to Germany.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KE
4.9
DE
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
DE
3.3

Germany performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

KE
$274
DE
$8,826
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
DE
45.2

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KE
33.0
DE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
DE
6.9t

Kenya generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KE
1.9
DE
45.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
DE
35.4%

Germany 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

KE
5.7%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
DE
$61,900

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KE
69.7 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
DE
3.2

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

Data: Revenue Authority, 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

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Berlin
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Berlin
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Required
Kenya passport holders need a visa to enter Germany.
Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Germany 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

Is it cheaper to live in Germany than Kenya?

No — Germany is on average about 155% more expensive than Kenya. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €41,741 in Germany on a KES9,693,750 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Germany?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Germany has 45.0 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 Germany safe for expats?

Germany performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Kenya?

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

The official language in Germany is German. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

KE DE
Population 55,864,655 84,316,622
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Euro (€)
Languages English, Swahili German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +254 +49
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112