Moving to Ireland from Kenya

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kenya to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 3.8 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,690,000 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly €199,343 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 74°F in Nairobi, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Kenya to Ireland.

What does your salary buy?

KES9,690,000 €199,343

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 4.0 times more

Groceries

pay 2.5 times more

Transportation

pay 2.5 times more

Housing

pay 6.6 times more

Childcare

pay 3.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.3 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.

Get free moving quotes to Ireland

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

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Kenya to Ireland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
551 ↑ 14% vs 2015

people born in Kenya live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Kenya and Ireland 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
IE
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
IE
2.8

Ireland 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
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
IE
40.6

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland 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
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
IE
6.0t

Kenya generally does better on environment, though Ireland 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
IE
32.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
IE
22.2%

Ireland performs significantly better than Kenya across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KE
5.7%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
IE
$115,600

Ireland 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
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
IE
3.5

Ireland 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

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Dublin
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Dublin
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Ireland 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 Ireland than Kenya?

Day-to-day costs in Ireland run about 203% higher than Kenya on average; specific cities can swing further.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a KES9,690,000 comparable salary, that's around €49,836 in Ireland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

With 32.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland 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 Ireland.

Is Ireland safe for expats?

Ireland performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Kenya?

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.

Share this

At a Glance

KE IE
Population 55,864,655 5,275,004
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Euro (€)
Languages English, Swahili English, Irish
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +254 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112