Moving to Singapore from Kenya

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kenya to Singapore, you would find that Singapore is 4.5 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,693,750 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly SGD536,208 in Singapore to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Singapore averages 89°F vs 74°F in Nairobi, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

KES9,693,750 SGD536,208

To maintain the same standard of living in Singapore

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.3 times more

Groceries

pay 3.1 times more

Transportation

pay 3.2 times more

Housing

pay 9.8 times more

Childcare

pay 5.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KES = 0.01 SGD (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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KE
4.9
SG
0.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
SG
1.9

Singapore 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
SG
$6,551
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
SG
26.0

Singapore 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
SG
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
SG
9.8t

Kenya generally does better on environment, though Singapore 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
SG
37.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
SG
83.1%

Singapore 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%
SG
3.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
SG
$127,500

Singapore 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
SG
86.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
SG
1.6

Singapore 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

Singapore Rain: 83.2 in/yr (2113 mm)
89° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Singapore
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 89°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 89°/78°F (31°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Singapore
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, Meteorological Service Singapore Meteorological Service Singapore

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Singapore

Visa Free
Kenya passport holders can enter Singapore without a visa.
Singapore passport

Singapore passport holder visiting Kenya

Visa Free
Singapore passport holders can enter Kenya without a visa.

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 Singapore than Kenya?

No — Singapore is on average about 454% more expensive than Kenya. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Singapore?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SGD134,052 in Singapore 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 Singapore?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Singapore has 37.7 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 Singapore safe for expats?

Singapore performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Singapore is 0.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Singapore compared to Kenya?

Singapore generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Singapore, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Singapore scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Singapore is 89°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Singapore receives around 83.2 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Singapore?

The official languages in Singapore are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

KE SG
Population 55,864,655 5,921,231
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Languages English, Swahili Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +254 +65
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 999