Moving to Sweden from Kenya
What to Expect
Considering a move from Kenya to Sweden? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Kenya to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 2.9 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,690,000 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly SEK1,768,193 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kenya and Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
KES9,690,000 → SEK1,768,193
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.9 times more
Groceries
pay 2.9 times more
Transportation
pay 97.2% more
Housing
pay 3.8 times more
Childcare
pay 27.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 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 Sweden.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sweden compared to Kenya.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sweden 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 Sweden 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 Sweden 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
Sweden 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 Sweden 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
Sweden 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 | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Nairobi | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
Kenya Meteorological Department,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kenya and Sweden. To live, work, or study long-term in Sweden, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sweden's immigration authority.
Kenya passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Required
Sweden 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 Sweden than Kenya?
On average Sweden is around 143% pricier than Kenya, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Budget about SEK442,048 for 3 months in Sweden (based on a KES9,690,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
Connectivity is usually fine (Sweden: 40.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sweden offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Sweden safe for expats?
Sweden performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Kenya?
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Kenya?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.
