Moving to United Kingdom from Kenya

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Kenya to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kenya to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 3.9 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,690,000 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly £155,284 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 74°F in Nairobi, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kenya and United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

KES9,690,000 £155,284

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.8 times more

Groceries

pay 2.2 times more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 6.3 times more

Childcare

pay 5.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.2 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KES = 0.0058 GBP (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?

What the data shows about people moving from Kenya to United Kingdom.

Moved in 2015
2,000

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

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Kenya.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KE
4.9
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
GB
2.4

United Kingdom 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
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
GB
31.7

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
GB
4.2t

Kenya generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom 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
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom 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%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
GB
$54,100

United Kingdom 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
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
GB
3.8

United Kingdom 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.

Nairobi Rain: 40.3 in/yr (1024 mm)
74° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi London
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi London
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Kenya passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Kenya?

On average United Kingdom is around 178% pricier than Kenya, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Budget about £38,821 for 3 months in United Kingdom (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 United Kingdom?

Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Kenya?

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Kenya?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

KE GB
Population 55,864,655 67,791,400
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages English, Swahili English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +254 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 999 999