Moving to Uruguay from Kenya

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kenya to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 2.7 times more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,705,750 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly UYU6,957,119 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kenya and Uruguay.

What does your salary buy?

KES9,705,750 UYU6,957,119

To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.5 times more

Groceries

pay 2.5 times more

Transportation

pay 66.7% more

Housing

pay 3.2 times more

Childcare

pay 97.1% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 80.8% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KES = 0.3103 UYU (June 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

The numbers behind daily life in Uruguay compared to Kenya.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KE
4.9
UY
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
UY
13.0

Kenya generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KE
$274
UY
$3,135
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
UY
46.3

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay 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
UY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
UY
2.6t

Kenya generally does better on environment, though Uruguay 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
UY
33.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
UY
9.8%

Uruguay 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%
UY
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
UY
$30,700

Kenya generally does better on employment & economy, though Uruguay leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KE
69.7 yrs
UY
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
UY
8.3

Uruguay 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

Montevideo Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
71° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Montevideo
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 65°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 61°/46°F (16°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Montevideo
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Uruguay

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

Uruguay passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Uruguay 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 Uruguay than Kenya?

On average Uruguay is around 131% pricier than Kenya, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?

Budget about UYU1,739,280 for 3 months in Uruguay (based on a KES9,705,750 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Uruguay?

Connectivity is usually fine (Uruguay: 33.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Uruguay offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Uruguay safe for expats?

Kenya generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to Kenya?

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 46.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Uruguay, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

KE UY
Population 55,864,655 3,407,213
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Languages English, Swahili Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +254 +598
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 911