Moving to Kenya from New York
What to Expect
Considering a move from New York to Kenya? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New York to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 63.1% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly KES3,376,268 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nairobi averages 74°F vs 58°F in Albany, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New York and Kenya.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KES3,376,268
To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 70.9% less
Groceries
pay 64.6% less
Transportation
pay 20.9% less
Housing
pay 76.7% less
Childcare
pay 80.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 63.3% less
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 Kenya compared to New York.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Kenya performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New York performs 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
share of people below the poverty line
New York performs better than Kenya across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New York performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Albany | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 78°/58°F (26°/14°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Albany | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Kenya. To live, work, or study long-term in Kenya, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kenya's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kenya passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Kenya than New York?
On average Kenya is about 65% less expensive than New York, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kenya?
Budget about KES844,067 for 3 months in Kenya (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kenya?
From major Kenya cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New York and Kenya are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to New York?
Kenya performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In New York, the official language is English.
