Moving to Kenya from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Kenya? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 55.1% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly KES4,246,416 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nairobi averages 74°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
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 New Zealand and Kenya.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → KES4,246,416
To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 64.8% less
Groceries
pay 49.3% less
Transportation
pay 30.2% less
Housing
pay 65.9% less
Childcare
pay 58.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.4% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Kenya
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kenya compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs 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 New Zealand 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
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Kenya leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
New Zealand 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in top income tax rate.
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
New Zealand performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kenya passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 Zealand?
On average Kenya is about 56% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kenya?
Budget about KES1,061,604 for 3 months in Kenya (based on a NZ$130,152 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kenya?
Connectivity is usually fine (Kenya: 1.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kenya offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Kenya safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to New Zealand?
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
