Moving to Kenya from Portugal
What to Expect
Considering a move from Portugal to Kenya? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Portugal to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 46.8% cheaper than Portugal overall. A €64,304 salary in Portugal would need to be roughly KES4,337,694 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Swahili. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Portugal and Kenya.
What does your salary buy?
€64,304 → KES4,337,694
To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 61.6% less
Groceries
pay 40.8% less
Transportation
pay 24.3% less
Housing
pay 61.6% less
Childcare
pay 47.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 25.9% 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 Portugal.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Portugal 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Portugal 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
Portugal 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
Kenya generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Portugal performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics.
Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, 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 | Lisbon | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lisbon | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Portugal 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.
Portugal passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kenya passport holder visiting Portugal
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 Portugal?
On average Kenya is about 55% less expensive than Portugal, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kenya?
Budget about KES1,084,424 for 3 months in Kenya (based on a €64,304 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Portugal performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Portugal?
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 57.7 in Portugal. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to Portugal?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.
