Moving to Kenya from Turkey

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Turkey to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 33.6% cheaper than Turkey overall. A TRY3,700,000 salary in Turkey would need to be roughly KES6,480,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nairobi averages 74°F vs 64°F in Ankara, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

TRY3,700,000 → KES6,480,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 35.9% less

Groceries

pay 1.9% less

Transportation

pay 15.5% less

Housing

pay 47.6% less

Childcare

pay 54.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 12.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 TRY = 2.64 KES (October 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 Kenya compared to Turkey.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

TR
3.2
KE
4.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TR
6.5
KE
28.2

Turkey performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TR
$1,769
KE
$274
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

TR
22.4
KE
2.9

Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TR
39.0
KE
33.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TR
5.4t
KE
0.4t

Kenya performs significantly better than Turkey across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TR
23.4
KE
3.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TR
47.9%
KE
33.2%

Turkey generally does better on infrastructure, though Kenya leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

TR
8.5%
KE
5.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

TR
$18,599
KE
$2,363

Turkey generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

TR
77.4 yrs
KE
63.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TR
8.0
KE
34.2

Turkey generally does better on family life, though Kenya leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Revenue Administration, Government of Turkey (2016), Revenue Authority (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ankara Rain: 15.0 in/yr (382 mm)
64° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ankara Nairobi
Jan–Mar 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C) 77°/54°F (25°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) 73°/55°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/57°F (29°/14°C) 72°/50°F (22°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/37°F (13°/3°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
View all months
Month Ankara Nairobi
Jan 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C) 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C)
Feb 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C) 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C)
Mar 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C) 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C)
Apr 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C) 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C)
May 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C) 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C)
Jun 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C) 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C)
Jul 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C) 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C)
Aug 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C) 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C)
Sep 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C)
Oct 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C) 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C)
Nov 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C)
Dec 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C) 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C)

Data: Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service, Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Turkey 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.

Turkey passport

Turkey passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Turkey passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Kenya.
Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Turkey

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

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 Kenya than Turkey?

On average Kenya is about 34% less expensive than Turkey, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kenya?

Budget about KES1,620,000 for 3 months in Kenya (based on a TRY3,700,000 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: 3.0 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?

Turkey performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Turkey.

How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Turkey?

Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 22.4 in Turkey. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Turkey: 76).

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

The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 64°F in Ankara. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Ankara gets 15.0 in.

What language do they speak in Kenya?

The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Turkey, the official language is Turkish.

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At a Glance

TR KE
Population 85,878,556 57,532,493
Currency Turkish Lira (TRY) Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Languages Turkish English, Swahili
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +90 +254
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999