Moving to Kenya from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Kenya? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States to Kenya, you would find that Kenya is 60.8% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly KES3,106,950 in Kenya to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United States and Kenya. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → KES3,106,950 To maintain the same standard of living in Kenya How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 70.5% less Groceries pay 61.4% less Transportation pay 16.0% less Housing pay 77.2% less Childcare pay 77.8% less Entertainment and Sports pay 58.2% 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. 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. The numbers behind daily life in Kenya compared to United States. per 100,000 people per year per 100,000 people per year United States generally does better on safety, though Kenya leads in homicide rate. 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 United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year United States generally does better on environment, though Kenya leads in co₂ emissions per capita. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet United States performs better than Kenya across all infrastructure metrics. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person the highest marginal rate on personal income share of people below the poverty line United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in top income tax rate. average years of life at birth deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better government spending on education as % of GDP United States performs better than Kenya across all family life metrics. Data: Internal Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: 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 Kenya passport holder visiting United States Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average Kenya is about 68% less expensive than United States, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about KES776,738 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. 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? United States generally does better on safety, though Kenya leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 36.1 in United States. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86). The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in. The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In United States, the official language is English. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Washington Nairobi Jan–Mar 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) Jul–Sep 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) Oct–Dec 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) View all months
Month Washington Nairobi Jan 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) Feb 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) Mar 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) Apr 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) May 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) Jun 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) Jul 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) Aug 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) Sep 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) Oct 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) Nov 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) Dec 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 
National Weather Service, 
Kenya Meteorological Department Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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