Compare countries · Kenya vs Tanzania
Kenya vs Tanzania
Kenya(Africa)·
Tanzania(Africa)
Across 11 comparable indicators: Kenya leads on 6, Tanzania on 5. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Kenya cheaper than Tanzania?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Kenya at 28.9 and Tanzania at 26.6. Tanzania is about 8% cheaper overall.
Is Kenya or Tanzania safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Kenya scores 2.45 and Tanzania scores 2.08. Tanzania ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Kenya or Tanzania?
On the UN Human Development Index, Kenya scores 0.628 and Tanzania scores 0.555. Kenya scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Kenya compared to Tanzania?
GNI per capita runs $2,200 in Kenya against $1,270 in Tanzania; people live 63.8 years on average against 67.2. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Kenya
28.9
Better than 83% of countries
Tanzania
26.6
Better than 91% of countries
Tanzania: 8% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Kenya
7.8
Better than 89% of countries
Tanzania
9.0
Better than 80% of countries
Kenya: 13% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Kenya
2.45
Worse than 81% of countries
Tanzania
2.08
Worse than 60% of countries
Tanzania: more peaceful (2.08 vs 2.45).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Kenya
44.9
Worse than 75% of countries
Tanzania
46.5
Worse than 73% of countries
Tanzania: higher perceived safety (46.5 vs 44.9).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Kenya
0.628
Worse than 74% of countries
Tanzania
0.555
Worse than 85% of countries
Kenya: higher human development (0.628 vs 0.555).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Kenya
$7,016
Worse than 77% of countries
Tanzania
$4,471
Worse than 86% of countries
Kenya: 57% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Kenya
63.8 yrs
Worse than 91% of countries
Tanzania
67.2 yrs
Worse than 79% of countries
Tanzania: 3.4 years longer on average.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Kenya
16 Mbps
Worse than 97% of countries
Tanzania
23 Mbps
Worse than 90% of countries
Tanzania: 43% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Kenya
51/100
Worse than 59% of countries
Tanzania
46/100
Worse than 66% of countries
Kenya: freer press (51 vs 46 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Kenya
4.67
Worse than 74% of countries
Tanzania
3.90
Worse than 94% of countries
Kenya: happier on the Cantril ladder (4.67 vs 3.90).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Kenya
593
Better than 79% of countries
Tanzania
479
Worse than 67% of countries
Kenya: stronger English proficiency (593 vs 479).
Not comparable for this pair
- Healthcare index: Numbeo doesn't publish a healthcare index for one of these countries.
- Climate pleasantness: Numbeo doesn't publish a climate index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Kenya and Tanzania for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Kenya profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Tanzania profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.