Places · Afghanistan

Living in Kandahar

Afghanistan · desert

🌍

Kandahar is a mid-sized city of roughly 620,000 people inland in Afghanistan. The climate is desert. It sits well off the usual tourist trail though personal safety is worth weighing carefully. A typical month of living costs around $400. Healthcare is limited, so serious care may mean travelling, and the internet can be patchy for heavy remote work. People come here for history, gardening and rural life, quiet days.

Starlink and satellite internet cannot be used in this country.

Kandahar at a glance: cost, climate, safety

👥
People
~620,000
💵
Cost / mo
~$400
🌡️
Climate
desert
🛡️
Safety
1/5
🏥
Healthcare
1/5
📶
Internet
2/5
🚶
Walkable
2/5
🍽️
Food
3/5
🌫️
Air
2/5Poor
🚰
Water
2/5Bottled water advised

Who tends to love living in Kandahar

All parameters

🛡️ Safety1/5
🏥 Healthcare1/5
🏛️ Public healthcare1/5
💳 Private healthcare1/5
📶 Internet2/5
🚶 Walkable2/5
🚌 Transit3/5
🍽️ Food3/5
📚 LibraryA proper library system
🥗 Veg options2/5
🌫️ Air2/5 · 29 µg/m³
🚰 Water2/5 · Bottled water advised
➖ PopularitySteady
🏠 Rent, 5 yrs+19%
👶 For kids1/5
🛂 Immigration1/5
🏛️ Stability1/5
💸 Tax friendly1/5
🧑‍💻 Business1/5
🕵️ Privacy1/5
🏦 State digital currencyResearch only
🗣️ Free expressionSeverely restricted
₿ Bitcoin2/5
🌈 LGBTQ+1/5
🦂 Dangerous animals2/5
🌱 Fertile soil3/5
🔌 Living off-grid3/5
📸 Tourism1/5
👥 Crowding4/5
✈️ Airport4/5
🛰️ StarlinkNo
⚕️ AbortionRestricted

💉 Childhood vaccines: Recommended, never required

No national law requires it. Campaigns, not statutes, are what reach a child here.

If you skip them: Nothing.

Exemptions: Not needed.

Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024

➖ Popularity & prices: Steady

Accommodation prices have moved about +19% in the last 5 years.

Estimates, for orientation only.

🔭 Where this place is heading

Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.

What to know before moving to Kandahar

⚠️ The downsides of living in Kandahar

Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.

Where is Kandahar?

₿ Spend Bitcoin around Kandahar

Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.

₿ …

Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to live in Kandahar, Afghanistan?

A typical month in Kandahar costs around $400, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.

Is Kandahar, Afghanistan safe?

Arcadia rates personal safety in Kandahar at 1 out of 5, which is poor. Natural risks worth checking: earthquakes.

What is the internet like in Kandahar?

Internet in Kandahar is rated 2 out of 5 for remote work, which is limited. Starlink is not available in this country.

What is the weather like in Kandahar?

Kandahar has a desert climate.

Is healthcare good in Kandahar?

Healthcare in Kandahar is rated 1 out of 5 overall, which is poor. Public healthcare is 1/5 and private healthcare 1/5.

How easy is it to move to Afghanistan?

Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Afghanistan at 1 out of 5, which is poor. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.

Is Kandahar actually right for you?

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