1km. 2 realities

They say comparisons are odious, and perhaps they are especially when one places side by side places as radically different as Kibera and Monte Carlo. Still, I believe that when such comparisons are made not to criticise wealth, but to highlight the urgent need for justice and inclusion, they become not only legitimate but necessary.

This is not an indictment of those who live in privilege. Rather, it is a plea in favour of those who live without. I do not question the existence of wealth, but I do question the persistence of poverty on such a scale in a world as interconnected and resource-rich as ours.

A world of extremes in just one square kilometre

Let me paint two pictures for you, each set in an area of just one square kilometre.

First, Kibera, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is one of the largest informal settlements in the world. It is home to up to 250,000 people, many of whom live on less than one euro per day. Basic services such as clean water, electricity, sanitation and education are scarce or completely absent. Despite the efforts of NGOs and local authorities, poverty here is deeply rooted and multidimensional (Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, 2021).

Now consider Monte Carlo, a district in the Principality of Monaco. Here, the average income per capita exceeds 175,000 EUR annually (IMF, 2023), and over 30% of residents are classified as millionaires (Knight Frank Wealth Report, 2023). Within a single square kilometre, you will find ultra-luxury properties, private banking institutions and the world’s most exclusive brands. It is a haven for the global financial elite.

This stark contrast encapsulates the reality of global inequality in an incredibly tangible way. While one square kilometre can concentrate extreme wealth, another can hold an entire community struggling for survival.

Key jobs and essentials: A reality check

Let us delve deeper into this inequality by comparing job salaries and basic living costs in each area.

Category	Kibera (Kenya)	Monaco
Primary school teacher	approx. €200/month (public sector)	€3,300–€5,500/month
Construction worker	€2–€4/day (informal labour)	€2,800/month minimum
Nurse	€230–€350/month	€3,800–€6,500/month
Bread (1 loaf)	approx. €0.50	approx. €2.80
Public transport fare	€0.25–€0.50 per trip	€1.60–€2.20 per trip
One-bedroom rent	€25–€50/month (informal housing)	€3,200–€10,500/month (luxury standard)
Monthly electricity	Often non-existent or shared illegally	€110–€320 (depending on consumption)

The figures speak for themselves. In Kibera, survival often depends on informal work, family networks, and humanitarian support. In Monaco, access to opportunities, healthcare, and leisure is virtually guaranteed for residents and often subsidised by a high-value economy and favourable financial policy.

A tax haven by design

Monaco’s prosperity is closely tied to its reputation as a tax haven. The principality levies no personal income tax on individuals, no capital gains tax, and no wealth tax. In addition, inheritance taxes are either non-existent or minimal, depending on familial relation.

Companies, unless they generate more than 25% of their turnover outside Monaco, are also largely exempt from corporate taxes.

While this has drawn wealthy individuals from across the globe, it has also drawn criticism from the European Commission and several tax justice organisations, who argue that such policies exacerbate global inequality and fiscal unfairness. The Tax Justice Network ranks Monaco among jurisdictions with high financial secrecy, which can enable tax avoidance or even illicit financial flows.

The question arises: Should ultra-wealthy enclaves remain exempt from contributing more significantly to global redistributive efforts?

While Monaco claims that it does not rely on income tax because of its efficient economic model and tourism revenue, such freedom from taxation also amplifies the disconnect between wealth accumulation and social responsibility. In an era where poverty eradication and climate action require shared effort, tax justice must be seen as a cornerstone of ethical governance.

Values, rights and the call for justice

From a human rights perspective, such disparity is indefensible. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the right to an adequate standard of living—housing, health care, food and security. In Kibera, these rights remain largely theoretical.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework to address this imbalance. SDG 1 (No poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) are especially relevant here, as is SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). If economic growth fails to include the most vulnerable, it loses its ethical legitimacy.

The aim of this reflection is not to demonise wealth, but to question why our global systems allow such deprivation to persist. As someone who believes in fairness, I find it difficult to reconcile how such different lives can unfold within the same planet, at the same time, and within the same physical space.

Are there solutions?

Yes, but they require coordinated action and political will.

Infrastructure development: Providing clean water, sanitation, public transport and renewable energy must be a priority in informal settlements. This aligns with SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy).
Education and decent employment: Vocational training, entrepreneurship support and improved access to schools can pave the way for sustainable upliftment (SDG 4 and SDG 8).
Public-private partnerships: Solutions demand collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector to generate scalable impact.

Efforts on the ground offer a glimmer of hope. UN-Habitat has initiated urban upgrading projects in Kibera, and organisations such as Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) are providing critical services like healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.

What about Monaco?

While Monaco is often viewed as a symbol of opulence, it also hosts organisations that support global humanitarian and environmental causes. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation funds international projects on water access, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Meanwhile, NGOs such as Mission Enfance and AMADE Mondiale, based in Monaco, work with vulnerable children in regions facing conflict and poverty.

Moreover, Monaco is a signatory to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and as such, bears a share of responsibility in promoting global equity. However, true commitment must go beyond philanthropic gestures it must extend to a fair contribution through taxation, regulation, and inclusive policymaking.

I am not advocating for a world without difference. But I do believe that extreme inequality should never be normalised. The juxtaposition between Monte Carlo and Kibera is not about guilt or blame it is about empathy, responsibility, and the belief that dignity should not be dictated by geography.

If such immense wealth can be concentrated in a single square kilometre, then so too can the will to bring hope, justice, and opportunity to places that have long gone without them. The real question is not whether we can afford to do so, but whether we can afford not to.