Moving to Malawi from Alabama

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Alabama to Malawi — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Alabama to Malawi. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Alabama and Malawi stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AL
39.6%
MW
5.8%

Malawi performs significantly better than Alabama across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AL
85.9%
MW
24.0%

Alabama performs better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AL
2.3%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AL
$49,225
MW
$1,700

Alabama performs better than Malawi across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AL
73.2 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs

Alabama performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Montgomery Rain: 53.1 in/yr (1348 mm)
76° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lilongwe Rain: 50.7 in/yr (1289 mm)
75° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Montgomery Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 63°/40°F (17°/4°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/60°F (29°/16°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/69°F (32°/21°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/45°F (21°/7°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Montgomery Lilongwe
Jan 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 62°/39°F (16.6°/4.0°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 70°/45°F (20.9°/7.4°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 77°/52°F (24.8°/10.9°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 84°/61°F (28.9°/15.9°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 90°/68°F (32.1°/20.1°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 92°/71°F (33.4°/21.9°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 92°/71°F (33.3°/21.7°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 87°/65°F (30.7°/18.4°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 69°/44°F (20.6°/6.6°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 60°/37°F (15.3°/3.0°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Malawi. To live, work, or study long-term in Malawi, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malawi's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Malawi.
Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Malawi passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Malawi?

Working remotely from Malawi's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Alabama and Malawi.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Alabama?

Malawi performs significantly better than Alabama across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Malawi compared to Alabama?

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 76°F in Montgomery. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Montgomery gets 53.1 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Alabama, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

MW
Population 4,779,736 20,794,353
Currency United States Dollar ($) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages English Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +265
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911