Moving to Malawi from Illinois

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Illinois to Malawi — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Illinois to Malawi. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lilongwe averages 75°F vs 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Illinois to Malawi.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

IL
34.6%
MW
5.8%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

IL
89.6%
MW
24.0%

Illinois 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

IL
4.8%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$70,691
MW
$1,700

Illinois 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

IL
76.8 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs

Illinois 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.

Springfield Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
63° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Springfield Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Springfield Lilongwe
Jan 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°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?

Usually fine from major cities in Malawi. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Illinois?

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

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

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

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

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At a Glance

MW
Population 12,830,632 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