Moving to Madagascar from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Madagascar — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Madagascar
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Madagascar.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Madagascar performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Madagascar across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Madagascar leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Madagascar 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Antananarivo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 79°/63°F (26°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Antananarivo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Direction Générale de la Météorologie
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Madagascar. To live, work, or study long-term in Madagascar, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Madagascar's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Madagascar
Visa on Arrival
Madagascar passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Madagascar?
Usually fine from major cities in Madagascar. 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 Madagascar compared to Iowa?
Madagascar performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Madagascar?
The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Iowa, the official language is English.
