Moving to California from Malawi
What to Expect
Considering a move from Malawi to California? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Malawi to California. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Get free moving quotes to California
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Malawi to California.
people moved from Malawi to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in California compared to Malawi.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Malawi performs better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs significantly better than Malawi 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
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs significantly better than Malawi across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lilongwe | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Malawi passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States passport holder visiting Malawi
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from California?
From major California cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Malawi and California are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in California compared to Malawi?
Malawi performs better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in California compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Sacramento is 74°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Sacramento receives around 18.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in California?
The official language in California is English. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
