Moving to Iowa from Malawi
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Malawi to Iowa — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Malawi to Iowa. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Des Moines averages 60°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Malawi to Iowa, and how the trend has changed.
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
How Malawi and Iowa stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Malawi performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
Iowa performs significantly better than Malawi across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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 | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
Working remotely from Iowa's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Malawi and Iowa.
How is healthcare in Iowa compared to Malawi?
Malawi performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iowa compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Des Moines is 60°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Des Moines receives around 36.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in Iowa?
The official language in Iowa is English. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
