Moving to Kenya from Malawi
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Malawi to Kenya — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Malawi to Kenya.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malawi to Kenya.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malawi performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malawi generally does better on environment, though Kenya leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Malawi generally does better on infrastructure, though Kenya leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Malawi generally does better on employment & economy, though Kenya leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Kenya generally does better on family life, though Malawi leads in life expectancy.
Data: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lilongwe | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and Kenya. To live, work, or study long-term in Kenya, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kenya's immigration authority.
Malawi passport holder visiting Kenya
Visa Free
Kenya passport holder visiting Malawi
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Kenya?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Kenya has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Kenya safe for expats?
Malawi performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kenya is 4.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Malawi?
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
