Moving to Switzerland from Malawi
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Malawi to Switzerland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Malawi to Switzerland, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly cooler.
Get free moving quotes to Switzerland
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?
How many people actually move from Malawi to Switzerland, based on official data.
people moved from Malawi to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malawi to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs significantly better than Malawi 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 Switzerland 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 Switzerland leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Switzerland 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in top income tax rate.
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
Switzerland performs significantly better than Malawi across all family life metrics.
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 | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.
Malawi passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Required
Switzerland 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 Switzerland?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Switzerland has 47.1 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 Switzerland safe for expats?
Switzerland performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Malawi?
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
