Moving to Zambia from Malawi
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Malawi to Zambia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Malawi to Zambia.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Zambia
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?
Real numbers on people moving from Malawi to Zambia, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Zambia?
Top countries of origin for Zambia's foreign-born residents.
- 50,661
- 31,424
- 16,816
-
4.13,422
Malawi
- 10,460
- 9,202
Key Indicator Comparison
How Malawi and Zambia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malawi generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in road traffic deaths.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia 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 performs better than Zambia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Zambia generally does better on infrastructure, though Malawi leads in internet access.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Malawi generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia 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
Malawi generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in education spending.
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 | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services,
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.
Malawi passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa Free
Zambia 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 Zambia?
With 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Zambia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Malawi and Zambia.
Is Zambia safe for expats?
Malawi generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.
How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Malawi?
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).
What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in Zambia?
The official language in Zambia is English. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
