Moving to Malawi from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Malawi? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Malawi. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lilongwe averages 75°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malawi compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs 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
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malawi leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Malawi leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
New Zealand performs 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Lilongwe |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Lilongwe |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Malawi. To live, work, or study long-term in Malawi, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malawi's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Malawi
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Malawi passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Malawi?
Connectivity is usually fine (Malawi: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malawi offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Malawi safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Malawi compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malawi leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Malawi, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Malawi compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Malawi?
The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
