Moving to Malawi from Oregon

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Oregon to Malawi — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Oregon to Malawi. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lilongwe averages 75°F vs 64°F in Salem, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Oregon to Malawi.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

OR
31.9%
MW
5.8%

Malawi performs significantly better than Oregon across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

OR
91.8%
MW
24.0%

Oregon performs better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

OR
5.1%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

OR
$61,622
MW
$1,700

Oregon generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

OR
78.8 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs

Oregon performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Salem Rain: 39.7 in/yr (1008 mm)
64° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lilongwe Rain: 50.7 in/yr (1289 mm)
75° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Salem Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 52°/36°F (11°/2°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/45°F (20°/7°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/51°F (27°/11°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/38°F (12°/3°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Salem Lilongwe
Jan 48°/35°F (8.7°/1.5°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 52°/35°F (10.9°/1.4°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.9°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 61°/40°F (16.2°/4.2°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.1°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.6°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 82°/53°F (27.8°/11.7°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 82°/53°F (28.0°/11.6°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (24.9°/9.1°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 64°/42°F (17.8°/5.7°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 53°/38°F (11.4°/3.6°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 46°/34°F (7.9°/1.1°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Malawi.
Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Malawi passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Malawi?

Usually fine from major cities in Malawi. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Oregon?

Malawi performs significantly better than Oregon across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Malawi compared to Oregon?

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 64°F in Salem. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Salem gets 39.7 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Oregon, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

MW
Population 3,831,074 20,794,353
Currency United States Dollar ($) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages English Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +265
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911