Moving to Malawi from Pennsylvania

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Pennsylvania to Malawi? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Pennsylvania to Malawi. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lilongwe averages 75°F vs 61°F in Harrisburg, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malawi compared to Pennsylvania.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

PA
34.4%
MW
5.8%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

PA
88.8%
MW
24.0%

Pennsylvania 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

PA
3.7%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$61,506
MW
$1,700

Pennsylvania performs better than Malawi across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

PA
76.8 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs

Pennsylvania 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.

Harrisburg Rain: 43.6 in/yr (1108 mm)
61° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Harrisburg Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/50°F (22°/10°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/61°F (27°/16°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/34°F (11°/1°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Harrisburg Lilongwe
Jan 36°/21°F (2.5°/-5.9°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.1°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 49°/30°F (9.3°/-0.9°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 72°/50°F (22.2°/10.1°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 81°/60°F (27.2°/15.5°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.8°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 83°/63°F (28.2°/17.0°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.8°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 63°/42°F (17.4°/5.6°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.6°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 40°/26°F (4.4°/-3.2°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?

From major Malawi cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Pennsylvania and Malawi are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Pennsylvania?

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

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

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 61°F in Harrisburg. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Harrisburg gets 43.6 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

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

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At a Glance

MW
Population 12,702,379 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