Moving to Madagascar from Washington

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Washington to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 60°F in Olympia, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Madagascar compared to Washington.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

WA
31.1%
MG
5.3%

Madagascar performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

WA
93.1%
MG
20.0%

Washington performs better than Madagascar across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WA
5.3%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WA
$87,768
MG
$1,700

Washington generally does better on employment & economy, though Madagascar leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

WA
79.2 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs

Washington performs better than Madagascar 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.

Olympia Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1270 mm)
60° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Antananarivo Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
76° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Olympia Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Olympia Antananarivo
Jan 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Madagascar. To live, work, or study long-term in Madagascar, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Madagascar's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
United States passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.
Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Madagascar 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 Madagascar?

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

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Washington?

Madagascar performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to Washington?

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Washington, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

MG
Population 6,724,540 28,172,462
Currency United States Dollar ($) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages English French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +261
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911