Malawi, Lilongwe

Overview

Malawi, Lilongwe Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi. Lilongwe is the political centre of Malawi while Blantyre is the economic capital.

Malawi is in Southern Africa, east of Zambia. The climate is sub-tropical with a rainy season (November to May) and a dry season (May to November).

The official languages are English and Chichewa. It is the official language of business and government and is widely spoken in the capital Lilongwe and other urban centres. Chichewa, the tongue of the dominant Chewa tribe, is the other official language, while Chitumbuka is the predominant language of the north. The main religions are Christianity and Islam.

The economy of Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely populated. The economy is heavily agriculture-based, with around 85% of the population living in rural areas. More than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues come from agriculture.

Malawians are generally extremely friendly. Expatriate business dress is typically a lightweight suit and tie for men and a lightweight suit or its equivalent for women. Using first names in business meetings is considered impolite in Malawi. The use of 'Sir' or 'Madam', or alternatively 'Mister' or 'Missus' followed by a surname is preferred.

The security risk for expatriates in Malawi is low overall, but medium in urban areas. Risks include general crime and scams, particularly of those perceived as wealthy.

The currency of Malawi is the Malawi Kwacha (MWK). While ATMs are available in major urban areas not all international cards are accepted. Major credit cards are accepted at some shops and restaurants.

Medical facilities are generally below international standards. Outbreaks of gastric intestinal infections including cholera are common. There is a high prevalence of HIV.

The population of Lilongwe is 1.1 Million (2016 est.), while the inflation rate is 15.8% (Mar 2017).

Cost Of Living

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Lilongwe as at 1 April 2017 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

In Lilongwe, the cost of each basket, based on local prices, compared to the international average, is categorized follows (Exact cost of living percentages only available in personalised reports):
1) Alcohol (where available) & Tobacco: Low
2) Clothing: Average
3) Communication: Very High
4) Education: Low
5) Furniture & Appliances: High
6) Groceries: Low
7) Healthcare: High
8) Household Accommodation: Low
9) Miscellaneous: Low
10) Personal Care: Very High
11) Recreation & Culture: Very High
12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Very Low
13) Transport: Very High

Lilongwe is for example 3.4% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, 1.4% more expensive for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and 92.5% more expensive for transport costs than Dubai.

Lilongwe is ranked as a high degree of hardship location.

The hardship premium for Lilongwe for an expat from Perth, is for example 20%, i.e. host location (Lilongwe) premium of 30% minus home (Perth) location premium of 10%.

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The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Lilongwe as at 1 April 2017 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

Lilongwe is ranked as a high degree of hardship location.