childcare costs in malanje: what i actually paid (and why it hurt)
so i moved to malanje last year with a toddler in tow and honestly... i had no clue what i was doing. i thought "sure, i'll just find a daycare, no biggie." turns out, childcare here is a whole different beast. rent in malanje for a 1-bedroom averages around $200/month, but daycare? that's a different story. i paid about $150/month for a decent place near the city center, but some spots wanted $300/month and i was like "nah, my kid's not made of diamonds."
here's the thing: malanje isn't exactly overflowing with options. there's maybe 5-7 licensed centers, and most of them are booked months in advance. i heard from a local mom that some people just hire a nanny for $80-$120/month, which sounds wild until you realize the average salary here is like $300/month. yeah, it's a mess.
weather-wise, malanje is hot. like, "i'm sweating through my shirt by 9am" hot. but the people? incredibly warm. neighbors in nearby cities like kwanza-sul are just a short drive away if you need a weekend escape.
i asked around at a cafe (the one near the market, not the touristy spot) and overheard someone say "don't trust the fancy daycare near the hospital, their staff turnover is insane." another person warned me that some places don't even have proper first-aid kits. so yeah, do your homework.
if you're moving here, my drunk advice? visit the daycare unannounced. see how they handle chaos. and maybe budget for a backup plan, because in malanje, nothing ever goes as planned.
for more on living in malanje, check out tripadvisor's guide, local forums, or yelp reviews for childcare spots.
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