The Republic of Malta is an archipelago in the Mediterranean, consisting of three main islands – Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Malta has been inhabited since at least 5,900 BC and its historical sites attract people from across the world. The film industry fell in love with Malta decades ago and many blockbuster movies have been made here, using the stunning scenery and coastline as backdrops.
If you are considering moving to Malta, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this part of the world.
Quick Malta Facts:
- Population: 444,249 (2022 estimate)
- Official Language:Maltese is the National Language of Malta and there are two official languages in the country – Maltese and English.
- GDP Per Capita:US$27,891.17 (2021)
- Ocean Filtered Water: There’s no surface water in Malta so drinking water is filtered directly from the ocean by reverse osmosis.
- Currency: € (€/EUR). As of 2023, €1 is = £0.88, $0.99 (USD), $1.35 (CAD), and $1.56 (AUD).
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Malta
You can save money by comparing moving companies in Malta using our moving quote form above.
2. Malta Housing Costs
Housing in Malta is inexpensive compared with other European countries. There’s a wide variety of properties available for rent or purchase, including apartments, penthouses, farmhouses and villas.
Monthly Rental Prices in Malta
- 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: €600.00 – €1,200.00
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: €500.00 – €950.00
- 3-bedroom apartment in City Centre: €950.00 – €2,500.00
- 3-bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: €800.00 – €1,800.00
- Price per square metre to buy in City Centre €2,000.00 – €6,000.00
- Price per square metre to buy outside the city: €1,500.00 – €4,000.00
Source: NUMBEO
Malta Housing Cost Comparison
Below are how rents in Malta compare with other countries around the globe.
United Kingdom is 21.51% more expensive
United States is 96.94% more expensive
Australia is 39.61% more expensive
Canada is 31.50% more expensive
France is 0.46% more expensive
Germany is 1.8% cheaper
Spain is 14.53% cheaper
Italy is 20.4% cheaper
Source: NUMBEO
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share an apartment or house. Living with a roommate or flatmate is a good option to save on housing costs. Have a look at these websites to find roommates or flatmates in Malta – Flatmate Malta, Roommates in Malta, EXPAT, Flat Share, and iRoommates.
- Different areas – different prices. Cities across the world are expensive compared to rural and suburbs. However, prices differ extensively from region to region and place to place. You can even expect differences in housing costs from one neighbourhood to another in the same locality of a city. Places like St. Julian’s and Sliema, and cities in the Grand Harbour, Marsalforn, Marsaxlokk, Mgarr, and Mellieha in Malta can be affordable areas for living in Malta.
3. Malta Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
Maltese are lovers of food and their cuisines are tasty and flavourful. A traditional cuisine of rabbit stew is the National dish of Malta. You will never go hungry in Malta as there is a wide array of food choices beginning from street foods to continental restaurants. Popular foods in Malta starts with the breakfast of Te Fit-Tazza which is tea served in a tumbler, Hobz Tal-Malti which is Maltese bread, and Pastizzi, a puff pastry made of phyllo.
English breakfast dishes are also popular in Malta like scrambled or poached eggs, back bacon dishes, fried mushrooms, sausages, buttered toasts, etc. Dinner time in Malta is around 6-7 PM when restaurants open with delicious recipes like Stuffat tal-fenek which is rabbit stew, Torta tal-Lampuki which is a pie made out of a special fish known as mahi-mahi, Timpana which is a backed macaroni recipe, and several types of pork dishes.
- Inexpensive Restaurant- €9.75-28.00
- Domestic beer: €1.50-5.00
- Coke/Pepsi: €1.30-3.00
- 1L of milk: €0.84-1.50
- Loaf of Bread: €0.80-2.00
- 12 Eggs: €1.32-4.00
- 1kg Chicken Fillets: €3.50-10.00
- 1kg Beef: €7.50-20.00
- 1kg Apples: €1.50-4.00
- 1kg White Rice: €1.20-3.50
Source: NUMBEO
Below is how food and restaurant prices compare with other major countries in the world.
- UK restaurants are 49% more expensive and groceries are 7.63% more expensive than in Malta.
- United States restaurants are94% more expensive and groceries are 70.22% more expensive than in Malta.
- Australian restaurants are 43% more expensive and groceries are 61.09% more expensive than in Malta.
- Canadian restaurants are 60% cheaper and groceries are 24.70% more expensive than in Malta.
- French restaurants are 82% more expensive and groceries are 43.99% more expensive than in Malta.
- German restaurants are7% more expensive and groceries are 2.1% more expensive than in Malta.
- Spanish restaurants are 51% cheaper and groceries are 9.50% cheaper than in Malta.
- Italian restaurants are 12% cheaper and groceries are 0.2% cheaper than in Malta.
Source: NUMBEO
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: There are many small grocery stores where you can buy essentials. Malta has many of the main European supermarkets such as Lidl, Marks and Spencer Food and Carrefour. Have a look at these websites for information on supermarkets and farmers’ markets in Malta – Greens, Supermarket Reviews and Maltese Farmers’ Markets.
- Find Cheap Eats: Most restaurants in the main tourist areas offer specials during the week, particularly early dining specials. Keep an eye on your favourite restaurant’s website or scour the local papers for last minute specials. Explore these websites for cheap eats in Malta – Budget Traveller, LovinMalta, Wanderlog, Low Budget Restaurants, and Lonely Planet.
4. Malta Alcohol Costs
Malta is exceptionally proud of its locally produced alcohol and offers a good selection of locally produced beer, wine and liqueurs. Maltese liqueurs use local produce such as lemons, pomegranates, prickly pear and carob. Imported alcohol is more expensive than locally produced alcohol.
- Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €9.75 – €28.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €1.50 – €5.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €0.90 – €3.00
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €1.05 – €4.00
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €4.00 – €11.00
Source: NUMBEO
How to drink for less in Malta
- Ask around for suggestions on where to save money on social drinking. Scour the internet, read local papers and look for posters and flyers that advertise specials.
- Many bars and restaurants have happy hour, offering drinks at half price or two-for-one. Have a look at the following sites for more tips on where to go to save money on a night out – Guide Me Malta, Space Hunter, Trip Advisor, Happy Hour Spots, and Nightlife in Malta.
5. Malta Transportation Fares
Malta and its islands are small and easy to get around. Malta was the second country in Europe to implement a free bus service in 2022. There are a few routes, especially on the motorways, that don’t fall into this category. Buses in Malta run from 5.30 AM to 11 PM during the week and into the early hours of the morning at weekends.
Below are some example ticket costs.
- One-way ticket (local transport)- €1.50 – €2.00
- Monthly Pass, (Regular Price) – €26.00 – €32.00
- Taxi start (normal tariff) – €4.00 – €15.00
- Taxi 1km (normal tariff) – €1.00 – €3.50
Source: NUMBEO
How to save money on public transport
- Download the Malta Public Transport App to take the advantage of features like “Journey Partner” and other cheap travel options.
- Renting a bicycle, motorbike or scooter is an option if you are brave enough to contend with the traffic.
6. Cost of Internet in Malta
Internet in Malta is excellent with high download speeds. Wireless internet and open Wi-Fi is also widely available in many places including public gardens, restaurants, hotels and coffee houses.
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
Malta is blessed with a great climate, with the blue skies throughout the year. Malta experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool winters. The hottest month in Malta is August with a maximum temperature of 34C and the coldest is January when the temperature can drop to 6C. Malta receives around 600mm of rain per annum, most of which falls in the winter.
- Pair of Jeans (Levi’s 501 or similar): €25.00 – €120.00
- Summer Dress: €20.00 – €80.00
- Running Shoes (Trainers): €50.00 – €120.00
- Business Shoes: €50.00 – €180.00
- Gym membership: €30.00 – €85.00
- Movie (cinema) ticket: €8.00 – €15.00
- Short visit to the doctor (15 mins) – €42
- Deodorant:€3.75
- Toilet Rolls: €3.30
- Shampoo:€4.54
Source: NUMBEO and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Malta
Most expats find it easier to get around Malta by car than by public transport. If you live in the EU you can drive on your licence for the duration of your stay. If you live outside the EU, you can drive for up to 12 months on your current licence after which you’ll need to get a Maltese driving licence. All vehicles must be insured, have regular roadworthy tests and have a valid road licence.
Below are some sample costs of owning and driving a car in Malta:
- Volkswagen Golf:€18,000.00 – €25,000.00
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):€1.30 – €1.55
- Other fees (if any):The average monthly cost of running a 4 seater vehicle, including maintenance and depreciation, is €410 per month.
Source: NUMBEO, Malta Guides, Transport.gov.
Ways to save money driving in Malta
- Car sharing or pooling is one of the best options to save money. Try COOL, Carpoolworld, and Cool-Ride Pooling App.
- Taxis sometimes are cheaper options for short distance travel, especially if you need to pay for parking. Try Malta Taxi, and YELLOW.
Need your car/vehicle moved to Malta? Then read our guide to Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping
9. Taxes in Malta
Malta has a flat tax rate of 15% of expats’ Maltese source of income. For more information visit Endevio.
There’s no annual property tax payable in Malta but you will charged 5% tax of the property value when purchasing a property and 8% on selling it. For details refer to Immigrantinvest.
The standard rate of VAT in Malta is 18%. Like most countries, this rate varies depending on the goods and services involved. Refer to Avalara for details.
10. Flight Costs from Malta
If you do make the move to Malta, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of 2023:
- London: €20
- Paris: €18
- New York: €157
- Toronto: €222
- Dubai: €268
- Sydney: €420
- Cape Town: €489
- Berlin: €24
Other Malta Relocation Tips
The above costs and pricing should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Malta. But perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Relocating to Malta Alone
Moving abroad is stressful but moving alone can be even more difficult. However, the atmosphere in Malta and the friendly Maltese people will help you ease into your new life. Below are a few tips about settling in Malta.
- Meetups:Join groups of people who enjoy doing what you do in your spare time or are in the same line as business as you, through Meetup.
- Attend local events: The Maltese enjoy socialising and putting on events which celebrate various aspects of their culture and heritage.. Have look at these sites for inspiration Trip Advisor, Malta Guide, Malta Festivals, Dine Wine Love, and Festivals and Events in Malta.
12. Moving to Malta with a Family
Moving abroad with a family is exciting but can also be challenging. If you are moving to Malta with family, consider the following.
- New parents (or parents-to-be):Join new parent groups for support in your new country – Welcome to Centre, Fun Loving Mums, Mother & Baby Group, Parent and Baby Clubs, and Malta Mums in Prayer.
- Live in a family-friendly area:Living in a family-friendly is obviously going to help you and your kids settle more quickly. Have a look at neighbourhoods like Swieqi, Pembroke, and San Gwan all of which have international schools and are also close to the business centre of Valetta.
- Find things to do with the kids:Malta has so much to entertain the kiddies, from snorkelling to museums. There are lots of Have a look at the following website for inspiration – Malta for Kids, Trip Advisor, Baby Breaks, Mummy Travels, and Family Fun.
13. Moving to Malta for Work
Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
The hospitality industry is the major employer of expats. There are also opportunities in education, healthcare, finance and IT.
Below are things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary:Salaries in Malta vary depending on the industry. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea, how much more you’ll want to be making to make the move worthwhile. Have a look at Glassdoor and Payscale to see what you can expect to earn.
- How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Malta, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: – Jobs in Malta, Work in Malta, Visa Hunter, Malta Jobs, and Vacancy Centre You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.
14. Moving to Malta from Australia
There’s a small group of Aussies living in Malta which is growing quickly. If you are moving from Australia to Malta, consider the following:
- Size comparison:Australia is 24,498 times bigger than Malta, and its population is 25,890,773 whereas the population of Malta is only 444,249.
- Join expat groups:Connect with fellow Australians in Malta through Meetup, InterNations, and Facebook.
15. Moving to Malta from Canada
There’s a small group of Canadians living in Malta. If you are moving from Canada to Malta, consider the following.
- Size:Canada is 31,597 times bigger than Malta, and its population is 38,929,902 whereas the population of Malta is only 444,249.
- Expat groups:Meet fellow Canadians in Malta through Meetup and InterNations.
16. Moving to Malta from the United Kingdom
Malta is popular country with British expats. If you are moving from the UK to Malta, consider the following:
- Size: The UK is 771 times bigger than Malta, and its population is 68,708,659 whereas the population of Malta is only 444,249.
- Expat groups:Connect with fellow Brits in Malta through Meetup and InterNations.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Malta you can start by comparing moving quotes here.
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