MigrantoCost of living in Malta
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
€1,430
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
€644richest 20%
€3,370
Malta is a small Mediterranean island where a warm climate and a sociable streak pull a lot of daily life out of the house — meals out, coffees, evenings in cafes are part of the ordinary rhythm, and they add up. Being an island, it also brings most of its goods in by sea, which nudges everyday prices above what a place this size might suggest. Living well and getting by sit a moderate distance apart — neither strikingly even nor especially harsh.
Where people spend money in Malta
What stands out in a Maltese budget is how much of it goes to eating out — dining is the largest line, with groceries close behind, a sign of how social and outdoor daily life tends to be. Housing, by contrast, takes a lighter share than in most of Europe, which frees up more of the month for the table. Cooking at home reins the food side in; the imported goods underneath it all are the harder part to dodge.
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What it costs to live in Malta
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Cost of living in Malta
€644/mo
vs €692 in your country
Take-home
€959
vs €1,040 in your country
Potential savings
€315
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Malta compare
Malta ranks among the world's costlier places to live, though within Europe it lands in the middle rather than the top. The sea is the plain reason it's not cheaper — an island pays the cost of the crossing on much of what it uses — while an unusually light housing bill is what keeps it from climbing into Europe's most expensive ranks.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2023 (Eurostat), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Malta?
A typical person in Malta spends about €1,430 a month — around €17,200 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Malta in US dollars?
The cost of living in Malta is about $1,657 a month, or roughly $19,884 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Malta?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about €644 a month per person, a typical one around €1,430, and a comfortable life around €1,900. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Malta?
The biggest expense is dining out, at about €303 a month (21% of spending). Then come groceries (€179, 13%) and housing (€166, 12%).
Is the average salary in Malta enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about €1,430 a month, while the average take-home pay in Malta is about €1,800. For more on incomes, see salaries in Malta.
Is Malta an expensive country to live in?
Yes. Malta is more expensive than 85% of countries worldwide and ranks 17th of 41 in Europe by cost of living.
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Living in Malta
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