Relocation guide
Cost of living in Malta: what you actually spend each month
Malta is one of the more affordable places in the eurozone to earn in euros, but rent in the central Sliema–St Julian's belt can swallow half a salary. Below are the running costs people in the international community here budget for, broken down category by category, with sample monthly budgets at the end. Figures are indicative ranges for 2026 — always check a specific listing or provider before committing.
Rent — your biggest line item
| Item | Typical range / month |
|---|---|
Room in a shared flat (Sliema, Gżira, St Julian's) Bills often extra | €350 – €600 |
Room in a shared flat (Ħamrun, Msida, Marsa, Qormi) | €250 – €450 |
1-bedroom apartment, central | €800 – €1200 |
1-bedroom apartment, outside the centre / Gozo | €550 – €850 |
2–3 bedroom apartment, family | €900 – €1600 |
Prices drop sharply once you move away from the coast: the same room costs several hundred euro less in Ħamrun, Marsa, Birkirkara or Gozo than in Sliema. Bus links are good, so many people trade a 20-minute commute for cheaper rent. See what is available right now on MaltaHub apartments.
Utilities and connectivity
| Item | Typical range / month |
|---|---|
Electricity & water (ARMS), 1–2 people Higher Jun–Sep with A/C | €40 – €90 |
Internet, 100–500 Mbps fibre | €25 – €45 |
Mobile plan with data | €10 – €25 |
Gas cylinder (cooking) Lasts 1–3 months | €12 – €25 |
Electricity and water are billed by ARMS, usually every two months. Check whether your landlord bills you at the domestic residential rate — shared flats registered as a single account can be charged at a higher consumption band.
Groceries and eating out
| Item | Typical range / month |
|---|---|
Groceries, one person cooking at home | €180 – €280 |
Groceries, couple | €300 – €450 |
Lunch / pastizzi + coffee out Per meal | €3 – €12 |
Casual restaurant dinner for two | €40 – €70 |
Imported goods carry a premium; local produce, seasonal vegetables and the open markets are noticeably cheaper than the supermarket chains. Asian and South Asian grocery shops around Ħamrun, Msida and Marsa are where most of the community shops.
Getting around
| Item | Typical range / month |
|---|---|
Public bus (Tallinja) for residents Free for residents with a personalised Tallinja card | Free / included |
Tallinja card for visitors / non-residents Multi-day and 12-journey options | €21 – €39 |
Scooter or e-bike sharing, regular use | €30 – €80 |
Running a small used car (fuel, insurance, licence) | €150 – €300 |
Public buses are free for residents holding a personalised Tallinja card, which removes transport from the budget entirely for most people. Owning a car is the expensive option — parking in the central belt is the real cost, not fuel.
Healthcare
| Item | Typical range / month |
|---|---|
State healthcare with a Maltese social security number Covered through contributions | Free / included |
Private GP visit | €15 – €30 |
Private health insurance (required for some visas) | €25 – €80 |
Sample monthly budgets
- • Room €350–600
- • Bills €70–120
- • Food €200–300
- • Transport €0–60
- • Personal & phone €100–200
- • Rent €800–1,200
- • Bills €100–170
- • Food €350–500
- • Transport €0–150
- • Personal & leisure €250–400
- • Rent €1,000–1,600
- • Bills €140–220
- • Food €550–750
- • Transport €100–300
- • School extras & leisure €400–700
Ways people here cut costs
- • Share a flat outside the Sliema–St Julian's belt and commute by bus.
- • Get the personalised Tallinja card as soon as you have residency documents — travel becomes free.
- • Sign a 12-month lease rather than a short let; summer short-let pricing is far higher.
- • Buy furniture and appliances second-hand instead of new.
- • Run the A/C on the inverter setting and avoid peak consumption bands in summer.
Check the figures yourself
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