Asia · Valletta
Cost of living in Malta
Malta is 36% cheaper than the US, ranking #51 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Malta, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (142), while housing & utilities is the most affordable (88).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $64,000 in Malta.
Quality of life
96/100 · #20 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Malta
With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later.
Read the full background
While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Malta expensive to live in?
Malta is 36% cheaper than the US, ranking #51 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; housing & utilities costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Malta?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $64,000 in Malta, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Malta cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 63.8, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Malta?
Malta scores 96 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#20 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 83 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
Explore more: compare countries · full ranking · Asia · wages in Malta