When you move to a new country, you want to know whether you’re going to be better off. In Malta, wages are lower than some Northern European countries, and costs have been creeping up of late. Still, it’s fair to say that your monthly paycheck will go further than in many other cities. Numbeo.com estimates that a four-person family will spend €2115 a month, excluding rent, while a single person will spend €577 excluding rent. They rate Malta as 29% cheaper than New York and rank the cost of living as 262nd out of 509 cities in the world (bear in mind that this is cities, yet Malta is being included as a whole).
Rent prices will be refreshing to anyone who has ever lived in a capital city, and the further you get from the Harbour Area of Sliema and St. Julian’s, the cheaper housing will be. Average costs vary from €350 a month to over €1000 for a two-bedroom apartment, depending on where you are and the quality of the accommodation. Find the best place to live in.
Eating out is affordable, especially at local places; monthly groceries will set you back around €300 a couple (less if you load up on vegetables and fruit at the fruit wagons).
Here are average prices of a few essentials:
Insurance costs are reasonable and of course, if you are an EU national and working, healthcare is covered by National Insurance and is free at government clinics and hospitals. State schools are also free.
Salaries might be lower than elsewhere, but there are some notable exceptions, such as the gaming industry. However, it is possible to live quite cheaply in Malta, so a skilled foreign worker will likely end up with as much, if not more, disposable income as they would in other countries, especially compared to much of Northern Europe. Check out the site salariesinmalta.com for a guide or read up more here.
Who should I get a mobile phone contract with?Vodafone, Melita and GO all offer either ‘pay as you go’ or monthly plans. You can buy a sim card in a wide range of shops. To register for monthly plans, it’s probably easiest to go into a mobile phone shop. The cheapest options are around €20 a month but if you want data, international calls and other services, it will cost more.
How expensive is it to live in Malta?There’s no doubt that prices are going up in Malta, but most foreigners will still find it reasonable to live here, especially compared to European capital cities. For a list of prices in Malta click here.
What bills will I need to pay?Bills include gas (in the form of propane cylinders), electricity and water. This will set you back approximately €68 a month. You can also get cable or satellite TV and a landline if you want to, as well as WiFi internet. There is no equivalent of a ‘Council Tax’ or waste collection tax in Malta. Here is a list of prices of Utilities.