Cost of living in Malta
The cost of living in Malta runs at about 70% of US prices, and the official poverty line for one person was €13,220 a year in 2025.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~69% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Poverty line, Malta
- €1,102/mo (about $1,230) Official, household of 1, 2025 survey. Eurostat. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 15% if remitted 15% on income brought into Malta. PwC Tax Summaries; GRP Rules; MRP Rules. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Build your Malta budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's poverty line, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official poverty line
Malta's yearly survey on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) sets an at-risk-of-poverty threshold: 60% of the median disposable income. For a person living alone it was €13,220 a year in the 2025 survey, shown here as a month; for two adults it was €19,831. It is one national figure, not set by town.
| Area | 2025 survey |
|---|---|
| Malta (national threshold) | €1,102 (about $1,230) |
Eurostat. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in Malta?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above.
Is Malta cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in Malta at about 69% of US levels (2025). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
What does it cost for an American to retire in Malta?
Prices in Malta run at about 70% of US prices. The poverty line for a person living alone was €13,220 a year in the 2025 survey, about €1,102 a month. On the Global Residence Programme you also pay at least €15,000 a year in tax and rent for at least €9,600 a year (€8,750 in Gozo or the south) unless you buy.
Is it cheaper to live in Gozo or the south of Malta?
The programme minimums are lower there: a home bought for €220,000 instead of €275,000, or rent of €8,750 a year instead of €9,600.
