Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Malta Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Malta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,186 per month in Australia vs $1,958 in Malta, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,219 per month in Australia vs $2,960 in Malta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,252 per month in Australia vs $3,961 in Malta, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 12% higher than in Malta on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Australia and Malta are pricier than the global median – Australia by 64%, Malta by 47%.

Cost ranges are similar: Australia spans $1,580$2,807, Malta $1,578$2,994. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Malta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.37 A$23.44
$17.07 €15.01
-4.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7 A$111
$80.1 €70.5
-3.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.59 A$13.74
$11.35 €9.98
-15.51%
Cappuccino
$3.45 A$4.94
$2.87 €2.52
20.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 A$3.77
$2.47 €2.17
6.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 A$3.06
$1.61 €1.41
32.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.34 A$9.08
$3.93 €3.46
61.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 A$10.07
$4.37 €3.84
60.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Malta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 A$2.18
$1.35 €1.18
12.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 A$3.58
$1.35 €1.18
85.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 A$2.95
$3.69 €3.24
-44.17%
Eggs
$4.22 A$6.04
$3.71 €3.26
13.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 A$12.83
$10.48 €9.21
-14.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 A$11.96
$9.61 €8.44
-13.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.74 A$19.67
$16.59 €14.58
-17.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 A$4.50
$3.07 €2.70
2.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 A$3.91
$2.16 €1.90
26.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 A$4.20
$2.80 €2.47
4.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 A$6.34
$3.33 €2.92
33.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 A$3.67
$2.00 €1.75
28.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 A$3.04
$2.11 €1.86
0.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 A$3.12
$1.87 €1.64
16.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.24
$0.94 €0.82
67.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.82 A$44.14
$6.60 €5.81
366.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 A$20.29
$8.25 €7.25
71.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60 A$6.58
$1.77 €1.56
159.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 A$6.98
$2.33 €2.05
109.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Malta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.99 A$4.28
$2.27 €1.99
31.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.7 A$138
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 A$5.05
$5.81 €5.10
-39.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 A$2.60
$2.06 €1.81
-12.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.32 A$53.5
$44.20 €38.85
-15.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.66
$1.51 €1.33
-23.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K A$42.2K
$28.0K €24.6K
5.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$32.3K
$34.1K €30.0K
-33.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Malta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 A$252
$107 €93.7
64.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.75 A$38.30
$27.89 €24.52
-4.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 A$77.1
$36.62 €32.19
47.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Malta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.11 A$67.5
$67.2 €59.1
-29.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.57 A$23.73
$24.31 €21.37
-31.84%
Cinema Ticket
$13.42 A$19.22
$10.79 €9.49
24.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Malta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,572 A$2,251
$559 €491
181.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$18.2K
$11.0K €9,665
15.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Malta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 A$101
$101 €88.4
-29.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 A$71.6
$46.21 €40.63
8.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$145
$99.2 €87.2
1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 A$159
$113 €99.0
-1.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Malta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 A$1,965
$1,150 €1,011
19.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 A$1,542
$960 €844
12.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,353 A$3,370
$1,881 €1,654
25.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,747 A$2,502
$1,508 €1,326
15.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,882 A$11.3K
$4,327 €3,804
82.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,906 A$8,457
$3,294 €2,896
79.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Malta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,960 A$5,671
$1,818 €1,598
117.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
4.73
34.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Australia: July 22, 2026

Last update for Malta: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,230 in Australia vs $1,125 in Malta. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,556 in Canberra and $1,268 in Valletta.

Average salary: $3,824 in Australia vs $1,781 in Malta. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 9% higher in Australia.

Public transport is 1017% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 115% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Australia vs Malta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Malta?
Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 4% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Malta, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Malta consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Australia, contributing to the overall 4% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in Malta?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Australia, but in Malta it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Malta?
Australia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Australia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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