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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,547 per month in Australia vs $2,057 in Malta, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,678 per month in Australia vs $3,112 in Malta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,808 per month in Australia vs $4,166 in Malta, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 24% 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 85%, Malta by 49%.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,218$3,352) than in Malta ($1,684$2,939), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Malta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 A$24.56
$17.15 €14.75
3.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.9 A$120
$85.6 €73.6
1.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 A$15.71
$12.09 €10.39
-6.12%
Cappuccino
$3.99 A$5.53
$2.92 €2.51
36.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 A$4.11
$2.68 €2.30
10.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 A$3.47
$1.74 €1.50
44.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.75 A$10.73
$4.58 €3.94
69.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 A$11.17
$4.71 €4.05
71.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Malta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 A$2.44
$1.38 €1.19
27.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 A$3.97
$1.37 €1.18
109.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 A$3.28
$3.88 €3.34
-38.92%
Eggs
$5.11 A$7.08
$4.00 €3.44
27.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 A$14.03
$11.17 €9.60
-9.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.57 A$13.25
$10.09 €8.68
-5.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.59 A$21.59
$17.32 €14.89
-9.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.83 A$5.30
$3.23 €2.78
18.58%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 A$4.33
$2.29 €1.97
36.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.35 A$4.64
$3.00 €2.58
11.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 A$6.75
$3.27 €2.81
49.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 A$4.04
$2.03 €1.74
43.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.27
$2.29 €1.97
3.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.40
$1.98 €1.70
24.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 A$2.36
$1.03 €0.89
65.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$39.46 A$54.6
$6.93 €5.96
469.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.69 A$20.34
$8.23 €7.08
78.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.07 A$7.02
$1.82 €1.56
178.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 A$7.43
$2.47 €2.12
117.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Malta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 A$3.93
$2.35 €2.02
20.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.3 A$135
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 A$4.93
$5.74 €4.94
-37.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 A$2.33
$2.27 €1.95
-25.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.94 A$56.7
$33.86 €29.11
20.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 A$1.87
$1.52 €1.30
-11.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$40.2K
$28.5K €24.5K
1.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K A$40.8K
$39.5K €34.0K
-25.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Malta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 A$287
$108 €92.6
92.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.34 A$40.62
$27.51 €23.66
6.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0 A$83.1
$36.00 €30.96
66.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Malta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.3 A$82.1
$69.3 €59.6
-14.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 A$28.07
$21.83 €18.77
-7.10%
Cinema Ticket
$16.04 A$22.21
$11.31 €9.73
41.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Malta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,194 A$3,037
$426 €366
414.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K A$25.8K
$11.4K €9,797
63.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Malta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.1 A$112
$101 €87.2
-20.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 A$78.8
$47.21 €40.59
20.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 A$164
$108 €93.1
9.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 A$175
$121 €104
4.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Malta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,637 A$2,266
$1,216 €1,046
34.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 A$1,808
$1,009 €867
29.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 A$3,584
$2,020 €1,737
28.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 A$2,717
$1,629 €1,400
20.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,394 A$11.6K
$4,506 €3,875
86.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,140 A$8,500
$3,446 €2,963
78.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Malta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,067 A$5,631
$1,815 €1,561
124.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.93
4.16
42.55%

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

Last update for Australia: September 6, 2026

Last update for Malta: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,426 in Australia vs $1,222 in Malta. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,845 in Canberra and $1,485 in Valletta.

Average salary: $3,945 in Australia vs $1,853 in Malta. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 17% higher in Australia.

Public transport is 1233% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 113% 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 1% 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 1% 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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