For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $1,970 in Malta, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Malta actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $399 in India versus $1,970 in Malta.
India $399
Malta $1,970
Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in India versus $3,036 in Malta.
India $639
Malta $3,036
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in India versus $4,102 in Malta.
India $879
Malta $4,102
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Malta: monthly costs span $1,657 to $2,871, compared to $230–$813 in India. City choice carries more weight in Malta.
🌍
Living in India costs about 80% less than in Malta on average.
📊
India (71% below) and Malta (45% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Malta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹204
$16.44€14.76
-86.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹996
$82.7€74.2
-87.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹362
$11.69€10.49
-67.49%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹160
$2.75€2.47
-38.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹36.05
$2.57€2.30
-85.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.63
$1.68€1.51
-91.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹178
$4.48€4.02
-58.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹303
$4.43€3.98
-28.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Malta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.3
$1.30€1.17
-52.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.84
$1.30€1.17
-61.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$3.71€3.33
-83.02%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.4
$3.90€3.50
-75.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹462
$10.47€9.39
-53.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹271
$10.15€9.11
-72.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$16.73€15.01
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹191
$3.08€2.76
-35.06%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.5
$2.20€1.98
-70.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.4
$2.93€2.63
-66.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.37
$3.24€2.90
-85.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.92
$1.94€1.74
-82.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.79
$2.09€1.87
-79.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.46
$1.90€1.70
-75.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.72
$0.93€0.83
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹484
$6.91€6.20
-26.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹696
$8.18€7.34
-10.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹155
$1.72€1.54
-5.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹263
$2.33€2.09
18.45%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹487
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Malta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.89
$2.25€2.02
-88.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹817
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.8
$5.72€5.13
-82.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.78
$2.23€2.00
-87.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$33.06€29.66
-95.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$1.48€1.33
-27.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$27.4K€24.6K
-59.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$39.5K€35.5K
-49.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Malta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,532
$103€92.3
-63.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹341
$26.16€23.47
-86.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹681
$34.75€31.18
-79.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Malta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,429
$67.0€60.1
-77.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹683
$22.27€19.98
-67.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹304
$11.01€9.87
-70.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Malta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,601
$436€391
-86.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.7K
$11.2K€10.1K
-85.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Malta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,194
$99.7€89.5
-76.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,302
$46.43€41.66
-47.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,924
$105€93.9
-60.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,821
$119€107
-75.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Malta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹14.0K
$1,230€1,104
-88.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,178
$974€874
-90.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.7K
$2,093€1,878
-83.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.3K
$1,660€1,490
-85.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹112.1K
$4,503€4,041
-73.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.3K
$3,344€3,000
-81.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Malta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.9K
$1,766€1,585
-76.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
4.06
119.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for Malta: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Malta
$304 15.4% ↑ 197%$201
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Malta
$974 49.4% ↑ 910%$877
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Malta
$248 12.6% ↑ 273%$181
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Malta
$166 8.4% ↑ 213%$113
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Malta
$164 8.3% ↑ 243%$116
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Malta
$89 4.5% ↑ 316%$68
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Malta
$26 * 1.3% ↑ 116%$14
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Malta
$712 17.4% ↑ 223%$492
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Malta
$1.7K 40.5% ↑ 610%$1.4K
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Malta
$913 22.3% ↑ 404%$732
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Malta
$370 9% ↑ 213%$252
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Malta
$190 4.6% ↑ 270%$139
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Malta
$200 4.9% ↑ 301%$150
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Malta
$56 * 1.4% ↑ 130%$32
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $120 in India, $1,180 in Malta. Capital cities: $277 in Delhi vs $1,389 in Valletta.
💰National salary averages: $412 in India, $1,801 in Malta. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 883% higher in Malta.
⭐Dining out costs 645% more in Malta.
⭐Public transport is 275% more expensive in Malta.
⭐Salaries are about 4.4 times higher in Malta, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
India vs Malta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Malta?
At $399 per month in India and $1,970 in Malta, India comes out about 80% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,180 in Malta and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to India or to Malta?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.