Cost of Living Comparison Between India and MaltaCost of Living Comparison Between India and Malta
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in India versus $1,958 in Malta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $2,952 in Malta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,945 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.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Malta: monthly costs span $1,572 to $3,064, compared to $268–$899 in India. City choice carries more weight in Malta.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Malta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.63₹244
$17.26€14.69
-84.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.85₹1,285
$81.2€69.1
-82.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99₹370
$11.62€9.89
-65.66%
Cappuccino
$1.90₹176
$2.77€2.35
-31.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹37.11
$2.42€2.06
-83.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹17.55
$1.66€1.42
-88.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96₹182
$4.01€3.41
-51.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46₹321
$4.60€3.91
-24.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Malta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69₹63.6
$1.33€1.13
-48.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51₹47.60
$1.28€1.09
-60.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.73₹67.8
$3.62€3.08
-79.83%
Eggs
$0.98₹91.0
$3.88€3.30
-74.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.43₹504
$10.46€8.90
-48.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19₹296
$9.61€8.18
-66.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$16.63€14.15
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.12₹197
$3.12€2.66
-32.05%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹70.1
$2.08€1.77
-63.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04₹96.9
$2.81€2.39
-62.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52₹48.61
$3.28€2.79
-84.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40₹37.00
$1.95€1.66
-79.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45₹42.04
$2.09€1.78
-78.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55₹50.9
$1.87€1.59
-70.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹32.68
$0.96€0.82
-63.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99₹370
$6.91€5.88
-42.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55₹700
$8.29€7.05
-8.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84₹170
$1.76€1.50
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05₹283
$2.42€2.06
26.03%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.81₹539
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Malta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₹31.50
$2.37€2.01
-85.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.85₹914
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97₹89.8
$5.96€5.07
-83.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28₹25.61
$2.13€1.81
-86.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.69₹157
$43.36€36.90
-96.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₹113
$1.53€1.31
-20.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.2K₹1.3M
$27.9K€23.7K
-48.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K₹2.1M
$34.1K€29.0K
-33.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Malta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.60₹3,768
$108€91.5
-62.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.75₹348
$28.04€23.86
-86.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.13₹754
$36.45€31.02
-77.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Malta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.08₹1,492
$65.7€55.9
-75.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.72₹717
$24.80€21.11
-68.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.40₹315
$10.56€8.99
-67.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Malta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$68.7₹6,379
$546€464
-87.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,787₹165.8K
$11.3K€9,612
-84.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Malta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.17₹2,335
$101€86.0
-75.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.56₹2,465
$46.77€39.80
-43.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.85₹4,161
$100€85.3
-55.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.83₹3,139
$111€94.1
-69.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Malta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$177₹16.4K
$1,128€960
-84.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111₹10.3K
$953€811
-88.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$415₹38.5K
$1,896€1,613
-78.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$256₹23.8K
$1,465€1,247
-82.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,245₹115.5K
$4,604€3,918
-72.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$636₹59.0K
$3,447€2,933
-81.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Malta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$434₹40.3K
$1,906€1,622
-77.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.02
4.73
90.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: April 12, 2026
Last update for Malta: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $127 in India, $1,123 in Malta. Capital cities: $237 in Delhi vs $1,265 in Valletta.
💰National salary averages: $400 in India, $1,867 in Malta. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 784% higher in Malta.
⭐Dining out costs 600% more in Malta.
⭐Public transport is 50% more expensive in India.
⭐Salaries are 367% higher in Malta.
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 $584 per month in India and $2,318 in Malta, there's a 297% gap. 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in Malta beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Malta?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Malta, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Malta?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Malta may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.