Cost of Living Comparison Between Lija and Valletta Cost of Living Comparison Between Lija and Valletta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,020 per month in Lija vs $2,261 in Valletta, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,056 per month in Lija vs $3,354 in Valletta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,091 per month in Lija vs $4,446 in Valletta, rent included.

Lija is about 11% cheaper than Valletta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lija and Valletta sit above the global median – Lija by 51%, Valletta by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.07 €17.54

$20.32 €17.75

-1.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 €60.9

$69.1 €60.4

0.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.38 €9.94

$11.72 €10.24

-2.90%

Cappuccino

$2.75 €2.40

$2.68 €2.34

2.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 €2.26

$2.61 €2.28

-1.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 €1.75

$2.08 €1.82

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 €4.26

$4.92 €4.30

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 €4.25

$4.99 €4.36

-2.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.16

$1.31 €1.14

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 €1.33

$1.59 €1.39

-3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.53 €3.09

$3.48 €3.04

1.44%

Eggs

$3.74 €3.27

$3.80 €3.32

-1.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.00 €8.74

$9.66 €8.44

3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.97 €9.59

$10.73 €9.38

2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.22 €12.43

$14.09 €12.31

0.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 €2.91

$3.46 €3.02

-3.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 €1.77

$2.07 €1.81

-1.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 €2.40

$2.89 €2.53

-4.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 €2.79

$3.30 €2.88

-3.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 €1.57

$1.81 €1.58

-0.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 €2.49

$2.84 €2.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 €1.64

$1.92 €1.68

-2.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 €1.11

$1.23 €1.08

4.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.49 €5.67

Wine (Bottle)

$6.20 €5.41

$6.14 €5.37

0.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 €2.07

$2.36 €2.06

0.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 €1.60

$1.76 €1.54

3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 €2.35

$2.87 €2.51

-6.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.88 €6.88

$8.05 €7.03

-2.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 €1.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.88 €30.48

$34.61 €30.23

0.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 €1.33

$1.56 €1.37

-1.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K €22.6K

$26.4K €23.0K

-2.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.7K €36.4K

$40.5K €35.4K

2.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$166 €145

$172 €150

-3.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.23 €26.41

$29.50 €25.77

2.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.91 €28.75

$33.41 €29.19

-1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 €55.1

$58.5 €51.1

7.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.53 €20.56

$30.55 €26.69

-22.98%

Cinema Ticket

$15.39 €13.44

$15.19 €13.28

1.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$258 €225

$257 €224

0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K €11.2K

$12.9K €11.3K

-0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 €91.0

$103 €89.6

1.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.87 €33.08

$73.9 €64.5

-48.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 €128

-0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 €87.7

$172 €150

-41.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,145 €1,000

$1,298 €1,134

-11.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$944 €824

$1,079 €943

-12.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,960 €1,713

$2,829 €2,472

-30.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 €1,325

$1,886 €1,648

-19.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,850 €3,364

$5,306 €4,636

-27.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,026 €2,644

$4,095 €3,578

-26.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,034 €1,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.43

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

Last update for Lija: July 11, 2026

Last update for Valletta: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,145 in Lija versus $1,298 in Valletta. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Lija versus $69.0 in Valletta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $302 – making Valletta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Lija vs Valletta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,020 in Lija, $2,261 in Valletta – roughly 12% apart. Valletta costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,031 per month in Lija and $3,392 in Valletta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lija, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,020 in Lija and $2,261 in Valletta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Lija and $257 in Valletta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lija, where all-in costs run around $2,020, than in Valletta at $2,261. In Lija it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valletta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Valletta has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,020 in Lija to $2,261 in Valletta. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lija. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Valletta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.