🙂A single person spends $1,958 per month in Malta vs $2,183 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,952 per month in Malta vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,945 per month in Malta vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.
🙂Malta is roughly 10% cheaper than Australia on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both Malta and Australia are pricier than the global median – Malta by 45%, Australia by 62%.
📏Both countries show comparable internal variation: Malta spans $1,572–$3,064, Australia spans $1,609–$2,768. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malta
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26€14.69
$16.48A$23.08
4.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2€69.1
$76.8A$108
5.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62€9.89
$9.50A$13.29
22.32%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.35
$3.41A$4.77
-18.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.06
$2.59A$3.62
-6.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.42
$2.20A$3.08
-24.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01€3.41
$6.35A$8.89
-36.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60€3.91
$7.00A$9.80
-34.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malta
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.13
$1.49A$2.09
-10.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28€1.09
$2.44A$3.41
-47.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.62€3.08
$2.09A$2.92
73.21%
Eggs
$3.88€3.30
$4.31A$6.04
-9.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.46€8.90
$8.99A$12.58
16.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.18
$8.47A$11.85
13.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.63€14.15
$13.71A$19.19
21.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12€2.66
$3.15A$4.41
-0.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08€1.77
$2.70A$3.78
-22.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81€2.39
$2.89A$4.05
-2.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28€2.79
$4.42A$6.19
-25.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.66
$2.51A$3.51
-22.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.78
$2.09A$2.93
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.59
$2.28A$3.19
-17.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.82
$1.52A$2.12
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€5.88
$31.27A$43.77
-77.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.05
$14.43A$20.20
-42.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.50
$4.44A$6.21
-60.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.06
$5.03A$7.05
-51.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Malta
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.01
$2.86A$4.00
-17.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$96.7A$135
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96€5.07
$3.67A$5.14
62.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.81
$1.75A$2.45
21.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.36€36.90
$37.40A$52.4
15.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53€1.31
$1.16A$1.63
31.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K€23.7K
$29.2KA$40.9K
-4.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.0K
$22.5KA$31.6K
51.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malta
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108€91.5
$175A$245
-38.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.04€23.86
$25.88A$36.23
8.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.45€31.02
$52.3A$73.3
-30.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malta
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.7€55.9
$46.98A$65.8
39.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.80€21.11
$16.32A$22.85
51.96%
Cinema Ticket
$10.56€8.99
$13.87A$19.41
-23.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malta
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$546€464
$1,587A$2,221
-65.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,612
$12.7KA$17.8K
-10.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malta
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€86.0
$70.3A$98.4
43.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.77€39.80
$49.95A$69.9
-6.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€85.3
$101A$141
-0.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€94.1
$112A$156
-1.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malta
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,128€960
$1,406A$1,968
-19.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$953€811
$1,109A$1,552
-14.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,896€1,613
$2,269A$3,176
-16.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,465€1,247
$1,772A$2,480
-17.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,604€3,918
$7,610A$10.7K
-39.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,447€2,933
$5,713A$7,999
-39.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malta
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,906€1,622
$3,890A$5,447
-51.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
6.35
-25.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malta: April 12, 2026
Last update for Australia: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,123 in Malta vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,265 in Valletta and $1,580 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $1,867 in Malta vs $3,821 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 10% higher in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 1017% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 105% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.
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
Malta vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Malta?
Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 6% 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 6% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 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.