Cost of Living Comparison Between Malta and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Malta and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,057 in Malta versus $366 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,112 in Malta versus $581 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,166 in Malta versus $795 in India.

Living in Malta is roughly 462% more expensive than in India on average.

Malta (49% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Malta: monthly costs span $1,684 to $2,939, compared to $228$810 in India. City choice carries more weight in Malta.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malta
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15 €14.75
$2.15 ₹204
697.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 €73.6
$10.42 ₹988
721.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.09 €10.39
$3.59 ₹341
236.77%
Cappuccino
$2.92 €2.51
$1.67 ₹158
74.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 €2.30
$0.39 ₹36.97
587.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.50
$0.17 ₹15.79
923.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 €3.94
$1.87 ₹177
144.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 €4.05
$3.18 ₹302
48.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malta
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 €1.19
$0.64 ₹60.6
115.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 €1.18
$0.45 ₹42.33
204.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.88 €3.34
$0.63 ₹59.5
515.87%
Eggs
$4.00 €3.44
$0.87 ₹82.9
359.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.17 €9.60
$4.62 ₹438
141.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.09 €8.68
$2.86 ₹271
252.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 €14.89
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 €2.78
$1.95 ₹185
65.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$0.67 ₹63.8
241.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 €2.58
$0.99 ₹93.6
203.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 €2.81
$0.51 ₹48.08
541.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 €1.74
$0.35 ₹32.97
480.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$0.42 ₹39.38
445.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.70
$0.44 ₹41.55
350.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.89
$0.31 ₹29.58
232.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.93 €5.96
$5.14 ₹487
34.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.23 €7.08
$7.58 ₹719
8.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 €1.56
$1.67 ₹158
8.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 €2.12
$2.79 ₹264
-11.47%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.36 ₹508
-
🚌 Getting Around
Malta
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.02
$0.25 ₹23.46
840.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.53 ₹809
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.74 €4.94
$0.94 ₹88.7
510.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.27 ₹25.77
740.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.86 €29.11
$1.60 ₹152
2016.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 €1.30
$1.12 ₹106
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K €24.5K
$12.4K ₹1.2M
129.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.0K
$20.2K ₹1.9M
95.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malta
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 €92.6
$37.28 ₹3,534
188.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.51 €23.66
$3.49 ₹331
688.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.00 €30.96
$7.20 ₹682
400.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malta
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.3 €59.6
$14.69 ₹1,393
371.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.83 €18.77
$7.31 ₹693
198.63%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 €9.73
$3.08 ₹292
267.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malta
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$426 €366
$59.1 ₹5,602
620.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K €9,797
$1,693 ₹160.5K
572.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malta
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.2
$23.25 ₹2,204
336.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.21 €40.59
$24.03 ₹2,278
96.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €93.1
$40.99 ₹3,887
164.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €104
$30.46 ₹2,888
295.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malta
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,216 €1,046
$143 ₹13.6K
748.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 €867
$93.2 ₹8,834
982.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,737
$332 ₹31.5K
508.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 €1,400
$214 ₹20.2K
662.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,506 €3,875
$1,203 ₹114.1K
274.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,446 €2,963
$643 ₹61.0K
435.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malta
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,815 €1,561
$441 ₹41.8K
311.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
8.93
-53.42%

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

Last update for Malta: September 8, 2026

Last update for India: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,222 in Malta, $121 in India. Capital cities: $1,485 in Valletta vs $272 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $1,853 in Malta, $410 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 910% higher in Malta.

Dining out costs 740% more in Malta.

Public transport is 17% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 352% higher in Malta, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Malta?
At $519 per month in India and $2,312 in Malta, there's a 345% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Malta?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Malta it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to 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.

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