🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,958 in Malta versus $2,363 in United Kingdom.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,952 in Malta versus $3,474 in United Kingdom.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,945 in Malta versus $4,585 in United Kingdom.
🙂Living in Malta costs about 17% less than in United Kingdom on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Malta45% above, United Kingdom75% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,694 to $4,000, compared to $1,572–$3,064 in Malta. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26€14.69
$20.53£15.21
-15.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2€69.1
$88.0£65.2
-7.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62€9.89
$10.00£7.41
16.20%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.35
$4.59£3.40
-39.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.06
$2.49£1.85
-2.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.42
$1.68£1.24
-1.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01€3.41
$6.76£5.01
-40.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60€3.91
$6.26£4.64
-26.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.13
$1.64£1.22
-18.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28€1.09
$1.73£1.28
-26.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.62€3.08
$2.18£1.61
66.06%
Eggs
$3.88€3.30
$4.06£3.01
-4.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.46€8.90
$9.49£7.03
10.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.18
$8.81£6.53
9.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.63€14.15
$14.17£10.50
17.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12€2.66
$3.02£2.24
3.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08€1.77
$1.60£1.19
30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81€2.39
$2.89£2.14
-2.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28€2.79
$3.42£2.53
-4.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.66
$1.64£1.21
18.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.78
$1.54£1.14
35.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.59
$1.11£0.82
68.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.82
$1.52£1.13
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€5.88
$20.02£14.83
-65.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.05
$10.73£7.95
-22.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.50
$2.87£2.12
-38.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.06
$3.27£2.42
-25.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.01
$3.23£2.40
-26.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$95.8£71.0
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96€5.07
$5.55£4.11
7.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.81
$1.57£1.17
35.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.36€36.90
$26.67£19.76
62.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53€1.31
$1.97£1.46
-22.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K€23.7K
$38.1K£28.2K
-26.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.0K
$41.3K£30.6K
-17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108€91.5
$326£242
-67.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.04€23.86
$17.49£12.96
60.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.45€31.02
$43.23£32.03
-15.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.7€55.9
$46.40£34.39
41.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.80€21.11
$16.14£11.96
53.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.56€8.99
$13.45£9.96
-21.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$546€464
$1,734£1,285
-68.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,612
$21.5K£15.9K
-47.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€86.0
$92.1£68.2
9.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.77€39.80
$44.35£32.87
5.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€85.3
$101£74.8
-0.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€94.1
$105£77.6
5.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,128€960
$1,419£1,052
-20.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$953€811
$1,154£855
-17.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,896€1,613
$2,304£1,707
-17.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,465€1,247
$1,865£1,382
-21.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,604€3,918
$5,885£4,361
-21.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,447€2,933
$4,601£3,409
-25.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malta
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,906€1,622
$3,290£2,438
-42.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
5.75
-17.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malta: April 12, 2026
Last update for United Kingdom: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,123 in Malta, $1,267 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $1,265 in Valletta vs $2,993 in London.
💰National salary averages: $1,867 in Malta, $3,204 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 13% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 1450% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 72% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Malta or United Kingdom?
At $2,318 per month in Malta and $2,847 in United Kingdom, there's a 23% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Malta or United Kingdom?
Malta 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.
How do rents compare between Malta and United Kingdom?
Rent in United Kingdom beats Malta across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $3,000 go in Malta vs United Kingdom?
In Malta, $3,000 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Malta and United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Malta wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.