For one person, living is cheaper in Malta: $1,970 a month against $2,462 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United Kingdom and in Malta
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United Kingdom and in Malta actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in the United Kingdom versus $1,970 in Malta.
United Kingdom $2,462
Malta $1,970
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,600 in the United Kingdom versus $3,036 in Malta.
United Kingdom $3,600
Malta $3,036
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,738 in the United Kingdom versus $4,102 in Malta.
United Kingdom $4,738
Malta $4,102
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,126 to $4,646, compared to $1,657–$2,871 in Malta. City choice carries more weight in the United Kingdom.
🌍
Living in the United Kingdom is roughly 25% more expensive than in Malta on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: the United Kingdom 81% above, Malta 45% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.48£16.13
$16.44€14.76
30.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7£64.4
$82.7€74.2
3.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.61£7.97
$11.69€10.49
-9.24%
Cappuccino
$4.91£3.69
$2.75€2.47
78.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66£2.00
$2.57€2.30
3.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87£1.40
$1.68€1.51
11.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.63£4.97
$4.48€4.02
47.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84£5.14
$4.43€3.98
54.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.26
$1.30€1.17
29.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72£1.29
$1.30€1.17
32.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17£1.63
$3.71€3.33
-41.51%
Eggs
$4.00£3.00
$3.90€3.50
2.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42£7.07
$10.47€9.39
-10.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.19£6.90
$10.15€9.11
-9.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.77£11.08
$16.73€15.01
-11.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97£2.23
$3.08€2.76
-3.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62£1.22
$2.20€1.98
-26.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85£2.14
$2.93€2.63
-2.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52£2.64
$3.24€2.90
8.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83£1.37
$1.94€1.74
-5.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61£1.21
$2.09€1.87
-22.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25£0.94
$1.90€1.70
-34.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66£1.24
$0.93€0.83
78.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.65£17.75
$6.91€6.20
242.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.50£7.88
$8.18€7.34
28.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98£2.24
$1.72€1.54
73.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51£2.64
$2.33€2.09
50.64%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.98£2.99
$2.25€2.02
76.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$107£80.6
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.18£3.89
$5.72€5.13
-9.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.35£1.76
$2.23€2.00
5.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.84£20.14
$33.06€29.66
-18.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.49
$1.48€1.33
34.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K£29.6K
$27.4K€24.6K
44.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K£30.4K
$39.5K€35.5K
2.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$327£246
$103€92.3
218.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.21£13.67
$26.16€23.47
-30.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.60£32.73
$34.75€31.18
25.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.36£31.79
$67.0€60.1
-36.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.22£13.68
$22.27€19.98
-18.19%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85£10.39
$11.01€9.87
25.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,868£1,402
$436€391
328.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.6K£17.0K
$11.2K€10.1K
101.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.9£69.8
$99.7€89.5
-6.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.92£34.47
$46.43€41.66
-1.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£76.3
$105€93.9
-2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102£76.7
$119€107
-14.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,342£1,008
$1,230€1,104
9.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073£806
$974€874
10.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,231£1,675
$2,093€1,878
6.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,742£1,308
$1,660€1,490
4.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,601£4,204
$4,503€4,041
24.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,265£3,201
$3,344€3,000
27.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Malta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,349£2,514
$1,766€1,585
89.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
4.06
31.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Kingdom: October 26, 2026
Last update for Malta: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.1K 43.6%
Malta
$974 49.4% ↓ 9.3%$100
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$389 15.8%
Malta
$164 8.3% ↓ 57.9%$225
🍽Eating Out
United Kingdom
$328 13.3%
Malta
$248 12.6% ↓ 24.3%$80
🛒Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$307 12.5%
Malta
$304 15.4% ↓ 1.2%$3.7
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$154 6.3%
Malta
$166 8.4% ↑ 7.9%$12
🚌Getting Around
United Kingdom
$140 5.7%
Malta
$26 * 1.3% ↓ 81.6%$114
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$70 2.9%
Malta
$89 4.5% ↑ 27.1%$19
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.7K 36.8%
Malta
$1.7K 40.5% ↓ 4.7%$82
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$407 8.6%
Malta
$190 4.6% ↓ 53.4%$217
🍽Eating Out
United Kingdom
$1.1K 23.1%
Malta
$913 22.3% ↓ 16.5%$181
🛒Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$705 14.9%
Malta
$712 17.4% ↑ 1%$6.9
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$343 7.2%
Malta
$370 9% ↑ 7.9%$27
🚌Getting Around
United Kingdom
$288 6.1%
Malta
$56 * 1.4% ↓ 80.5%$232
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$158 3.3%
Malta
$200 4.9% ↑ 26.5%$42
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,287 in the United Kingdom, $1,180 in Malta. Capital cities: $2,811 in London vs $1,389 in Valletta.
💰National salary averages: $3,251 in the United Kingdom, $1,801 in Malta. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 9% higher in the United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 237% more expensive in the United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 81% higher in the United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Kingdom.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United Kingdom vs Malta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Malta or the United Kingdom?
At $1,970 per month in Malta and $2,462 in the United Kingdom, Malta comes out about 20% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between Malta and the United Kingdom?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,287 in the United Kingdom and $1,180 in Malta. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $3,000 go in Malta compared to the United Kingdom?
In Malta, $3,000 covers most cities easily; in the United Kingdom it stretches only to regional areas and 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 in the United Kingdom?
It depends on what you’re after: Malta wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared