😐A single person spends $2,241 per month in Valletta vs $1,772 in Balzan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,380 per month in Valletta vs $2,807 in Balzan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,519 per month in Valletta vs $3,841 in Balzan, rent included.
😐Valletta costs about 26% more than Balzan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Valletta and Balzan sit above the global median – Valletta by 67%, Balzan by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.08€17.27
$19.37€16.67
3.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9€60.2
$68.8€59.2
1.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.35€9.76
$11.48€9.88
-1.13%
Cappuccino
$2.63€2.26
$2.71€2.33
-2.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.32
$2.07€1.78
30.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.70
$1.06€0.91
85.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.81€4.14
$3.43€2.95
40.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88€4.20
$2.63€2.26
85.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$1.24€1.06
9.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.32
$1.02€0.88
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53€3.03
$3.44€2.96
2.62%
Eggs
$3.72€3.20
$3.73€3.21
-0.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77€8.40
$9.69€8.34
0.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.73€9.23
$9.30€8.00
15.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.81€11.88
$12.55€10.80
10.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29€2.83
$2.59€2.23
27.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$1.98€1.70
3.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.78€2.39
$1.82€1.57
52.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25€2.79
$1.15€0.99
182.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.58
$0.94€0.81
95.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96€2.55
$0.88€0.76
236.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.65
$0.90€0.77
113.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.07
$1.00€0.86
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.63
$6.35€5.46
3.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28€5.40
$6.03€5.19
4.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.07€0.92
114.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.53
$1.47€1.26
21.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.47
$3.10€2.66
-7.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.28€7.12
$2.28€1.96
263.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.87€1.61
$1.87€1.61
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.34€29.54
$35.38€30.44
-2.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$1.58€1.36
-4.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$25.9K€22.3K
2.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K€35.9K
$33.0K€28.4K
26.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166€143
$165€142
0.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.23€26.01
$21.16€18.20
42.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.97€28.36
$32.57€28.01
1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9€51.5
$63.9€55.0
-6.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.18€26.82
$23.04€19.82
35.33%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18€13.06
$15.23€13.10
-0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260€224
$262€225
-0.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K€11.1K
$12.7K€10.9K
1.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.3
$101€86.9
1.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.3€62.2
$39.17€33.69
84.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$147€126
$143€123
2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166€143
$103€88.2
62.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$860€739
46.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,062€913
$783€673
35.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,785€2,396
$1,619€1,393
72.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,833€1,577
$1,532€1,318
19.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,622€4,836
$4,054€3,487
38.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,105€3,531
$2,893€2,489
41.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valletta
Balzan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,169€1,866
$1,061€913
104.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valletta: June 1, 2026
Last update for Balzan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,255 in Valletta versus $860 in Balzan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 104% higher in Valletta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Valletta versus $69.0 in Balzan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $243 – making Balzan 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
Valletta vs Balzan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Valletta and Balzan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,241 in Valletta, $1,772 in Balzan – roughly 26% apart. Valletta costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Valletta compared to Balzan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,361 per month in Valletta and $2,658 in Balzan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Valletta and Balzan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Balzan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Valletta and $69.0 in Balzan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Valletta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Balzan, where all-in costs run around $1,772, than in Valletta at $2,241. In Balzan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valletta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Valletta and Balzan?
It depends on your priorities. Valletta has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,772 in Balzan to $2,241 in Valletta. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Valletta or Balzan safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Valletta and Balzan?
If budget matters most, go with Balzan. 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.