Cost of Living Comparison Between Valletta and Birgu Cost of Living Comparison Between Valletta and Birgu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,241 in Valletta versus $1,751 in Birgu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,380 in Valletta versus $2,900 in Birgu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,519 in Valletta versus $4,049 in Birgu.

Living in Valletta is roughly 28% more expensive than Birgu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Valletta 67% above, Birgu 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.08 €17.27
$20.68 €17.79
-2.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 €60.2
$94.7 €81.5
-26.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 €9.76
$11.74 €10.10
-3.32%
Cappuccino
$2.63 €2.26
$2.90 €2.50
-9.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.32
$2.37 €2.04
13.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.79 €1.54
10.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.81 €4.14
$4.54 €3.91
5.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 €4.20
$4.55 €3.92
7.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.40 €1.20
-2.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 €1.32
$1.28 €1.10
19.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.53 €3.03
$4.35 €3.75
-18.85%
Eggs
$3.72 €3.20
$4.10 €3.53
-9.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 €8.40
$10.17 €8.75
-3.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.73 €9.23
$8.88 €7.64
20.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 €11.88
$14.06 €12.09
-1.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 €2.83
$2.81 €2.42
17.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.24 €1.06
65.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 €2.39
$2.87 €2.47
-3.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 €2.79
$2.85 €2.46
14.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.58
$2.29 €1.97
-19.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 €2.55
$1.30 €1.12
127.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.65
$2.41 €2.07
-20.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 €1.07
$0.90 €0.78
38.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.63
$6.40 €5.51
2.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.28 €5.40
$8.64 €7.43
-27.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$1.64 €1.41
39.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 €1.53
$2.24 €1.93
-20.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 €2.47
$2.79 €2.40
3.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$14.49 €12.46
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.28 €7.12
$5.81 €5.00
42.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.01 €0.87
85.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 €29.54
$48.92 €42.08
-29.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 €1.30
$1.53 €1.32
-1.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K €22.8K
$27.2K €23.4K
-2.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K €35.9K
$33.7K €29.0K
23.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 €143
$94.5 €81.3
76.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.23 €26.01
$28.32 €24.36
6.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.97 €28.36
$34.43 €29.62
-4.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.9 €51.5
$46.00 €39.57
30.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.18 €26.82
$23.58 €20.28
32.23%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18 €13.06
$10.40 €8.95
45.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$260 €224
$424 €365
-38.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K €11.1K
$2,049 €1,763
527.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €88.3
$25.91 €22.28
295.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.3 €62.2
$34.18 €29.40
111.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$147 €126
$102 €87.8
43.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 €143
$103 €88.4
61.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$1,040 €895
20.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 €913
$824 €709
28.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,785 €2,396
$3,689 €3,173
-24.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,833 €1,577
$1,577 €1,356
16.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,622 €4,836
$4,136 €3,558
35.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,105 €3,531
$2,905 €2,499
41.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valletta
Birgu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,169 €1,866
$1,979 €1,703
9.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.43
4.43
22.57%

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

Last update for Valletta: June 1, 2026

Last update for Birgu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,255 in Valletta and $1,040 in Birgu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Valletta pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Valletta vs $95.0 in Birgu. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $285, with Birgu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Birgu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Valletta or Birgu?
Birgu wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Valletta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Birgu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Valletta or Birgu?
Valletta pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Valletta vs Birgu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,255 in Valletta versus $1,040 in Birgu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Valletta or Birgu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Valletta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Valletta compared to Birgu?
All in, you'll spend $2,241 per month in Valletta versus $1,751 in Birgu – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Valletta or Birgu?
At $1,751 in Birgu versus $2,241 in Valletta, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Birgu but tight or insufficient in Valletta. The gap between the two cities makes Birgu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Valletta or Birgu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Birgu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,751 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Birgu hard to pass up.
How safe is Valletta compared to Birgu?
Safety-wise, Valletta and Birgu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Birgu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Valletta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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