Cost of Living Comparison Between Valletta and Msida Cost of Living Comparison Between Valletta and Msida

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,228 per month in Valletta vs $1,872 in Msida, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,393 per month in Valletta vs $2,815 in Msida, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,558 per month in Valletta vs $3,758 in Msida, rent included.

Valletta costs about 19% more than Msida, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Valletta and Msida sit above the global median – Valletta by 67%, Msida by 40%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.56 €17.71

$11.41 €9.83

80.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.2 €60.5

$68.3 €58.8

2.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.52 €9.92

$11.41 €9.82

0.96%

Cappuccino

$2.73 €2.35

$2.35 €2.02

16.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 €2.33

$1.71 €1.48

57.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 €1.78

$0.98 €0.84

111.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 €4.24

$4.01 €3.45

22.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 €4.27

$4.02 €3.46

23.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.14

$1.40 €1.21

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 €1.36

$1.26 €1.08

25.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 €3.07

$3.53 €3.04

0.85%

Eggs

$3.66 €3.15

$3.91 €3.37

-6.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 €8.67

$9.22 €7.94

9.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 €9.29

$9.05 €7.79

19.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 €12.14

$15.30 €13.18

-7.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 €2.85

$4.30 €3.70

-23.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 €1.78

$3.08 €2.65

-32.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 €2.46

$3.27 €2.82

-12.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 €2.80

$3.65 €3.15

-10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 €1.62

$2.47 €2.12

-23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 €2.56

$1.29 €1.11

130.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 €1.64

$2.32 €2.00

-17.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 €1.08

$1.24 €1.07

0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.42 €5.53

$6.51 €5.61

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 €5.19

$8.30 €7.15

-27.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 €1.96

$1.86 €1.60

22.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.51

$2.26 €1.95

-22.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 €2.55

$1.98 €1.70

49.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.53 €26.29

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 €6.85

$5.81 €5.00

37.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 €1.64

$4.05 €3.49

-53.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 €30.33

$49.17 €42.34

-28.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 €1.34

$1.59 €1.37

-1.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K €22.5K

$39.2K €33.7K

-33.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.1K €35.4K

$37.8K €32.5K

8.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$167 €144

$88.1 €75.9

89.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.17 €25.98

$28.33 €24.39

6.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.49 €28.83

$31.75 €27.34

5.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 €52.1

$40.34 €34.73

49.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.83 €26.55

$23.40 €20.15

31.75%

Cinema Ticket

$14.99 €12.90

$10.51 €9.05

42.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$260 €224

$753 €649

-65.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K €10.8K

$11.0K €9,450

14.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €87.6

$92.3 €79.5

10.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.5 €62.4

$38.63 €33.27

87.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 €123

$105 €90.6

36.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 €148

$102 €87.6

68.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 €1,112

$1,081 €930

19.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 €904

$956 €823

9.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,840 €2,446

$1,988 €1,712

42.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,857 €1,599

$1,576 €1,357

17.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,420 €4,667

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,151 €3,574

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,226 €1,917

$2,907 €2,503

-23.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.43

5.08

6.89%

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

Last update for Valletta: June 16, 2026

Last update for Msida: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,292 in Valletta versus $1,081 in Msida. 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 31% higher in Msida, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Valletta versus $68.0 in Msida. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Valletta vs $311 in Msida – so Valletta wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Msida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valletta is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,343 per month in Valletta and $2,808 in Msida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Msida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,228 in Valletta and $1,872 in Msida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $260 per month in Valletta and $753 in Msida. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Msida, where all-in costs run around $1,872, than in Valletta at $2,228. In Msida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valletta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Msida – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Msida. 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.