😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,241 in Valletta versus $2,068 in Tarxien.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,380 in Valletta versus $3,088 in Tarxien.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,519 in Valletta versus $4,107 in Tarxien.
😐Living in Valletta is roughly 8% more expensive than Tarxien, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Valletta67% above, Tarxien54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.08€17.29
$19.94€17.17
0.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9€60.2
$68.9€59.3
1.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.35€9.77
$11.48€9.89
-1.13%
Cappuccino
$2.63€2.26
$2.73€2.35
-3.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.33
$2.68€2.31
0.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.70
$2.07€1.78
-4.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.81€4.14
$4.66€4.02
3.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88€4.20
$4.91€4.23
-0.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$1.36€1.17
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.32
$1.57€1.35
-2.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53€3.04
$3.41€2.94
3.52%
Eggs
$3.72€3.20
$3.65€3.14
1.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77€8.41
$9.80€8.44
-0.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.73€9.24
$10.84€9.34
-1.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.81€11.89
$14.09€12.14
-1.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29€2.83
$3.34€2.87
-1.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$2.03€1.75
0.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.78€2.39
$2.78€2.39
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25€2.80
$3.22€2.77
0.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.85€1.60
-0.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96€2.55
$2.85€2.46
3.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.65
$1.86€1.60
3.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.27€1.10
-1.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.64
$6.63€5.71
-1.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28€5.40
$6.11€5.26
2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$2.36€2.03
-2.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.53
$1.84€1.58
-3.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$2.78€2.39
3.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.28€7.13
$8.24€7.10
0.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.87€1.61
$1.91€1.64
-2.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.34€29.57
$34.08€29.34
0.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$1.57€1.35
-3.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$25.7K€22.1K
3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K€35.9K
$41.3K€35.5K
1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166€143
$171€148
-2.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.23€26.03
$29.47€25.38
2.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.97€28.39
$33.57€28.91
-1.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9€51.6
$63.9€55.0
-6.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.18€26.85
$22.94€19.75
35.92%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18€13.07
$15.23€13.12
-0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260€224
$263€227
-1.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K€11.1K
$12.6K€10.8K
2.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.4
$103€88.5
-0.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.3€62.3
$39.07€33.65
85.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$147€126
$142€123
2.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166€143
$100€86.4
65.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$1,134€977
10.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,062€914
$940€809
12.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,785€2,398
$1,996€1,718
39.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,833€1,579
$1,492€1,285
22.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,622€4,841
$3,756€3,234
49.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,105€3,535
$3,028€2,608
35.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valletta
Tarxien
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,169€1,868
-
-
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 Tarxien: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,255 in Valletta and $1,134 in Tarxien. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Valletta vs $69.0 in Tarxien. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $301, with Valletta 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 Tarxien: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Valletta or Tarxien?
Tarxien wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Valletta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tarxien the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Valletta vs Tarxien?
You'd need roughly $3,361 in Valletta and $3,103 in Tarxien to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Valletta vs Tarxien?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,255 in Valletta versus $1,134 in Tarxien. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Valletta or Tarxien?
Shoppers in Valletta pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Valletta compared to Tarxien?
All in, you'll spend $2,241 per month in Valletta versus $2,068 in Tarxien – a 8% 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 Tarxien?
At $2,068 in Tarxien versus $2,241 in Valletta, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tarxien but tight or insufficient in Valletta. The gap between the two cities makes Tarxien the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Valletta or Tarxien?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tarxien delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,068 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tarxien hard to pass up.
How safe is Valletta compared to Tarxien?
Safety-wise, Valletta and Tarxien 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 Tarxien gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Valletta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.