Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat HICP 2023
🇲🇹 Cost of living in Malta
Malta undercuts most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see the categories driving that gap and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost index (EU-27=100)
- 88
- Rent index
- 86
- Median net income
- €17,500
- Cost-adjusted income
- €19,886
Malta sits at 88 on the 0-200 scale shown above.
Key takeaways
- Overall cost of living is 12% below the EU-27 average (index 88, EU-27 = 100).
- Most expensive category: groceries at index 105.
- Cheapest category: transport at index 80.
- A typical income of €17,500 is worth about €19,886 in EU-average purchasing power.
Cost by category in Malta
Malta - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
In Malta, groceries is the most expensive category and transport the least.
What the Malta cost-of-living data shows
Malta's overall consumer price level is 12% below the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Groceries stand out as the priciest category in Malta, at index 105, ahead of transport at index 80 - a food basket costs proportionally more here than rent, transport or healthcare do.
That price gap works in Malta's favor: because prices run below the EU average, the headline income of €17,500 stretches further than the sticker figure suggests, worth roughly €19,886 in EU-27-average purchasing power.
Countries with a similar cost of living
Frequently asked questions
Is Malta expensive to live in?▼
Malta's overall cost of living is 12% below the EU-27 average (index 88). Groceries is the priciest category and transport the cheapest.
What does it cost to rent in Malta?▼
Malta's rent and housing price index is 86, below the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Malta?▼
That price gap works in Malta's favor: because prices run below the EU average, the headline income of €17,500 stretches further than the sticker figure suggests, worth roughly €19,886 in EU-27-average purchasing power.
Source: Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Price-level indices, EU-27 = 100, 2023. Income: Eurostat/OECD median equivalised net income.
Important: these figures are official Eurostat averages for general information and comparison, they are not personal financial advice. Your own cost of living depends on your city, housing and lifestyle, so treat this as a starting point and check current local prices before making any relocation or budget decision.
Read our methodology - how these indices are sourced and computed.