Thinking about moving to Malta? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Malta stands out for how far English gets you day to day, an open, welcoming environment and being ready for remote work, while it is worth weighing patchier public transport, a tight housing market and a higher cost of living.
Malta at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living62/100
Cost of living here sits around to a little above the EU average. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €1400 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €900 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English95/100
English is very widely spoken. You can handle daily life in the cities in English, though some official paperwork is still in the local language.
Safety80/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 80/100 means safe: everyday crime is low and the main cities feel comfortable, including at night, with normal precautions.
Healthcare75/100
Scored 75/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). Solid public healthcare. Many newcomers add affordable private cover for shorter waits and more choice.
ClimateWarm
Hot, dry summers and mild winters, with a lot of sunshine. Typical daytime highs: winter around 16°C, spring 21°C, summer 31°C, autumn 24°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~5 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 5 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Malta's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes0-35%
Personal income tax: Progressive 0-35%. As a freelancer: Same brackets on profit; a 15% part-time self-employment scheme covers the first slice. Company owners: CIT 35% headline, but shareholder refunds cut the effective rate to ~5-10% for trading income, dividends carry an imputation credit (no extra layer for most). Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Malta stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Malta scores best for:
- How far English gets you day to day.
- An open, welcoming environment.
- Being ready for remote work.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Malta, keep an eye on:
- Patchier public transport.
- A tight housing market.
- A higher cost of living.
Is Malta right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Malta actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Malta lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.