costs · 7 min
Cost of living in Malta for students in 2026
Monthly expenses in Malta: rent by area, groceries, transport, phone, and entertainment. With budgets at EUR 450, 600, and 800.
Cost of living in Malta for students in 2026
The number: a student in Malta spends EUR 440–640 per month on living costs — excluding course and accommodation. That's roughly half of Dublin and a third of London.
Rent by area
If your school includes accommodation, skip this section. This is for students renting independently (usually 12+ weeks).
| Area | Shared room/month | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| St Julian's | EUR 450–650 | Student hub, Paceville, beaches. Most expensive. |
| Sliema | EUR 400–600 | Seafront, shopping, slightly calmer. |
| Gżira/Msida | EUR 300–450 | Budget-friendly, well-connected by bus. |
| Valletta/Floriana | EUR 350–500 | Historic, fewer students. |
| St Paul's Bay | EUR 250–400 | Cheapest, but far from schools. |
Food
| Option | EUR/month |
|---|---|
| Cooking mostly | EUR 180–250 |
| Mix (cook weekdays, eat out weekends) | EUR 250–350 |
| Eating out frequently | EUR 400–550 |
Supermarket prices: bread EUR 1.20, milk EUR 1, chicken EUR 6–8/kg, beer EUR 1.50. Cheapest supermarkets: Lidl, Pavi, Smart.
Restaurant meal: EUR 12–18. Quick lunch (pizza/wrap): EUR 5–8. Pastizzi (the Maltese snack): EUR 0.50.
Transport
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly bus pass (Tallinja) | EUR 26 |
| Single ticket | EUR 1.50–2 |
| Bolt/taxi (St Julian's → Valletta) | EUR 8–12 |
The EUR 26 monthly pass covers the entire island. Best transport value of any study-abroad destination in Europe.
Phone
| Provider | Monthly plan | Data |
|---|---|---|
| GO Mobile | EUR 10 | 10 GB |
| Vodafone Malta | EUR 12 | 12 GB |
| Melita | EUR 15 | 20 GB |
Entertainment
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Beaches | Free (all public) |
| Paceville clubs | Free entry |
| Beer at a bar | EUR 3.50–5 |
| Cinema | EUR 8–10 |
| Gym | EUR 25–40/month |
| Ryanair weekend trip | EUR 20–50 one way |
Three monthly budgets
Tight — EUR 400/month
Cook everything, free beaches, selective socialising. Viable but requires discipline.
Comfortable — EUR 600/month
Cook weekdays, eat out twice a week, go out on weekends, one excursion per month. The sweet spot for most students.
Generous — EUR 800/month
Eat out regularly, Bolt occasionally, weekend trips to Sicily or Rome, no penny-counting.
How work income covers it
With a 15+ week course and work permit (20h/week at EUR 6/hour):
- Monthly income: EUR 480
- Comfortable budget: EUR 600
- Work covers: 80% of living costs
In peak season (EUR 7.50/hour): EUR 600/month — covers everything.
Next steps
Last updated: May 2026. Prices based on Malta supermarkets, telecoms, and housing portals.