Student accommodation in Malta 2026: host family, residence or apartment?

Accommodation is usually the second-largest item in a Malta study budget after the course itself — and often the decision that shapes your whole experience. The four main options are host family, student residence, residential campus, and shared apartment, ranging from roughly EUR 150 to EUR 320 per week for school-arranged options, or EUR 300–900 per month per room if you rent independently.

All prices in this guide are market averages for 2026, not the rates of any specific school. Here's how the options compare and which one fits your profile.

The four options at a glance

Host family: the immersion option

A host family (homestay) means living with a Maltese household vetted by your school. At EUR 150–250 per week with half board (breakfast and dinner included), it's often the best value once you factor in food — and the only option where you keep speaking English after class ends.

Pros:

• Daily English practice with locals — the fastest route out of the "student bubble"
• Meals, bills, and laundry typically included, so budgeting is simple
• A local family who can explain how the island actually works

Cons:

• House rules: meal times, guests, sometimes a commute of 20–40 minutes by bus
• Less independence and less nightlife spontaneity
• Quality varies — book through a FELTOM-accredited school, which inspects its families

Breakfast-only homestay runs about EUR 150–200 per week if you'd rather eat out in the evenings.

Student residence: the social option

Student residences are dedicated buildings run by or partnered with schools, usually in Sliema, St Julian's, or Gżira. Expect EUR 150–220 per week for a shared room and EUR 220–320 per week for a single, with kitchen access, bills, Wi-Fi, and weekly cleaning included.

Pros:

• Instant social life — your classmates live down the corridor
• No deposits, contracts, or utility setup; book by the week
• Walking distance to most schools in the main student areas

Cons:

• Shared rooms mean shared sleep schedules — light sleepers should pay for a single
• Kitchens can get crowded in summer
• Per-week cost is higher than an independent apartment over long stays

Residential campus: live where you study

Some FELTOM-accredited schools operate a residential campus: accommodation in the same building or complex as the classrooms, sometimes with a pool, gym, restaurant, and study areas on site. You wake up, have breakfast, and walk to class in two minutes.

The concept suits students who want zero logistics — no commute, no bus pass needed for class, everything billed in one package. The trade-off is that you can spend your whole stay inside the campus with other international students, which is comfortable but less immersive than a host family. Pricing is packaged with the course, so compare the total package price against a course-plus-residence combination rather than looking at the room rate alone.

If this format appeals to you, tell us in your quote request and we'll shortlist accredited schools that offer it.

Shared apartment: the independent option

For stays of 12 weeks or longer, renting a room in a shared apartment is usually the cheapest route. 2026 market ranges per room per month:

Pros: lowest monthly cost, full independence, your own kitchen and routine.

Cons: deposits (usually one month), minimum contracts (often 3–6 months), bills on top (EUR 50–100/month), and you compete with workers and tourists for the good listings. Never pay a deposit for an apartment you (or someone you trust) haven't seen.

Which option fits your profile?

High-season supplements (June–September)

Malta's peak season pushes accommodation prices up. Most schools apply a summer supplement of roughly EUR 25–50 per week on homestays and residences between mid-June and mid-September, and independent rents rise too as landlords switch to holiday lets.

If your dates are flexible, arriving in April–May or October gets you the same course at the low-season rate — see our guide on the best time to study in Malta.

Book through the school or independently?

A common strategy for long stays: book 2–4 weeks of school accommodation for arrival, then find a shared apartment on the ground once you know the areas. You avoid renting a room you've never seen, and you have classmates to flat-hunt with.

For the full monthly budget beyond rent, see cost of living in Malta.

FAQ

Can I change accommodation after arriving? Yes. Schools generally allow switches with 1–2 weeks' notice, subject to availability. Moving from a homestay to a residence (or out to an apartment) mid-stay is common.

Is accommodation included in the course price? No — courses and accommodation are priced separately, unless you choose a packaged residential-campus programme. Our cost of studying guide breaks down combined budgets.

Do I need accommodation confirmed for a visa? For stays over 90 days, yes — proof of accommodation is part of the D-Visa file. School-arranged accommodation makes this paperwork trivial. Details in the Malta student visa guide.

How far will I live from school? Residences and campuses: 0–15 minutes on foot. Host families: usually 20–40 minutes by bus. The island-wide Tallinja bus pass is EUR 26/month.

Get your accommodation sorted with your course

Tell us your dates, budget, and preferred accommodation type, and we'll match you with FELTOM-accredited schools — with 20% off the course price. Get your personalised quote in 60 seconds.

Last updated: July 2026. All prices are 2026 market estimates and vary by season and availability.