Moving to Malta from California
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from California to Malta — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from California to Malta, you would find that Malta is 25.7% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly €53,004 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from California to Malta.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €53,004
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 15.9% less
Groceries
pay 29.9% less
Transportation
pay 1.0% less
Housing
pay 51.7% less
Childcare
pay 69.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from California to Malta, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How California and Malta stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
California performs better than Malta across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Malta across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Malta leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Malta performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) |
National Weather Service
Meteorological OfficeVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Malta. To live, work, or study long-term in Malta, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malta's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Malta
Visa Free
Malta passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Malta than California?
Generally yes: Malta runs about 19% cheaper than California on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around €13,251 in Malta for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Malta?
Working remotely from Malta's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Malta.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to California?
California performs better than Malta across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Malta compared to California?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In California, the official language is English.
