Moving to Malta from Illinois

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Illinois to Malta — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Illinois to Malta, you would find that Malta is 13.9% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly €67,173 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Illinois to Malta.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €67,173

To maintain the same standard of living in Malta

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 0.1% more

Groceries

pay 15.5% less

Transportation

pay 16.8% more

Housing

pay 31.3% less

Childcare

pay 64.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8744 EUR (July 2026)

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?

How many people actually move from Illinois to Malta, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
3,632 ↑ 118% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Malta · UN DESA

Who's moving to Malta?

Top countries of origin for Malta's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Illinois to Malta.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

IL
34.6%
MT
28.9%

Malta performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

IL
89.6%
MT
87.0%

Illinois performs better than Malta across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IL
4.8%
MT
3.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$70,691
MT
$57,200

Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Malta leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
76.8 yrs
MT
83.2 yrs

Malta performs significantly better than Illinois 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.

Springfield Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
63° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Valletta Rain: 21.8 in/yr (553 mm)
72° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Springfield Valletta
Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) 60°/49°F (16°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) 74°/59°F (23°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) 85°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) 69°/57°F (20°/14°C)
View all months
Month Springfield Valletta
Jan 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C)
Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C)
Mar 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C)
Jun 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C)
Jul 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C)
Aug 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C)
Sep 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C)
Oct 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C)
Nov 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C)
Dec 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Meteorological Office Meteorological Office

Visitor 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

United States passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Malta without a visa.
Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Malta passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: 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 Illinois?

Costs in Malta and Illinois are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Malta?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €16,793 in Malta on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Malta?

Usually fine from major cities in Malta. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Malta compared to Illinois?

Malta performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Malta compared to Illinois?

The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Malta?

The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Illinois, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

MT
Population 12,830,632 464,186
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English English, Maltese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +356
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112