Moving to Malta from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Malta — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Malta, you would find that Malta is 4.5% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly €75,427 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 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iowa to Malta.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €75,427
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.4% more
Groceries
pay 8.6% less
Transportation
pay 37.8% more
Housing
pay 16.2% less
Childcare
pay 53.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.2% 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?
How many people actually move from Iowa to Malta, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Malta.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Malta performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
Iowa 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 Iowa 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 | Des Moines | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
No — Malta is on average about 15% more expensive than Iowa. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €18,857 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 Iowa?
Malta performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Malta compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Iowa, the official language is English.
