Moving to Maldives from Italy

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Italy to Maldives? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Italy to Maldives, you would find that Maldives is 15.3% cheaper than Italy overall. A €67,000 salary in Italy would need to be roughly MVR985,000 in Maldives to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Maldivian. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Is Maldives cheaper than Italy?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 54.8% less

Groceries

pay 15.6% less

Transportation

pay 30.9% less

Housing

pay 22.5% more

Childcare

pay 68.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 23.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 17.37 MVR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Maldives?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → MVR985,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Maldives

Calculate with your salary →

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Italy to Maldives.

Living there in 2020
177 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in Italy live in Maldives · UN DESA

Who's moving to Maldives?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Maldives compared to Italy.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IT
0.6
MV
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IT
5.0
MV
1.3

Italy generally does better on safety, though Maldives leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IT
$4,993
MV
$2,288
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IT
41.9
MV
22.4

Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Maldives leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IT
15.0
MV
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IT
5.1t
MV
3.6t

Italy generally does better on environment, though Maldives leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IT
31.8
MV
19.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IT
29.8%
MV
15.7%

Italy generally does better on infrastructure, though Maldives leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IT
6.4%
MV
4.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

IT
$43,309
MV
$14,615

Maldives generally does better on employment & economy, though Italy leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

IT
84.0 yrs
MV
81.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IT
2.3
MV
4.7

Italy generally does better on family life, though Maldives leads in education spending.

Can you move from Italy to Maldives?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Italy and Maldives. To live, work, or study long-term in Maldives, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Maldives's immigration authority.

Italy passport

Italy passport holder visiting Maldives

Visa on Arrival
Italy passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Maldives.
Maldives passport

Maldives passport holder visiting Italy

Visa Required
Maldives passport holders need a visa to enter Italy.

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 Maldives than Italy?

On average Maldives is about 15% less expensive than Italy, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Maldives?

Budget about MVR246,250 for 3 months in Maldives (based on a €67,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Maldives?

Connectivity is usually fine (Maldives: 19.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Maldives offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Maldives safe for expats?

Italy generally does better on safety, though Maldives leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Maldives is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Italy.

How is healthcare in Maldives compared to Italy?

Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Maldives leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 22.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Maldives, compared to 41.9 in Italy. Maldives scores 61 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Italy: 84).

What language do they speak in Maldives?

The official language in Maldives is Maldivian. In Italy, the official languages are Catalan and Italian.

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At a Glance

IT MV
Population 58,915,656 529,676
Currency Euro (€) Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Languages Catalan, Italian Maldivian
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +39 +960
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 —