Moving to Malta from Malaysia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malaysia to Malta, you would find that Malta is 2.3 times more expensive than Malaysia overall. A MYR310,350 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly €108,395 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 90°F in Kuala Lumpur, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Malaysia and Malta.

What does your salary buy?

MYR310,350 €108,395

To maintain the same standard of living in Malta

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.9 times more

Groceries

pay 39.6% more

Transportation

pay 2.5 times more

Housing

pay 2.7 times more

Childcare

pay 2.2 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 56.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MYR = 0.2106 EUR (June 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?

What the data shows about people moving from Malaysia to Malta.

Living there in 2020
115 ↑ 113% vs 2015

people born in Malaysia 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

The numbers behind daily life in Malta compared to Malaysia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MY
0.7
MT
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MY
13.9
MT
1.9

Malta performs significantly better than Malaysia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MY
$1,441
MT
$5,706
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MY
23.2
MT
42.8

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MY
63.0
MT
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MY
8.3t
MT
3.2t

Malta performs significantly better than Malaysia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MY
12.4
MT
43.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MY
3.4%
MT
78.3%

Malaysia generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MY
3.9%
MT
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MY
$33,600
MT
$57,200

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MY
76.1 yrs
MT
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MY
6.6
MT
4.5

Malta generally does better on family life, though Malaysia leads in literacy rate.

Data: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kuala Lumpur Rain: 95.6 in/yr (2427 mm)
90° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kuala Lumpur Valletta
Jan–Mar 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 60°/49°F (16°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) 74°/59°F (23°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) 85°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 69°/57°F (20°/14°C)
View all months
Month Kuala Lumpur Valletta
Jan 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C)
Feb 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C)
Mar 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C)
Apr 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C)
May 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C)
Jun 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C)
Jul 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C)
Aug 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C)
Oct 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C)
Dec 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C)

Data: Malaysian Meteorological Department Malaysian Meteorological Department, Meteorological Office Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malaysia 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.

Malaysia passport

Malaysia passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Malaysia passport holders can enter Malta without a visa.
Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Malaysia

Visa Free
Malta passport holders can enter Malaysia without a visa.

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 Malaysia?

On average Malta is around 66% pricier than Malaysia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Malta?

Budget about €27,099 for 3 months in Malta (based on a MYR310,350 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Malta?

Connectivity is usually fine (Malta: 43.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malta offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Malta safe for expats?

Malta performs significantly better than Malaysia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Malaysia.

How is healthcare in Malta compared to Malaysia?

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 23.2 in Malaysia. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malaysia: 76).

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

The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 90°F in Kuala Lumpur. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuala Lumpur gets 95.6 in.

What language do they speak in Malta?

The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Malaysia, the official languages are English and Malay.

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At a Glance

MY MT
Population 33,871,431 464,186
Currency Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) Euro (€)
Languages English, Malay English, Maltese
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +60 +356
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112