Moving to China from Malta
What to Expect
Considering a move from Malta to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Malta to China, you would find that China is 39.3% cheaper than Malta overall. A €65,577 salary in Malta would need to be roughly CN¥248,406 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Malta and China.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → CN¥248,406
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 75.7% less
Groceries
pay 33.0% less
Transportation
pay 41.8% less
Housing
pay 67.5% less
Childcare
pay 19.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 40.0% 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.
Get free moving quotes to China
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Malta.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malta generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malta performs better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Malta generally does better on family life, though China leads in literacy rate.
Data: Government of Malta - Inland Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Valletta | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Valletta | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Office,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malta and China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.
Malta passport holder visiting China
Visa Free
China passport holder visiting Malta
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in China than Malta?
On average China is about 51% less expensive than Malta, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥62,102 for 3 months in China (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from China?
Connectivity is usually fine (China: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is China safe for expats?
Malta generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.
How is healthcare in China compared to Malta?
Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 42.8 in Malta. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).
What's the weather like in China compared to Malta?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.
