Moving to Finland from Malta

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malta to Finland, you would find that Finland is 14.0% more expensive than Malta overall. A €65,700 salary in Malta would need to be roughly €62,706 in Finland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helsinki averages 48°F vs 72°F in Valletta, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 €62,706

To maintain the same standard of living in Finland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 7.0% more

Groceries

pay 5.5% more

Transportation

pay 51.8% more

Housing

pay 14.2% less

Childcare

pay 8.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 56.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown

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 Malta to Finland.

Moved in 2023
4 ↓ 76% vs 2022

people moved from Malta to Finland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Finland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Finland compared to Malta.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
FI
1.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
FI
4.2

Malta performs better than Finland across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MT
$5,706
FI
$6,433
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MT
42.8
FI
43.8

Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta 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

MT
21.0
FI
7.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
FI
5.5t

Malta generally does better on environment, though Finland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MT
43.0
FI
34.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
78.3%
FI
7.1%

Finland 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

MT
3.1%
FI
7.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$57,200
FI
$57,500

Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Finland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MT
83.2 yrs
FI
81.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.5
FI
2.1

Malta generally does better on family life, though Finland leads in infant mortality.

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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Helsinki Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Valletta Helsinki
Jan–Mar 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) 58°/40°F (14°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) 65°/49°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
View all months
Month Valletta Helsinki
Jan 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C)
Feb 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C)
Mar 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C)
Apr 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C)
May 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C)
Jun 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C)
Jul 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C)
Aug 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C)
Sep 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C)
Oct 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C)
Nov 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C)
Dec 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C)

Data: Meteorological Office Meteorological Office, Finnish Meteorological Institute Finnish Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Finland

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

Finland passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Finland passport holders can enter Malta 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 Finland than Malta?

On average Finland is about 5% less expensive than Malta, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Finland?

Budget about €15,676 for 3 months in Finland (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Finland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Finland: 34.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Finland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Finland safe for expats?

Malta performs better than Finland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Finland is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Finland compared to Malta?

Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 42.8 in Malta. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.

What language do they speak in Finland?

The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT FI
Population 464,186 5,601,547
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages English, Maltese Finnish, Swedish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +358
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112