Moving to Iowa from Malta
What to Expect
Considering a move from Malta to Iowa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Malta to Iowa, you would find that Iowa is 25.1% more expensive than Malta overall. A €65,579 salary in Malta would need to be roughly $65,208 in Iowa to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Des Moines averages 60°F vs 72°F in Valletta, making it significantly cooler.
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 Iowa.
What does your salary buy?
€65,579 → $65,208
To maintain the same standard of living in Iowa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 1.7% less
Groceries
pay 22.4% more
Transportation
pay 11.6% less
Housing
pay 34.4% more
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.6% more
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 Iowa.
people moved from Malta to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
140.12,154
Malta
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iowa compared to Malta.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Malta performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs significantly 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 better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Valletta | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Valletta | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) |
| Mar | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Apr | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) |
| May | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) |
| Jun | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) |
| Jul | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) |
| Sep | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) |
| Oct | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) |
| Nov | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) |
Meteorological Office
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malta and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Malta passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Malta
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa than Malta?
On average Iowa is about 13% less expensive than Malta, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Iowa?
Budget about $16,302 for 3 months in Iowa (based on a €65,579 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iowa?
From major Iowa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Malta and Iowa are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Iowa compared to Malta?
Malta performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iowa compared to Malta?
The average high temperature in Des Moines is 60°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Des Moines receives around 36.0 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.
What language do they speak in Iowa?
The official language in Iowa is English. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.
