Moving to Ireland from Malta

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Malta to Ireland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Malta to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 42.8% more expensive than Malta overall. A €65,577 salary in Malta would need to be roughly €79,015 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 72°F in Valletta, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Malta to Ireland.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 €79,015

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 5.9% more

Groceries

pay 11.1% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 60.0% more

Childcare

pay 53.1% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.0% 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?

How many people actually move from Malta to Ireland, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
426 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Malta live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malta to Ireland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
IE
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
IE
2.8

Malta performs better than Ireland across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MT
$5,706
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MT
42.8
IE
40.6

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MT
21.0
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
IE
6.0t

Malta generally does better on environment, though Ireland 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
IE
32.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
78.3%
IE
22.2%

Ireland 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%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$57,200
IE
$115,600

Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Ireland 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
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.5
IE
3.5

Malta generally does better on family life, though Ireland 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

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Valletta Dublin
Jan–Mar 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Valletta Dublin
Jan 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Meteorological Office Meteorological Office, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Ireland 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 Ireland than Malta?

No — Ireland is on average about 20% more expensive than Malta. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €19,754 in Ireland on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ireland has 32.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Ireland safe for expats?

Malta performs better than Ireland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Malta?

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in adult obesity rate. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 42.8 in Malta. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT IE
Population 464,186 5,275,004
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages English, Maltese English, Irish
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +356 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112