Moving to Moldova from Malta

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malta to Moldova, you would find that Moldova is 46.3% cheaper than Malta overall. A €67,000 salary in Malta would need to be roughly MDL727,000 in Moldova to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Romanian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Is Moldova cheaper than Malta?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 43.1% less

Groceries

pay 47.6% less

Transportation

pay 25.0% less

Housing

pay 57.2% less

Childcare

pay 41.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 46.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 20.21 MDL (October 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.

What salary do you need in Moldova?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → MDL727,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Moldova

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Moldova cost about 32% less than cities in Malta.

Malta

Gzira 59%
Mosta 57%
Msida 57%
San Gwann 52%
Gozo 52%

Moldova

Balti 34%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Moldova compared to Malta.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
MD
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
MD
9.1

Malta performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MT
$5,706
MD
$1,181
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

MT
45.1
MD
40.2

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova 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
MD
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
MD
3.4t

Malta performs better than Moldova across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MT
44.5
MD
29.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
72.6%
MD
12.6%

Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though Moldova leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MT
2.9%
MD
1.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$47,907
MD
$8,622

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

MT
83.0 yrs
MD
71.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.7
MD
15.1

Malta generally does better on family life, though Moldova leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021), Government of Malta - Inland Revenue (2016), State tax Service (2016). How we calculate this

Can you move from Malta to Moldova?

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

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Moldova

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

Moldova passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Moldova 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 Moldova than Malta?

On average Moldova is about 46% less expensive than Malta, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Moldova?

Budget about MDL181,750 for 3 months in Moldova (based on a €67,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Moldova?

Connectivity is usually fine (Moldova: 29.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Moldova offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Moldova safe for expats?

Malta performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Moldova is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Moldova compared to Malta?

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Moldova, compared to 45.1 in Malta. Moldova scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).

What language do they speak in Moldova?

The official language in Moldova is Romanian. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT MD
Population 579,704 2,360,527
Currency Euro (€) Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Languages English, Maltese Romanian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +373
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112