Moving to Netherlands from Malta

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malta to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 35.3% more expensive than Malta overall. A €67,000 salary in Malta would need to be roughly €90,600 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 72°F in Valletta, making it significantly cooler.

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Is Netherlands cheaper than Malta?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 29.5% more

Groceries

pay 7.5% more

Transportation

pay 70.6% more

Housing

pay 37.9% more

Childcare

pay 2.3 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 27.6% 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.

What salary do you need in Netherlands?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → €90,600

To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands

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 Netherlands cost about 20% more than cities in Malta.

Malta

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

Netherlands

Rotterdam 68%
Arnhem 63%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Malta to Netherlands.

Moved in 2023
158 ↑ 1% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Netherlands?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Netherlands compared to Malta.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
NL
0.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
NL
3.4

Malta performs better than Netherlands across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MT
$5,706
NL
$8,195
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MT
45.1
NL
38.8

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands 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
NL
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
NL
6.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MT
44.5
NL
43.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
72.6%
NL
16.7%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MT
2.9%
NL
3.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$47,907
NL
$73,684

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

MT
83.0 yrs
NL
82.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.7
NL
3.4

Netherlands generally does better on family life, though Malta leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Government of Malta - Inland Revenue (2016), Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Netherlands vs Malta

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Valletta Amsterdam
Jan–Mar 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) 69°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Valletta Amsterdam
Jan 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C)
Feb 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C)
Mar 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C)
Apr 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C)
May 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C)
Jun 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C)
Jul 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C)
Aug 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C)
Sep 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C)
Oct 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C)
Nov 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C)
Dec 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Meteorological Office Meteorological Office, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Can you move from Malta to Netherlands?

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

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

Netherlands passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Netherlands 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 Netherlands than Malta?

On average Netherlands is around 35% pricier than Malta, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?

Budget about €22,650 for 3 months in Netherlands (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 Netherlands?

Connectivity is usually fine (Netherlands: 43.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Netherlands offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Netherlands safe for expats?

Malta performs better than Netherlands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Malta?

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in adult obesity rate. There are 38.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 45.1 in Malta. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT NL
Population 579,704 18,087,633
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages English, Maltese Dutch
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +31
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112