Moving to Netherlands from Malta

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malta to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 60.9% more expensive than Malta overall. A €64,304 salary in Malta would need to be roughly €78,226 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.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 €78,226

To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 40.9% more

Groceries

pay 18.9% more

Transportation

pay 95.1% more

Housing

pay 60.7% more

Childcare

pay 2.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 47.6% 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.

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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 United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
NL
0.8
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 United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MT
42.8
NL
39.1

Malta performs better than Netherlands across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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 United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MT
43.0
NL
44.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
78.3%
NL
16.1%

Netherlands performs significantly better than Malta across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MT
3.1%
NL
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$57,200
NL
$69,300

Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Netherlands 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
NL
82.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.5
NL
3.4

Malta generally does better on family life, though Netherlands 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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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 22% pricier than Malta, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?

Budget about €19,556 for 3 months in Netherlands (based on a €64,304 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Netherlands?

Connectivity is usually fine (Netherlands: 44.4 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 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Malta?

Malta performs better than Netherlands across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 42.8 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 464,186 17,400,824
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages English, Maltese Dutch
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +31
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112