Moving to Puerto Rico from Malta

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malta to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 6.2% more expensive than Malta overall. A €67,000 salary in Malta would need to be roughly $79,700 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Malta to Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → $79,700

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 15.6% less

Groceries

pay 42.3% more

Transportation

pay 5.7% less

Housing

pay 6.3% more

Childcare

pay 47.3% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 20.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malta to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
PR
14.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
PR
12.5

Malta performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

MT
30.6%
PR
42.4%
Suicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support

MT
6.5
PR
5.4

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
PR
4.8t

Malta performs better than Puerto Rico 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
PR
28.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
72.6%
PR
19.5%

Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico 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%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$47,907
PR
$40,620

Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

MT
83.0 yrs
PR
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.7
PR
6.0

Malta performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), Government of Malta - Inland Revenue (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Malta passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Puerto Rico.

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 Puerto Rico than Malta?

No — Puerto Rico is on average about 6% more expensive than Malta. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $19,925 in Puerto Rico on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Puerto Rico has 28.0 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 Puerto Rico safe for expats?

Malta performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to Malta?

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT PR
Population 579,704 3,184,835
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, Maltese English, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 —