Moving to Switzerland from Malta

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malta to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 2.3 times more expensive than Malta overall. A €64,826 salary in Malta would need to be roughly CHF105,456 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 72°F in Valletta, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€64,826 CHF105,456

To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.1 times more

Groceries

pay 91.6% more

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 83.6% more

Childcare

pay 4.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 97.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 0.922 CHF (June 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
88 ↓ 8% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Switzerland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
CH
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
CH
2.4

Malta generally does better on safety, though Switzerland leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MT
$5,706
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MT
42.8
CH
44.4

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MT
21.0
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
CH
3.7t

Malta generally does better on environment, though Switzerland 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
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
78.3%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland 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%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$57,200
CH
$82,900

Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland 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
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.5
CH
3.6

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

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

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Valletta Bern
Jan–Mar 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Valletta Bern
Jan 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Meteorological Office Meteorological Office, MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

Switzerland passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Switzerland 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 Switzerland than Malta?

No — Switzerland is on average about 76% more expensive than Malta. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CHF26,364 in Switzerland on a €64,826 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Switzerland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Switzerland has 47.1 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 Switzerland safe for expats?

Malta generally does better on safety, though Switzerland leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Malta?

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 42.8 in Malta. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT CH
Population 464,186 8,508,698
Currency Euro (€) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages English, Maltese French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112