Moving to Malta from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Malta? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Malta, you would find that Malta is 1.7% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €70,959 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Malta.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → €70,959
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 11.0% more
Groceries
pay 3.8% less
Transportation
pay 3.0% more
Housing
pay 2.2% less
Childcare
pay 26.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.3% less
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 New Zealand to Malta.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malta compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malta performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Malta leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Malta leads in life expectancy.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Malta. To live, work, or study long-term in Malta, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malta's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Malta
Visa Free
Malta passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Malta than New Zealand?
On average Malta is around 10% pricier than New Zealand, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Budget about €17,740 for 3 months in Malta (based on a NZ$125,240 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Malta?
Connectivity is usually fine (Malta: 43.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malta offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Malta safe for expats?
Malta performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Malta compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
