Moving to Malta from Portugal
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Portugal to Malta — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Portugal to Malta, you would find that Malta is 14.0% more expensive than Portugal overall. A €65,577 salary in Portugal would need to be roughly €73,799 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Maltese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Portugal to Malta.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → €73,799
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 25.0% more
Groceries
pay 18.7% more
Transportation
pay 12.3% more
Housing
pay 3.1% more
Childcare
pay 6.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.8% more
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 Portugal to Malta, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Portugal to Malta.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malta performs significantly better than Portugal 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Portugal 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
share of households with internet
Portugal generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in internet access.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal leads in poverty 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Portugal generally does better on family life, though Malta leads in life expectancy.
Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, 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 | Lisbon | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lisbon | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) |
Data:
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera,
Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Portugal 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.
Portugal passport holder visiting Malta
Visa Free
Malta passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa FreeData: 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 Portugal?
No — Malta is on average about 13% more expensive than Portugal. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €18,450 in Malta on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Malta?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Malta has 43.0 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 Malta safe for expats?
Malta performs significantly better than Portugal across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to Portugal?
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in suicide rate. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 57.7 in Portugal. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).
What's the weather like in Malta compared to Portugal?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.
