Moving to Malta from Puerto Rico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Puerto Rico to Malta? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Puerto Rico to Malta, you would find that Malta is 5.9% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly €63,000 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Puerto Rico and Malta.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €63,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 18.5% more
Groceries
pay 29.7% less
Transportation
pay 6.1% more
Housing
pay 5.9% less
Childcare
pay 32.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.4% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malta compared to Puerto Rico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malta performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Puerto Rico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malta performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico leads in water stress level.
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 Puerto Rico 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Malta performs significantly 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), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), Government of Malta - Inland Revenue (2016). How we calculate this
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Puerto Rico 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.
Malta passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
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 Puerto Rico?
On average Malta is about 6% less expensive than Puerto Rico, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Budget about €15,750 for 3 months in Malta (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Malta?
Connectivity is usually fine (Malta: 44.5 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 Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.6 in Puerto Rico.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in adult obesity rate.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.
