Moving to Malta from Sweden

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sweden to Malta, you would find that Malta is 17.2% more expensive than Sweden overall. A SEK723,502 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly €68,040 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.

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 Sweden to Malta.

What does your salary buy?

SEK723,502 €68,040

To maintain the same standard of living in Malta

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 1.3% less

Groceries

pay 14.3% less

Transportation

pay 19.6% less

Housing

pay 8.1% more

Childcare

pay 2.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 SEK = 0.0906 EUR (July 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.

Get free moving quotes to Malta

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
1,403 ↑ 118% vs 2015

people born in Sweden live in Malta · UN DESA

Who's moving to Malta?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SE
1.1
MT
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SE
2.1
MT
1.9

Malta performs significantly better than Sweden across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SE
$7,770
MT
$5,706
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SE
71.5
MT
42.8

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SE
8.0
MT
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SE
3.6t
MT
3.2t

Sweden generally does better on environment, though Malta leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SE
40.4
MT
43.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
MT
78.3%

Sweden generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SE
7.6%
MT
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$64,200
MT
$57,200

Sweden generally does better on employment & economy, though Malta leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SE
82.7 yrs
MT
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.3
MT
4.5

Sweden generally does better on family life, though Malta leads in life expectancy.

Data: Skatteverket, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Valletta Rain: 21.8 in/yr (553 mm)
72° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Stockholm Valletta
Jan–Mar 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) 60°/49°F (16°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 74°/59°F (23°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) 85°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) 69°/57°F (20°/14°C)
View all months
Month Stockholm Valletta
Jan 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C)
Feb 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C)
Mar 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C)
Apr 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C)
May 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C)
Jun 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C)
Jul 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C)
Aug 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C)
Sep 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C)
Oct 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C)
Nov 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C)
Dec 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C)

Data: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Meteorological Office Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden 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.

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Malta

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

Malta passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Free
Malta passport holders can enter Sweden 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 Malta than Sweden?

No — Malta is on average about 4% more expensive than Sweden. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Malta?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €17,010 in Malta on a SEK723,502 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 Sweden across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden.

How is healthcare in Malta compared to Sweden?

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 71.5 in Sweden. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.

What language do they speak in Malta?

The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.

Share this

At a Glance

SE MT
Population 10,483,647 464,186
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK) Euro (€)
Languages Swedish English, Maltese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +46 +356
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112