Moving to Malta from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Malta? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Malta, you would find that Malta is 48.3% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF59,770 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly €36,741 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 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Switzerland and Malta.
What does your salary buy?
CHF59,770 → €36,741
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 51.0% less
Groceries
pay 37.6% less
Transportation
pay 42.8% less
Housing
pay 43.7% less
Childcare
pay 76.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.3% 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 Switzerland to Malta.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malta compared to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland generally does better on safety, though Malta leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland 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
Switzerland performs better than Malta across all infrastructure metrics.
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 Switzerland leads in gdp per capita.
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
Switzerland generally does better on family life, though Malta leads in education spending.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Malta
Visa Free
Malta passport holder visiting Switzerland
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 Switzerland?
On average Malta is about 43% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Budget about €9,185 for 3 months in Malta (based on a CHF59,770 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?
Switzerland generally does better on safety, though Malta leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland 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 44.4 in Switzerland. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Malta compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
