Moving to Malta from Thailand

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Thailand to Malta, you would find that Malta is 81.8% more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,500,000 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly €121,000 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Maltese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.

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 Thailand to Malta.

What does your salary buy?

THB2,500,000 → €121,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Malta

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 3.5 times more

Groceries

pay 35.7% more

Transportation

pay 13.9% more

Housing

pay 2.7 times more

Childcare

pay 23.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 52.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 THB = 0.0266 EUR (October 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.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Malta cost about 45% more than cities in Thailand.

Malta

Gzira 59%
Mosta 57%
Msida 57%
San Gwann 52%
Gozo 52%

Compare cities head-to-head

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 Thailand to Malta, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
320 ↑ 116% vs 2015

people born in Thailand 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 Thailand to Malta.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

TH
4.8
MT
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TH
25.4
MT
1.9

Malta performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TH
$1,067
MT
$5,706
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TH
5.4
MT
45.1

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand 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

TH
29.0
MT
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TH
4.0t
MT
3.2t

Malta performs significantly better than Thailand across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TH
14.9
MT
44.5
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TH
23.0%
MT
72.6%

Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though Thailand leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

TH
0.8%
MT
2.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

TH
$8,057
MT
$47,907

Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though Malta leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

TH
76.6 yrs
MT
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TH
7.7
MT
4.7

Malta performs significantly better than Thailand across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand (2016), Government of Malta - Inland Revenue (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bangkok Rain: 59.0 in/yr (1498 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bangkok Valletta
Jan–Mar 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) 60°/49°F (16°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) 74°/59°F (23°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) 85°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) 69°/57°F (20°/14°C)
View all months
Month Bangkok Valletta
Jan 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C)
Feb 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C)
Mar 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C)
Apr 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C)
May 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C)
Jun 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C)
Jul 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C)
Aug 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C)
Sep 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C)
Oct 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C)
Dec 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C)

Data: Thai Meteorological Department Thai Meteorological Department, Meteorological Office Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.

Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Required
Thailand passport holders need a visa to enter Malta.
Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Thailand

Visa Free
Malta passport holders can enter Thailand 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 Thailand?

No — Malta is on average about 82% more expensive than Thailand. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Malta?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €30,250 in Malta on a THB2,500,000 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 44.5 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 Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand.

How is healthcare in Malta compared to Thailand?

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 5.4 in Thailand. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.

What language do they speak in Malta?

The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.

Share this

At a Glance

TH MT
Population 71,619,863 579,704
Currency Thai Baht (THB) Euro (€)
Languages Thai English, Maltese
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +66 +356
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191 112