You are going to Malta and you are wondering how much it costs to live there? Visit Malta provides you with information on prices in Malta to best organize your travel budget. How much does a restaurant meal cost? What is the price of the main activities and excursions in Malta?
In this article, we give you the keys to organize your stay in the archipelago while respecting your budget.
Prices of food, drinks and meals in Malta
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy Malta! You will find a wide variety of restaurants, fast food and Maltese street food at reasonable prices. The opportunity to taste Maltese specialties, Italian and Indian cuisine, and English pastries!
A spaghetti dish will cost you between 9,50€ and 13€, depending on the restaurant.
A tasty “carrot cake” in Mdina costs 4,10€ (with a panoramic view as a bonus).
The price of a cappuccino on the terrace in Valletta is 2,10€.
A pack of cigarettes costs about 6€.
Cost of transport in Malta
Getting around Malta is not very expensive compared to other European destinations.
The most economical means of transport is by bus. An individual bus ticket costs 2€ in summer, 1,50€ in winter and 3€ at night. They are valid for two hours, even if you have to make connections.
You can also rent a car . The cost of renting in Malta is around 35€. The price may be higher depending on the season and the model of the car. Check the rental rates on this comparator to find the best possible rate.
If you have the My Little Malta card, rent your vehicle with Aquarius Rent-a-car to take advantage of the 20% discount. It is a local and reliable car rental company in Malta, which offers a selection of cars for rent at very reasonable prices.
You can park on the street or in the public parking lots. A day’s parking in Sliema costs 2€, if you park in the parking lot located between the Sliema – Valletta ferry dock and the Zara store.
A liter of unleaded gasoline in Malta costs about €1.40 (price may vary).
Prices for activities and excursions in Malta
How much do activities and excursions in Malta cost?
Good news: there’s something for every taste and budget!
Some activities are totally free, such as hiking and swimming.
Others are inexpensive. For 6€, you can for example visit the Domus Romana museum or take the tourist train to Rabat, near Mdina.
Feel like lounging on the beach? A rental of 2 deckchairs + 1 umbrella for a day costs 10€.
A trip to the Blue Grotto costs 8€.
A cruise in both ports costs 15€.
A day in a tourist bus costs 18€.
And why not discover the island of Gozo by bike? For one day, count 15€. Mountain bike rentals in Gozo are on a sliding scale for multi-day rentals. You can also rent an ebike (electric bike): between 25 and 50€ per day depending on the rental company and the model.
A seat at the Manoel Theater costs between 10€ ( early bird rate) and 30€.
Finally, you can opt for activities that are a little more expensive but worth it, such as a first dive that you will remember for a long time! Count on about 50€.
Tip : No need to speak English! Discover underwater life with PADI, FFESSM and SSI certified instructors and save on your first dive.
To see all the excursions and activities in Malta, go here.
What budget for your trip to Malta?
The budget for your trip to Malta depends on the type of stay.
➜ Going to Malta on a budget
If you are on a tight budget, you should limit the number of paid activities and choose a bed and breakfast or youth hostel type of accommodation. We advise you to apply all our tips to save money during your vacations in Malta, listed in the following article.
A one-week stay in Malta on a budget can cost you as little as €500 per person.
- Accommodation: 40 € per person/night (1 room at 79 € if you travel in pairs). See cheap hotels in Malta.
- Meals (fast food, street food and meals cooked at the hotel): 13 € per person/day
- Transportation: 8 € per person/day
- Free activities, outings and visits only
- Airfare budget: Round trip Paris ↔ Valletta: €78 per person (economy class flight, excluding school vacations)
➜ Going to Malta on an average budget
With an average budget, you can easily enjoy your trip to Malta. Malta’s cost of living and reasonable prices will allow you to afford the comforts you need without spending all your money.
A one-week stay in Malta on an average budget can cost you from €840 per person.
- Accommodation: 45 € per person/night (1 room at 89 € in a 2 or 3 star hotel, if you are traveling together) See the best value hotels in Malta.
- Meals: 34 € per person/day (budget restaurants and fast food most of the time, one good restaurant every 4 days)
- Transportation: 19 € per person/day (public transportation, and occasional cab)
- Activities and visits: 9 € per person/day (limited paid activities)
- Airfare budget: Round trip Paris ↔ Valletta: 102 € per person (economy class flight)
➜ Going to Malta on a budget
You are going to Malta and you want to treat yourself with a comfortable vacation? Take advantage of this opportunity to try many activities without depriving yourself: boat tours, museums, diving…
How much does a “pleasure” vacation in Malta cost?
A one-week stay in Malta on a budget can cost you from €1260 per person. This budget can be considerably higher if you choose to spend a luxury vacation in Malta: 5-star hotel, SPA, luxury cruise…
- Accommodation: 53 € per person/night (1 room at 106 € if you are two, in a 3, 4 or 5 star hotel) See the most beautiful hotels in Malta.
- Meals: 58 € per person/day (lunches and dinners in restaurants)
- Transportation: 37 € per person/day(car rental and cab on a more regular basis)
- Activities and visits: 18 € per person/day (activities, outings and visits every day)
- Airfare budget: Round trip Paris ↔ Valletta: 102 € per person (economy class flight, shortest flight, with a minimum of stopovers)
Tips for saving money on your vacation in Malta
You want to spend your vacations in Malta but you would like to spend less? Don’t panic! Visit Malta gives you its best tips for saving money on your stay in the archipelago:
- Take a discount card
Having a travel discount card is the first thing you should do to limit your vacation expenses. My Little Malta does a fantastic job of negotiating rates and collecting all the best deals in Malta and Gozo. If you’re not familiar with the My Little Malta menu, have a look see the site here It’s a must if you’re going to Malta on vacation.
- Going out of school vacations
It’s no secret that airfare and accommodation prices in Malta are cheaper outside of school vacations. Daily expenses are also cheaper in the low season.
- Favour free activities and visits
Malta is easily visited on foot. Stroll through the typical streets of Valletta, the Three Cities and Mdina, it’s free!
Nature lovers, explore the Maltese countryside. Malta offers a beautiful diversity of landscapes to discover during walks and hikes.
During the summer months, go for a swim in one of Malta’s many coves.
The bus is, as we have seen, the cheapest means of transportation in Malta.
- Stay in a youth hostel, bed & breakfast or a room in a local house
Youth hostels, bed & breakfasts and homestays are cheaper than hotels. No need to go to a luxury hotel to enjoy your vacations in Malta! See cheap hotels in Malta.
- Shopping in a supermarket
Shopping in supermarkets and mini-markets will reduce your travel budget in Malta, in addition to immersing you in the daily life of the Maltese. Read our article to know where and how to shop for cheap in Malta.
- Go to the fast food and taste the Maltese street food
It would be a shame to visit Malta without tasting its culinary specialties. Maltese street food is really cheap. A taste of a pastizz will cost you only 50 cents!
Visiting Malta hopes that all these tips will help you plan your travel budget to Malta.
(Prices calculated on an average of Maltese shops observed in the first half of 2022).
