Right, so you’re thinking about studying English abroad and you want to know what Malta actually costs to live in. Fair. Because “affordable” means nothing without numbers, and too many guides just wave their hands and say “it’s cheaper than London!” without telling you what your weekly grocery shop looks like.
So here are real figures. 2026 numbers. The kind you can actually plug into a spreadsheet and make a decision with.
Malta IS genuinely affordable for an English-speaking country — that part is true. Compared to London, Dublin, Brighton, even somewhere like Edinburgh, your money stretches a fair bit further here. And because the island is tiny (you can drive across the whole thing in under an hour), you don’t burn through cash on commuting. That alone saves more than people expect.
Accommodation: Your Biggest Monthly Cost
No surprise here. Rent is the big one.
What you pay depends on the setup. School-arranged housing vs. finding your own place — two very different experiences (and price points, sometimes). At Maltalingua, there’s a range of accommodation options: shared apartments in St. Julian’s, host family stays with meals included. Going through the school takes the stress out of flat-hunting in a country you’ve never lived in. Plus you end up close to the school, which matters more than you think when your alarm goes off at 8am.
If you want to sort your own place, rough numbers:
Shared apartment (your share): €400–€600/month in St. Julian’s or Sliema
Private studio: €650–€900/month
Host family, half board: Usually similar to a shared flat in price — but breakfast and dinner are included, which changes the maths quite a bit
Prices shift with the season though. June through August = peak. Rates climb. If your dates are flexible, April, May, or October are the sweet spot — still warm enough to enjoy the island, noticeably cheaper.
Food and Groceries
Eating in Malta is cheap. Genuinely. Once you get into the habit of cooking a few nights a week (which you will, because the apartments have kitchens), a weekly grocery shop runs €35–€50 for one person.
Lidl is here. Pavi and Greens are the local chains. You’ll find familiar European brands plus Maltese stuff — fresh bread, local veg, olive oil, pasta. The fish is excellent and not expensive, which makes sense when you remember you’re on an island surrounded by Mediterranean water.
Eating out is where your spending can vary a lot:
Casual lunch (pasta, a wrap, ftira): €6–€10
Dinner somewhere mid-range: €15–€25
Coffee: €2–€3.50
A pint of Cisk (the local beer — it’s decent): €3–€4
Most students fall into a pattern: cook during the week, eat out on weekends. Does the job. Keeps food costs in the €200–€300/month range comfortably. Less if you’re disciplined about it.
Getting Around the Island
Malta is tiny. I keep saying it but it bears repeating. The whole country is smaller than most people’s commute in London.
Buses are the budget option and they cover pretty much everywhere. Get a Tallinja card (that’s Malta’s transport card) and fares drop:
Single trip: €0.75 in winter, €1.50 in summer (with the card)
Monthly unlimited: €26
Twenty-six euros a month for unlimited transport. Compare that to a London travelcard. Yeah.
A lot of Maltalingua students just walk to school — St. Julian’s has restaurants, shops, the seafront, and nightlife all within easy reach. No bus required.
Bolt works here too. St. Julian’s to Valletta typically runs €6–€9. Fine for an occasional trip. Not something you’d want to do daily though.
Phone, Internet, and Everyday Essentials
Easy and cheap. Prepaid SIM from GO, Vodafone, or Melita: about €10–€15/month with decent data. If you’re from an EU country, your home plan might already cover Malta at no extra charge — check before you buy a local SIM and waste money.
Wi-Fi comes included with most accommodation. So internet is basically free.
Other bits and pieces:
Gym: €30–€50/month
Laundry (self-service): €5–€8 a load
Cinema: €8–€9
Museum: €5–€12 (student discounts exist — ask)
Budget maybe €80–€120/month for this category. Depends on your habits obviously.
Entertainment and Social Life
Here’s something that doesn’t get said enough about Malta: a lot of the best stuff is free.
Beaches? Free. Walking around Valletta’s golden-stone streets? Free. Mdina at sunset? Free and stunning. Day trips to the Blue Lagoon or the Three Cities are cheap by European standards — we’re not talking Amalfi Coast prices here.
St. Julian’s is the hub for nights out, and since Maltalingua is based right there, getting home costs nothing (you walk). A night out with a few drinks: €20–€30 usually. Not nothing, but not London either.
Festivals, outdoor markets, cultural events — they pop up regularly through spring and summer. Students pretty consistently tell us their social life in Malta ends up being more varied than back home. Without the price tag you’d get in a major European city.
How Malta Compares to the UK and Ireland
This is where it gets interesting. The numbers speak for themselves:
| Expense | Malta (monthly) | London (monthly) |
|———|—————–|——————-|
| Shared room | €400–€600 | €800–€1,200 |
| Monthly transport | €26 | €150+ |
| Casual lunch | €6–€10 | €10–€15 |
| Groceries | €150–€200 | €250–€350 |
Transport is the one that really jumps out. €26 vs £150+. That’s not a small difference — that’s an entire week’s groceries you’re saving every month just on getting around.
And Maltalingua charges zero booking fees, zero material fees — extras that a lot of UK schools quietly tack onto tuition. What’s in your quote is what you pay. No surprise charges at the end.
Total Cost of Living: Monthly Budget
Alright, putting it all together. A student in shared accommodation in St. Julian’s:
Accommodation (shared): €450–€550
Food + groceries: €200–€300
Transport: €26–€50
Phone: €10–€15
Social + entertainment: €100–€200
Miscellaneous: €50–€100
Total: roughly €850–€1,200 a month. Depends on how you live — some people manage on less, some spend more. But that’s the realistic range, and it’s significantly under what you’d spend in London, Dublin, or most other English-speaking destinations. Mediterranean weather and quality of life included, no extra charge.
Ready to Plan Your Budget?
Malta is one of the smarter choices for studying English abroad if money is a factor (and let’s be honest — when is it not?). Good education, a proper international student community, an island lifestyle that’s hard to beat, and a cost of living that doesn’t make you wince every time you check your bank account.
Want to know exactly what your course and accommodation will cost? Get a personalised quote. No hidden fees, no surprises — just the real number.
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