Moving to
Malta
Moving to Malta: one person needs about $1,900/month in Sliema (a family about $4,500), the top personal income-tax rate is 35% — roughly $45,700 take-home on a $60,000 salary — and it offers a digital-nomad visa. Permanent residency takes about 5 years, and citizenship about 5.
Malta is a tiny English-speaking Mediterranean EU island offering sunshine, sea and a low nomad tax — nothing the first year, then a flat 10% on remote income. The reality is crowding and relentless construction — Sliema and St Julian's are packed, and summer strains water and traffic. People move for the combination of EU access, English as an official language, warm weather and a genuinely attractive tax rate.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Malta by the numbers
Relative scores across cost, safety, healthcare, quality of life and connectivity (higher is better).
Why move to Malta
- English official language, EU member
- Sunny Mediterranean, low 10% nomad tax
- Small, walkable and safe
The catch
- Overcrowded, overbuilt, constant construction
- Summer heat and water strain
- Income bar raised to €42,000
Take-home pay
Net salary in Malta on a $60k gross, after income tax and social security:
Single-filer schedule tops out at 35%; the 10% social contribution is capped and non-dom residents can be taxed on a remittance basis.
Cost of living · Sliema
Average all-in monthly cost in USD — estimates for guidance.
Compare cities →Visa & residency
Nomad Residence Permit requires €42,000/yr (~€3,500/month) from foreign sources.
Typical income requirement: $4,050/month.
The Nomad Residence Permit (income ~€42,000) is renewable up to four years total but isn't a citizenship path. Longer term, options are ordinary residence via work or self-employment, the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (property plus a government contribution), or standard EU routes.
How can I move here? → Do I qualify? → Track your 90/180 days →Economy & everyday life
A strong ~$72,200 GDP-per-capita PPP and moderate 2.4% inflation mean comfortable purchasing power, but island logistics push up the price of imported goods and housing. English is official and salaries are decent, though rent in the Sliema–St Julian's corridor bites. Life expectancy is 83; Malta's public health system ranks among Europe's best, yet many expats still add private cover for faster specialist access.
Healthcare
World Bank data, most recent available — shows how well the system is resourced, not what you'll personally pay.
Safety
US State Department advisory level, country-wide — general guidance, not neighbourhood-specific. Full advisory →
Education
World Bank data, most recent available — learning score reflects harmonised international test performance.
Connectivity
World Bank data, most recent available.
Getting a passport
Compare all countries →Aggregate 4 of 6 yrs + 12 continuous months (=5); highly discretionary. Maltese or English suffices. CBI (by investment) closed 2025.
By residence — confirm with the official authority.
Best time to go
Full climate →Average daily temperature by month · 2023 (Open-Meteo).
Where expats live in Malta
Cost of living by city
All cities →All-in monthly cost for one person — tap a city for the full breakdown. Figures are averages, for guidance.
Living in Malta
Healthcare
A high-quality public system (Mater Dei hospital ranks among the world's best); EU residents access public care, while nomads carry private insurance and use affordable private clinics.
Money & banking
Opening a Maltese bank account is famously slow and paperwork-heavy — weeks of due diligence — so most newcomers lean on Revolut and Wise in the meantime.
Internet
Fast, reliable fiber island-wide with growing coworking in Sliema and Gzira; connectivity is a genuine strength here.
Etiquette & culture
Greetings, tipping and the taboos to dodge — fit in fast. Open the guide →
On arrival
Full essentials →Getting there
Flight distances →Everything moves through the single Malta International (MLA), well-served by legacy and budget carriers into mainland Europe but with no domestic fallback if it's disrupted.
Low violent crime, with petty theft in nightlife areas the main concern.
Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire.
Best for English-speaking nomads who want a sunny EU island base with a low, flat tax rate.
Your move to Malta — roadmap
Key terms
- Effective tax rate
- The share of your gross income actually lost to income tax and social contributions combined — almost always lower than the headline top tax bracket.
- Take-home pay
- What actually reaches your account after income tax and employee social contributions are taken off your gross salary.
- Tax residency
- The country entitled to tax your worldwide income — usually where you spend 183 days or more in a year, though the exact test varies by country.
- Permanent residency
- The right to live and work in a country indefinitely — the stage before citizenship, and those years usually count toward naturalization.
- Cost of living
- The all-in monthly spend for one person — rent, food, transport and bills — in the country's main relocation city.
Moving to Malta — FAQ
Is there income tax in Malta?
Yes. Malta taxes income on progressive brackets. On a $60,000 salary the effective rate is about 23.8%, leaving roughly $45,700.
Can digital nomads get a visa for Malta?
Yes — Nomad Residence Permit requires €42,000/yr (~€3,500/month) from foreign sources.
How do you get residency in Malta?
The Nomad Residence Permit (income ~€42,000) is renewable up to four years total but isn't a citizenship path. Longer term, options are ordinary residence via work or self-employment, the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (property plus a government contribution), or standard EU routes.
How much does it cost to live in Sliema?
A single person needs roughly $1,900/month in Sliema, and a family around $4,500/month, all-in.
Is tap water safe to drink in Malta?
Yes — tap water in Malta is generally safe to drink.