Is Malta Expensive? Malta Travel Costs

Unaccustomed to the UK winter after years of travelling, we had to escape for some winter sun. Flights to Malta from the UK can be cheap (we chose to holiday in Malta because of this!) but how expensive is Malta when you get there?

Daily Travel Costs in Malta

Daily Travel Expenses in Malta: €55 / £50

Our two week holiday in Malta cost us a daily total of €55 / £50 per person (not including flights). We travelled independently and not with a tour company.

Our return flights with Air Malta from London Gatwick to Malta cost us £99 per person. We travelled in early November, outside of high season. I use Skyscanner to price compare flights and search with the ‘full month’ option turned on for dates to see how prices change on each day of them month.

Overall, we found Malta to be an expensive holiday destination when compared with other European countries. Prices are similar to what we would expect to pay in the UK for accommodation and meals out.

Is Malta Expensive?

Malta is an expensive travel destination when you compare it with other European destinations like Bulgaria and even Barcelona, though it did fare well against Madrid. At an average cost of €55 per day, Malta was an expensive holiday but it’s well worth it to see this beautiful and underrated country.

Average Costs in Malta

Here is a breakdown of the average costs of common purchases in Malta:

Accommodation in Malta

Accommodation in Malta is expensive. Malta is a small enough island that you could base yourself in one town for the entirety of your stay and take day-trips to everywhere. However, it’s not uncommon for travellers to stay overnight on Gozo Island as well.

We opted for a self-catered apartment in Valletta so that we would be able to cook our own meals and cut costs of eating out. Malta has some fantastic rental apartments, especially in the gorgeous Valletta! We split our time between Valletta and Rabat.

Accommodation in Valletta

The majority of our trip, we based ourselves in Valletta. We had a self-catered studio apartment in the centre of town for €72 per night. This is the average price you would expect to pay for accommodation in Malta’s capital of Valletta during this season. In high season, you can expect a premium on these nightly prices as holiday apartments and hotels in Valletta are in high demand.

Check out holiday rental apartments in Valletta here. Here are a few we spotted that look great:

• Sant’Elmo House Valletta
• Valletta Period Townhouse
• Valletta 2-Bedroom Townhouse
• Valletta Kursara Port View Apartment

Accommodation in Rabat

We stayed for two nights in a shared house in Rabat. This was slightly cheaper at €40.50 per night but as we didn’t have kitchen access we spent significantly more on eating out.

Here are some accommodation options we loved to look of in Rabat:

• Amelie Apartment
• MYN Zondadari Apartment

Accommodation in Other Areas of Malta

If you’re on a tight budget, then look into staying in more rural areas of Malta. You can often get a room in a local Maltese house for cheaper or a whole house if you’re with a group for a reasonable price further out from Rabat and Valletta. If you’re keen to stay near Valletta, check out the Three Cities area just across the water which has the same feel as Valletta but a lesser price tag.

Here are a few unique accommodation options in less touristy parts of Malta:

• Three Cities Apartment
• Casa Cara Apartment
• Ella’s Place

Cost of Transport in Malta

Malta has an excellent and reasonably priced bus service. Bus routes run across the island. Valletta is particularly well-connected to bus routes and makes for a good home base.

In the winter months, bus tickets cost €1.50 per journey and €2 in the summer. Summer rates apply between mid-June and mid-October. The night bus costs €3 per journey. Tickets are valid for 2 hours after purchase, so you can take multiple buses on the same ticket within that 2-hour period.

If you are staying in Malta for some time and plan to take the bus regularly, it may work out cheaper to purchase a 12-journey card. This card gives you 12 single day journeys for €15 and it can be used by more than one person.

You can purchase tickets on the bus or buy travel cards from kiosks at the main bus stations. For more information on bus routes and tickets, check the Malta Public Transport website.

Cost of Eating Out in Malta

Eating out in Malta is expensive. A meal in a restaurant can easily add up to €30+ for two people. However, you can expect a main course for around €12. It’s possible to get a salad box or sandwich for €5-8.

The most commonly found dishes in Maltese restaurants are cheese and meat platters, pizza, pasta and seafood. There are a lot of very good Italian restaurants in Malta, unsurprising as the island is so close to Sicily.

If you are travelling on a budget in Malta, I highly recommend eating the local pastries called pastizzi. They’re a traditional savoury filo pastry, usually stuffed with ricotta or mushy peas. They cost €0.50 each and they’re filling! You can find them in small bars, cafes or family-run pastizzeria.

Maltese pastizzi are just €0.50 each – the cheapest snack!

Here’s our list of restaurant recommendations in Malta:

Budget:

• Crystal Palace in Rabat – Hands down the BEST pastizzi in Malta! You’ll always find locals crowded in here because the pastizzi is served fresh out of the oven. €0.40 for a pastizzi.
• The Submarine in Valletta – Sandwiches made to order for €3.50. Choose your own bread and filling. Options include ftira.
• No. 43 – Salad bar near to The Submarine. Well-sized salad boxes cost €5 to take-away.

Mid-range:

• Ta’ Doni in Rabat – €18 for an excellent Maltese vegetarian platter for two with local cheese, bread, olives and tapenade.
• Margo’s Restaurant in Valletta – Quaint Italian restaurant with red-painted doors and outside seating. €10-€15 for a pizza.
• San Paolo Naufrago in Valletta – Outside tables on the cobbled steps. Locally run restaurant serves focaccia, pizza and pasta. €10-€15 for a pizza. Get there early or book ahead as it’s often busy!

Maltese vegetarian platter for 2 for €18 at Ta’ Doni in Rabat

Self-Catering in Malta

The cost of eating out in Malta is a lot. If you’re on a budget, then I’d recommend eating in. We often made our own sandwiches with ftira bread from the local bakery, avocados and tomatoes. Eating in works out much cheaper than eating out, especially if you buy local ingredients and bread.

Cost of Alcohol in Malta

Malta produces its own wine and beer, although you will also find many imports from Italy. Maltese and Italian wines and beers tend to be cheapest.

The local beer is Cisk and will usually cost €2 in a bar or restaurant. Expect to pay €2.50+ for any other brand of beer and a premium for foreign beer or craft beer.

A glass of Maltese house wine is often priced €3.50-4.50 in bars and restaurants. Italian wine tends to be a similar. Some restaurants only serve Italian wine, so it’s worth checking whether Maltese wine is available.

Cost of Activities in Malta

I’ve been spoilt in the UK by free museums and art galleries. Unfortunately in Malta there is an entrance fee for all museums, galleries and ruins.

We visited a number of attractions across Malta, including:

• St Paul’s Catacombs – €5
• Fort St Elmo – €10
• Grandmaster’s Palace – €10
• Tarxien Temples – €6

If you’re happy to explore, then Malta is a good place for low-cost day-trips around the island. Malta has a gorgeous rugged coastline, a few beachy bays and plenty of hikes.

A coastal hike along Golden bay, Ġnejna Bay, Fomm ir-Riħ Bay and Riviera Bay will only cost you the bus ticket and is an incredible day-out. A trip across to the Three Cities from Valletta will cost a bus journey or a boat trip of the same price and can be explored by foot.

Many travellers to Malta also take a trip across to Gozo Island. It can be expensive to take a tour around Gozo, but you can take the local bus for the same price as on the mainland. Gozo has a beautiful Mdina and lovely fishing villages. The ferry across to Gozo costs €4.65 one-way.

Coastal hike along Malta’s bays

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