How much does a trip to Malta cost?
Malta is one of the Mediterranean's better-value destinations, especially compared with Italy or France. It uses the euro (EUR), and prices are generally lower than mainland Western Europe. Your daily spend depends mostly on accommodation and how often you eat out.
Daily budgets
- Budget traveller: 50-70 EUR per day (hostel dorm or cheap guesthouse, supermarket food, public buses)
- Mid-range: 110-160 EUR per day (3-star hotel or apartment, restaurant meals, the odd taxi)
- Comfort/luxury: 220 EUR and up (4-5 star hotels in Sliema or St Julian's, dining out, boat trips)
Couples sharing a room cut per-person costs significantly.
Sample prices
- Local beer (Cisk) in a bar: 2.50-3.50 EUR
- Pastizzi (Malta's flaky pastry snack): 0.40-0.60 EUR each
- Casual meal (rabbit stew, ftira sandwich): 12-18 EUR
- Three-course dinner with wine: 30-45 EUR
- Cappuccino: 1.80-2.50 EUR
- Single bus ticket: 2 EUR (winter) / 2.50 EUR (summer), valid 2 hours
- Tallinja Card (12 single trips): 15 EUR
- Ferry Valletta-Sliema: about 1.50 EUR
- Gozo ferry (return, on foot): 4.65 EUR
- Entry to St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta: 15 EUR
Transport
Public buses run by Tallinja cover the whole island and are cheap. Buy a Tallinja Card if you're staying a few days. Taxis and Bolt are convenient but add up; agree fares or use the app. Many travellers rent a car (from around 25-35 EUR/day) — handy for Gozo and quiet bays, but parking in Valletta and Sliema is tight.
Money and cards
Malta is firmly in the eurozone and card-friendly. Contactless and Visa/Mastercard work almost everywhere, including buses and small cafes. Carry a little cash for pastizzi vans, village kiosks and some Gozo spots. ATMs are common; use bank-branded machines and decline the "convert to my currency" (DCC) option to get the better rate.
How to save
- Travel in shoulder season (April-May, October) for cheaper hotels and fewer crowds
- Eat ftira and pastizzi for lunch instead of sit-down restaurants
- Use the ferries between Valletta, Sliema and the Three Cities — scenic and cheaper than taxis
- Buy a multi-trip bus card rather than single tickets
- Tap water is safe but tastes heavily of desalination; refill bottles to avoid buying water repeatedly
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