Malta is cheaper than it looks if you eat where Maltese people eat, take the bus until the bus stops making sense, and don’t book a hotel on the Sliema seafront in August. It’s more expensive than you’d think if you do the standard “stay on the waterfront, eat at the restaurants with English menus, taxi everywhere” approach — at which point Malta in summer can quietly hit €300+ per person per day.
This guide breaks down every category — accommodation, food, tours, transport, beach days, drinks, the small invisible costs — at three honest tiers, with real numbers from 2026. The goal: you can build your own budget by adding up the lines that actually apply to your trip.
For trip lengths see 3 days in Malta, 5 days Malta + Gozo, or 7 days in Malta.
Some links below are affiliate links — they don’t change your price, and they help keep this guide running.
At a glance: daily budget per person#
| Tier | Sleep | Eat | Move | Do | Total/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker (hostel, self-cater, bus) | €25–40 | €15–22 | €4–8 | €5–15 | €55–80 |
| Mid-range (3-star, mix of restaurants, bus + occasional Bolt) | €60–95 | €40–55 | €8–15 | €15–30 | €120–180 |
| Splurge (4–5 star, restaurant dinners, taxi/private guides) | €140–250 | €70–110 | €25–50 | €40–80 | €250–450 |
| Boutique honeymoon (5-star, fine dining, private tours, charter) | €250–450 | €100–180 | €40–80 | €80–200 | €450–800 |
These are per person, peak-shoulder season (May/June/September), before flights. Summer adds 30–60% to the sleep line. Winter cuts it by 40–50%.
Sleep: what hotels actually cost#
| Type | Low season (Nov–Mar) | Shoulder (Apr–May, Oct) | Peak (Jul–Aug) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €18–28 | €25–35 | €30–45 |
| 3-star Sliema/Buġibba | €70–110 | €110–160 | €170–260 |
| 3-star Valletta boutique | €95–140 | €150–220 | €250–380 |
| 4-star resort hotel | €130–180 | €200–290 | €320–480 |
| 5-star (Phoenicia, InterContinental) | €240–380 | €380–520 | €580–950 |
| Self-catering 1-bed apartment (Sliema) | €60–95 | €110–170 | €180–280 |
| Gozo farmhouse (whole house, sleeps 4) | €120–180/night | €200–300 | €350–550 |
(Per room/unit per night, mid-2026 rates.)
The biggest mistake is anchoring on the Booking.com headline rate without checking city tax (€0.50–€5/night) and breakfast (€8–18pp/day if not included). A 4-star hotel quoted at €200/night usually costs €230 once those land.
For where to stay by area and traveller type see where to stay in Malta and the dedicated best hotels in Valletta and best hotels in Sliema & St Julian’s money posts.
Eat: what food actually costs#
The honest truth: Maltese food is one of the best low-budget cuisines in Europe, and you can eat well for €15–25 per day if you lean local.
| Item | Local price | Tourist-zone price |
|---|---|---|
| Pastizzi (cheese or pea pastry, eaten standing) | €0.50 each | €1.20 |
| Ftira sandwich (Maltese flatbread, tuna/olives/capers) | €4–8 | €10–15 |
| Hobż biż-żejt (open Maltese sandwich) | €3–5 | €7–10 |
| Coffee at a cafe | €1.40–1.80 | €3–4 |
| Cisk lager 33cl | €2–3 (bar), €0.85 (shop) | €4.50–6 |
| House wine 25cl | €4–6 | €8–12 |
| Pasta dish (Maltese restaurant) | €11–16 | €18–28 |
| Rabbit stew (fenkata) at a working restaurant | €18–25 | €28–40 |
| Fresh fish lunch in Marsaxlokk | €25–35 | €40–60 |
| Fine-dining tasting menu (Noni, Caviar & Bull, ION) | €70–110 | n/a |
| Supermarket basket (bread, cheese, tomato, olives, wine for 2) | €18–25 | n/a |
| Hotel breakfast buffet | €12–18 | €18–25 |
Daily food cost by tier (per person):
- Backpacker, self-catering most meals: €15–22 (supermarket breakfast, pastizzi lunch, one local dinner)
- Mid-range, mix of restaurants and casual: €40–55 (cafe breakfast, ftira lunch, sit-down dinner)
- Splurge, restaurant dinners: €70–110 (hotel breakfast, casual lunch, full dinner with wine)
- Fine-dining nightly: €130–200 (any meal at the top restaurants will land here)
Where to actually eat well at low prices is covered in best pastizzi in Malta, best restaurants in Valletta and traditional Maltese food: 15 dishes you have to try. For food experiences see best Malta food tours.
Move: transport costs#
| Mode | Cost | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Tallinja single bus ride | €1.50 (winter), €2.50 (summer day), €3 (night) | Default for one-off rides |
| Tallinja Explore card 7-day | €21 | Use this for any 4+ day stay |
| Tallinja Explore Plus 7-day (incl. ferry) | €39 | If using Sliema↔Valletta ferry daily |
| Sliema–Valletta ferry single | €1.50 | Daily commute Sliema-Valletta |
| Bolt / eCabs short hop (Sliema–Valletta) | €5–8 | Late nights, rain, with bags |
| Bolt cross-island (Sliema–Ċirkewwa) | €25–35 | Avoiding the 222 bus in summer |
| Pre-paid airport taxi to Sliema/Valletta | €20 | Arriving with luggage |
| X1/X2/X3/X4 airport bus | €2.50 | Solo, light luggage, off-peak |
| Malta–Gozo ferry foot passenger | €4.65 return | Day-trippers and ferry-foot Gozo travellers |
| Malta–Gozo ferry with car | €15.70 return | Gozo overnight stays with rental |
| Rental car small/economy | €25–45/day shoulder, €40–65 peak | 3–4 days of inland touring |
| Scooter / Vespa rental | €25–40/day | Confident riders, faster than buses |
Total transport for a 7-day trip per person:
- Backpacker (bus + ferry only): €25–35
- Mid-range (Tallinja + occasional Bolt + airport transfers): €60–90
- Mid-range with rental for 3 days: €110–160 (split with partner)
- Splurge (Bolt for everything + airport transfers): €150–220
Full transport breakdowns in Malta airport to Valletta, Sliema, Malta public bus / Tallinja, renting a car in Malta, and Malta to Gozo ferry.
Do: tours, museums, beach days#
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Free Valletta walking tour (tip-based) | €5–15 tip |
| Paid Valletta walking tour + St John’s | €25–35 |
| Mdina/Rabat half-day combo | €35–50 |
| Comino Blue Lagoon full-day cruise (Sliema) | €30–45 |
| Small-group RIB to Comino | €60–85 |
| Sunset cruise from Sliema (catamaran) | €35–55 |
| Sailing-yacht sunset cruise | €55–85 |
| Gozo jeep day-trip from Malta | €70–95 |
| Gozo quad self-drive | €60–90 |
| Maltese cooking class | €85–120 |
| Valletta food walking tour | €55–70 |
| St John’s Co-Cathedral entry | €15 |
| Hagar Qim + Mnajdra megalithic temples | €10 |
| Hypogeum (book 8 weeks ahead) | €40 |
| Lascaris War Rooms | €15 |
| Fort St Angelo / Three Cities | €10 |
| St Paul’s Catacombs, Rabat | €8 |
| Malta Pass (3-day, 5-day attraction pass) | €69 / €89 |
| Beach day at Mellieħa or Golden Bay (loungers + drink) | €15–25 |
| Hop-on hop-off bus 24h pass | €25 |
Total tours-and-attractions for a 7-day trip per person:
- Backpacker (free walking tour + cathedral + 1 paid tour): €30–60
- Mid-range (Valletta walk + Comino cruise + Gozo day): €120–180
- Splurge (private guide + small-group RIB + cooking class + sailing yacht): €350–550
For tour comparisons see best Malta tours, Blue Lagoon Comino tours, best Gozo day trips, best Valletta walking tours, best Mdina & Rabat tours, best Malta sunset cruises, and best Malta food tours. For a value verdict on the city pass see Is the Malta Pass worth it?.
What 7 days actually costs#
A worked example for a couple, mid-range, in shoulder season (May or September):
| Category | Couple total |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (4 nights Sliema 3-star + 3 nights Gozo) | €750–1,000 |
| Food (€55/day each x 7) | €770 |
| Tours (Valletta walking + Comino cruise + Gozo combo + walking-tour add-on) | €240–340 |
| Transport (2x Tallinja Explore Plus + 2 days car rental) | €120–180 |
| Museum entries (St John’s, Lascaris, catacombs, Hagar Qim) | €100 |
| Drinks/coffee/snacks (€10/day each x 7) | €140 |
| Misc & tips | €60–120 |
| All-in (excluding flights) | €2,180–2,650 / couple |
That’s €155–190 per person per day which lands solidly in the mid-range tier.
What 7 days costs at the other tiers#
Backpacker solo, 7 days, shoulder season:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm (4 nights Sliema + 3 nights Gozo) | €185–245 |
| Food (€18/day x 7) | €126 |
| Tours (free walking + 1 paid budget tour + DIY Comino ferry) | €40–80 |
| Transport (Tallinja Explore Plus + Gozo ferry) | €45 |
| Museum entries (cathedral + 1 catacombs) | €25 |
| Total | €420–520 |
Splurge couple, 7 days, peak July:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 4-star Sliema (4 nights) + 5-star Gozo (3 nights) | €2,200–3,000 |
| Food (€100/day each x 7) | €1,400 |
| Tours (private Valletta + sailing sunset + cooking class + private Gozo + sailing charter) | €1,200–1,800 |
| Transport (private transfers + 4 days car) | €450–650 |
| Museums + drinks + misc | €350 |
| Total | €5,600–7,200 / couple |
Hidden costs people miss#
A handful of small lines that quietly add 5–10% to budgets:
- City tax: €0.50–€5/night depending on hotel category. Paid at check-in or check-out, not always shown in the booking total.
- Hotel breakfast (€12–18/day) — only included on some rates.
- ATM fees: €3–5 per withdrawal if your home bank charges. Use a fee-free travel card (Wise, Revolut, Chase UK, Charles Schwab US).
- Beach lounger and umbrella: €15–25/day at Mellieħa, Golden Bay or Ramla.
- Comino kiosk drinks: €5 for a beer, €4 for a small water. Bring your own.
- Hotel restaurant minibar: €5 for a Cisk that costs €0.85 in a supermarket.
- Tour tipping: €5–10/person for guides, €2–5 for waiters. Maltese tipping culture is light but real.
- WiFi data: if your EU plan doesn’t roam, a Malta SIM is €15 for 7 days unlimited at any kiosk.
- Sunscreen and water: Maltese pharmacy sunscreen is €15–25 a tube. Bring your own.
Cost by season#
| Month | Hotel index (Aug = 100) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 | Cheapest, some Gozo restaurants closed |
| Feb | 42 | Carnival weekend +20% |
| Mar | 50 | Shoulder begins |
| Apr | 65 | Easter +20% on the week |
| May | 75 | Sweet spot for value |
| Jun | 85 | Crowds rising |
| Jul | 95 | Peak heat starts |
| Aug | 100 | Most expensive month |
| Sep | 80 | Sea is warmest, prices ease |
| Oct | 65 | Best value of the warm months |
| Nov | 48 | Quiet, mild, cheap |
| Dec | 50 | Christmas week +30% |
For full month-by-month detail see best time to visit Malta and the off-season specifics in Malta in winter.
How to cut your Malta budget by 30%#
The five highest-impact moves:
- Don’t stay on the Sliema or Valletta seafront. Move 200m back; same access, 25% off the hotel rate.
- Eat at least one meal a day at a local pastizzeria, ftira shop or supermarket. Cuts food costs by 40%.
- Buy the Tallinja 7-day Explore card (€21) instead of single tickets. Pays back at ride 8.
- Skip the Sliema → Comino big-boat cruise; do the DIY Ċirkewwa shuttle. €30 saved per person, more time at the lagoon.
- Travel in May, October or November, not July or August. Hotel costs drop 30–50% and the sea is still swimmable May/Oct.
How to splurge well in Malta#
If you’ve got the budget and want to spend it where it matters:
- One night at Iniala (Three Cities) or Phoenicia (Floriana). Worth the splurge for the harbour view.
- A small-group sailing yacht sunset cruise (€65–85pp) — beats the catamaran versions for atmosphere.
- A private licensed guide for one Mdina/Valletta day — €130–180 for the day; turns it into a custom-paced experience.
- Tasting menu at Noni, ION or de Mondion — €80–110pp, the best food in Malta.
- Helicopter or seaplane transfer to Gozo — €150–220pp, 7 minutes vs 2 hours, a great memory.
FAQ#
How much does a week in Malta cost?#
For a couple, mid-range, in shoulder season: €2,200–2,650 all-in (excluding flights), or roughly €155–190 per person per day. Backpacker solo: €420–520 for the week. Splurge couple in peak July: €5,600–7,200.
Is Malta cheap or expensive?#
Cheaper than Italy, Spain or France in shoulder season, broadly comparable to Greece. More expensive than Eastern Europe, less than Switzerland or Scandinavia. Malta in November is genuinely cheap; Malta in August is squarely mid-priced Mediterranean.
How much should I budget per day in Malta?#
€55–80 backpacker, €120–180 mid-range, €250–450 splurge per person per day, before flights. Add 30–60% for July/August hotel premiums.
What’s the cheapest time to visit Malta?#
Mid-November to mid-March for the lowest hotel rates (40–60% off August). January is the absolute trough; mid-November and mid-March are the best balance of low prices and pleasant weather.
How much does food cost in Malta?#
A local lunch (pastizzi or ftira + drink) is €5–10. A casual sit-down dinner with wine is €20–30 per person. A fine-dining tasting menu is €70–110pp. Self-catering one meal a day cuts costs by 40%.
How much is a beer in Malta?#
€2.50–4 at a casual bar, €4.50–6 at a tourist-zone bar or hotel, €0.85–1.20 at a supermarket for a 33cl Cisk lager. Cocktails are €10–14.
Do I need to tip in Malta?#
Light tipping is expected. 5–10% at restaurants if service isn’t included; €5–10 per person for tour guides; €1–2 for taxi rounds. Maltese tipping culture is real but not aggressive.
Is Malta cheaper than Greece or Cyprus?#
Roughly comparable to Greece in shoulder season; slightly cheaper than Cyprus for hotels. Food in Malta is similar to Greece for casual meals, and slightly cheaper than Cyprus. The big variable is the hotel — Malta’s August rates spike harder than mainland Greece’s because the island is small and capacity is fixed.
What’s the cost of a Malta + Gozo trip?#
A 5-day Malta + Gozo trip for a couple, mid-range: €1,400–1,900 all-in excluding flights. The Gozo half is slightly cheaper than the Malta half — accommodation runs 15–25% less in Gozo, food the same. Full breakdown in 5 days Malta + Gozo.
Last verified: April 2026. Prices change — verify with the operator or hotel before booking. All figures in EUR (€); 2026 rates.
