Is Malta cheap for tourists?

Malta is moderately priced — cheaper than the UK or France, similar to southern Italy and Spain. A comfortable mid-range trip costs around €100–150 per person per day including accommodation, meals and activities. Budget backpackers can manage on €50–70.

Malta daily budget 2026: how much does a trip cost?

How expensive is Malta in 2026?

Malta sits comfortably in the middle of the European price spectrum. It is cheaper than western Europe (UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands) and broadly comparable to southern Europe — similar to Sicily, slightly more expensive than rural Greece, roughly equivalent to Lisbon or Porto.

The biggest variable is seasonality. Hotel prices in July and August are 30–40% above the shoulder season (April–May, September–October). If you have flexibility, travelling in spring or autumn genuinely changes the budget equation.

Budget travel: €50–70 per person per day

Achievable on a full backpacker/budget traveller basis. This assumes:

Hostel dormitory bed (€20–30 in Sliema or St Julian’s)
Tallinja buses for all transport (€2 per ride, or €21 for a 7-day Explore Card)
Pastizzi and café sandwiches for lunch (€3–5)
One sit-down meal per day at a local or mid-range restaurant (€12–18)
Self-catering for one meal (supermarket — there’s a Lidl in Bugibba and a Welbee’s in Valletta)
Free or low-cost sightseeing (Valletta’s outdoor walks and bastions are free; Hagar Qim is €10 with concessions; the Three Cities are largely free to wander)

Reality check: The Blue Lagoon boat trip from Sliema or Mellieha costs €10–15 and is not optional if that is why you came. Factor in 1–2 paid experiences per week. The Cirkewwa–Gozo ferry return is €4.65 — genuinely cheap. Gozo Hop-On Hop-Off day pass is €15–20. A budget Malta week can absolutely be done for €350–450 total (excluding flights).

Mid-range travel: €100–150 per person per day

This is the comfortable traveller budget — private hotel rooms, restaurant dinners, some organised activities. It breaks down roughly as:

3-star B&B or small hotel (€70–100 per room, split between two = €35–50 each)
Tallinja buses plus 2–3 Bolt rides per day (€8–12)
Café breakfast included at hotel or €5–8 at a café
Casual lunch €12–18 (Maltese cuisine, not tourist-facing)
Restaurant dinner €25–40 for a proper meal with a glass of wine
1 paid activity every 2 days (boat tour ~€25–35, site entry €10–15)

Reality check: At mid-range, you can do almost everything — the Blue Lagoon cruise, the Gozo hop-on-hop-off day, St John’s Co-Cathedral (€15), a Grand Harbour cruise — without feeling budget constrained. The constraint is time, not money.

Upscale travel: €250–400+ per person per day

Malta has a small but growing luxury tier, concentrated in Valletta boutique hotels and St Julian’s 5-star properties.

5-star hotel in Valletta or the Hilton Malta in St Julian’s (€200–350 per night per room)
Private car hire with driver (€200–300/day)
Fine dining: ION Harbour, Noni or The Harbour Club in Valletta (€70–120 per person for tasting menu)
Private boat charter to Comino (€400–700 for a full-day private boat, split among a group = still significant per-person cost)
Private guided tours (€150–250 for a half-day private guide in Valletta or Gozo)

Costs broken down by category

Accommodation (per room, per night)

Type	Budget	Mid-range	Upscale
Hostel dorm	€18–28	—	—
Budget hotel / guesthouse	€50–80	—	—
3-star hotel or B&B	—	€70–110	—
4-star hotel	—	€120–180	—
5-star hotel	—	—	€200–400
Gozo farmhouse (per night)	—	€100–180	—

Prices are for shoulder season (April–June, September–October). July–August add approximately 30–40%. January–March subtract 35–50%.

Food and drink

Item	Price
Pastizz (snack)	€0.30–0.50
Coffee (espresso)	€1.20–2.00
Café lunch (sandwich + drink)	€5–8
Pizza at a Sliema pizzeria	€13–17
Fish dish at a local restaurant	€16–24
Full restaurant dinner (2 courses + wine)	€25–45
Fine dining tasting menu	€70–120
Beer at a bar (0.5L draught)	€3–5
Bottle of house wine at dinner	€18–28
Cocktail in a St Julian’s bar	€10–16
Supermarket beer (6-pack)	€5–7
Supermarket bottle of wine	€6–12

Transport

Item	Price
Tallinja bus single ticket	€2 (summer) / €1.50 (winter)
7-day Tallinja Explore Card	€21
Bolt / taxi from airport to Sliema	€15–20
Bolt / taxi from airport to Valletta	€15–20
Official taxi (white) from airport	€22–30
Cirkewwa–Mġarr ferry (foot passenger, return)	€4.65
Cirkewwa–Mġarr ferry (car return)	~€15.70
Sliema–Valletta ferry (return)	~€3
Valletta–Three Cities ferry (return)	~€3
Car rental per day	€30–60 (compact car)
Gozo Hop-On Hop-Off day pass	€15–22
Comino return boat ticket	€10–15

Activities and entry

Item	Price
St John’s Co-Cathedral	€15
Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples	€10
Hypogeum Hal Saflieni	€35 (Heritage Malta, book 2–3 months ahead)
Fort St Angelo (Birgu)	€10
Popeye Village	€18
Malta National Aquarium	€13 adult
Mdina Experience audio-visual	€12
Valletta 3-hour walking tour (guided)	from €25
Grand Harbour cruise (2 harbours)	from €15
Blue Lagoon boat trip from Sliema	€15–20
Gozo full-day tour (Ggantija, Dwejra, lunch)	from €45
PADI Open Water course (Malta)	€350–450 total
Quad tour Gozo (full day, with boat)	€100–130

Seasonal price differences

This is the clearest money-saving lever available to Malta visitors:

Season	Hotels vs. average	Activities vs. average
July–August	+30–40%	+10–20%
June	+15–20%	Standard
May	Standard	Standard
April	-10–15%	Standard
October	-10–15%	Standard
November–March	-35–50%	-10%

The Gozo ferry is the same price year-round. Bus tickets are slightly cheaper in winter (€1.50 vs €2). The biggest savings are in accommodation.

Things that are genuinely cheap in Malta

The Tallinja bus. A flat €2 anywhere on the island (or €21 for a weekly card) — remarkably good value for unlimited transport.
Pastizzi. The national snack — flaky pastry filled with ricotta or mushy peas — costs €0.30–0.50 from any village bar. Walking food that is genuinely delicious and genuinely local.
The Cirkewwa–Gozo ferry. €4.65 return for a foot passenger. Getting to the second island costs less than a coffee in London.
Free events. The village festas (June–September), Notte Bianca (October), the Fireworks Festival (April) and Isle of MTV (July) are all free.
The fortifications. Walking the Valletta bastions, the waterfront, the Three Cities ramparts and Mdina’s city walls costs nothing.

Things that cost more than expected

The Hypogeum. At €35 per person for a 45-minute underground visit (limited to 80 visitors daily), it is expensive by Malta standards. It is also the only way to visit, so if you want to go, budget for it.
Comino in summer. The Blue Lagoon boats are reasonably priced, but food and drink on Comino island during peak season is heavily inflated — €8 for a hot dog, €12 for a mediocre sandwich. Bring your own food and water.
Paceville cocktails. Bars in the nightlife strip of St Julian’s charge €12–18 for cocktails in summer. Budget more than you expect for a night out there.
Private taxis. Official white taxis charge airport-set fares that are 30–50% above Bolt prices for the same journey. Use Bolt where possible.
Valletta restaurant tourist zones. Republic Street and Strait Street have restaurants that charge €18–22 for pizza and €28–35 for fish. Two streets back, the same quality is 20–30% cheaper.

Frequently asked questions about Malta costs

How much spending money do I need for a week in Malta?

For a comfortable mid-range week: budget approximately €700–1,000 per person in spending money (excluding flights and hotel if pre-booked). This covers meals, transport, 3–4 paid activities and incidentals. Backpackers can do it on €400–500; upscale travellers might spend €1,500–2,000+ per week.

Is Malta more expensive than Greece?

Broadly similar, with slight variations. Island Greece (Santorini, Mykonos) is more expensive than Malta. Mainland Greece and the less touristed islands are slightly cheaper. Malta is cheaper than the Greek islands that are at peak tourist demand.

Is Malta cheaper than Spain?

Malta is broadly similar in cost to coastal Spain (Barceloneta, Costa Brava) and slightly cheaper than Barcelona city itself. The Balearics (Mallorca, Ibiza) in high season are significantly more expensive than Malta.

Can I visit Malta on €50 a day?

Yes, if you stay in a hostel dorm, use the Tallinja bus exclusively, eat from local bars and supermarkets, and stick to free sightseeing (the bastions, the streets of Valletta, the beaches). A couple of paid activities per week take the average above €50, but it is genuinely possible on a budget week.

Is Gozo cheaper than Malta?

Generally yes, for accommodation and food. Gozo farmhouses and guesthouses are typically 10–20% cheaper than equivalent Malta accommodation. Local restaurants in Victoria and Xlendi are slightly cheaper than comparable places in Sliema. The ferry over (€4.65 return) is the only extra cost.

When is Malta cheapest?

January to early March. Hotels are 40–50% below their summer peak, and the island is at its quietest. The trade-off is cooler weather (13–16°C) and a reduced Comino service. For culture-focused visitors, this is excellent value.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20