Malta
Malta on a budget: daily costs and money-saving tips
A budget day in Malta costs about €65–95 per person: dorm bed €25–45, food €20–35, buses €3–8 and one paid sight €10–20. Stay in Sliema or St Julian's, eat pastizzi and ftira, and use buses and the Gozo ferry. July, August and Easter push costs up 30–60%.
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GuideMalta
Key facts
- Budget day
- €65–95 per person (dorm, pastizzi and ftira, buses, one sight)
- Mid-range day
- €145–280 per person sharing a double room
- Cheapest monthscheck
- November–March outside Christmas and New Year; July, August and Easter are the most expensive
- Pastizz
- €0.60–1
- Ftira sandwich
- €4–7
- Cisk beer in a bar
- €3–5
- Gozo ferry, foot passenger returncheck
- About €5
- Environmental contributioncheck
- €1.50 per adult per night from 1 July 2026 (€0.50 before), capped per stay
- Cash
- Cards work in most places; carry euros for kiosks, village bars and some boat trips
Details
Malta is small, so the biggest lever on your daily spend is where you sleep and how you move. One base on the main island for four or five nights, with buses and ferries for day-trips, beats moving hotels every night. Sliema and St Julian's have the densest dorm and budget-hotel supply and the best bus links; Valletta is convenient but pricier per bed.
Food is where a budget trip is easiest to hold. Pastizzi (ricotta or pea) at €0.60–1 and a ftira sandwich at €4–7 cover breakfast and lunch for a few euros. Supermarkets and village bars keep dinner cheap; restaurants in Valletta and St Julian's are priced like southern European cities, so pick one sit-down meal a day rather than three.
Transport is the other easy saving. Buses are the default on the main island, and the Gozo ferry for foot passengers is about €5 return. Boat trips and the Hypogeum are the two items that can blow a day's budget, so book those deliberately rather than by impulse.
The environmental contribution is charged per adult per night on top of your room rate: €1.50 from 1 July 2026 (€0.50 before), capped per stay. It sits on the bed line in the table below. At ATMs, choose to be charged in euros; standalone machines in St Julian's add their own fee.
Summary table
Per person per day, sharing a room at mid-range and comfort. Flights and the one-off environmental contribution are not included. 2026 estimate; July–August and Easter cost more.
| Tier | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | €25–45 | €20–35 | €3–8 | €10–20 | €5–10 | €63–118 |
| Mid-range | €60–120 | €45–75 | €10–20 | €20–40 | €10–25 | €145–280 |
| Comfort | €150–350 | €90–180 | €30–80 | €40–100 | €20–60 | €330–770 |
Budget tier assumes a hostel dorm in Sliema or St Julian's, pastizzi and ftira, buses and one paid sight. Check current prices before booking.
Tips
- Travel November–March outside Christmas and New Year for the lowest room rates; July, August and Easter lift prices by 30–60%.
- Eat pastizzi and ftira for two meals and save the sit-down meal for one evening.
- Stay in Sliema or St Julian's for dorm supply and bus links; use one base rather than moving hotels.
- Use buses on the main island and the foot-passenger Gozo ferry (about €5 return) instead of taxis and tours.
- Carry euros for kiosks, village bars and some boat trips; pay by card where you can.
- At ATMs choose to be charged in euros, and avoid standalone machines in St Julian's that add fees.
- Budget for the environmental contribution per adult per night (€1.50 from 1 July 2026, capped per stay).
- Book the Hypogeum and any boat trip in advance and treat them as your one splurge, not an extra.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How much does a budget trip to Malta cost per day?
About €65–95 per person: dorm bed €25–45, food €20–35, buses €3–8 and one paid sight €10–20. Add the environmental contribution per adult per night. July, August and Easter push costs up 30–60%.
What is the cheapest month to visit Malta?
November to March, outside Christmas and New Year, has the lowest room rates and quieter sights. July, August and Easter are the most expensive. Winter sea temperatures are cool, so plan indoor sights and walking rather than swimming.
How can I save money in Malta?
Stay in a Sliema or St Julian's dorm, eat pastizzi and ftira, use buses and the foot-passenger Gozo ferry, keep one sit-down meal a day, carry euros for small vendors, and book the Hypogeum or a boat trip as your single splurge.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit Malta (Malta Tourism Authority)
- officialMalta Tourism Authority
- officialTransport Malta
- officialGozo Channel
- secondaryWikivoyage – Malta