From ancient cities to jaw-dropping coastal views, clear blue waters, and Game of Thrones filming locations, Malta has become a popular destination for all kinds of travellers. But, just how much does it cost to go to Malta? Read on to find out.

For the purpose of this budget, I’m proposing a 1-week trip to Malta (7 days and 6 nights). Also, note that this estimated budget has been created for one person. If you are travelling as a couple you’ll need to double these costs (except for hotels).

How much does it cost to go to Malta

 Estimated cost
Total$2,030 USD
Local transportation$40
Food and drink$330
Random spending$100

The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use to find out the average costs in your home country. This is just a rough estimate to give you an idea of how much to budget, depending on the type of traveller you are, you may spend less or you may spend more.


While Malta may be increasing in popularity, you still won’t be able to find a direct flight to this island country from North America. There’s usually one connection in a major European city such as Frankfurt, Germany or Paris, France required. That being said, despite the multiple flights needed to get to Malta, flight costs are pretty reasonable; around $700 return depending on where you’re flying from.

Remember, Canadians can use one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to offset some of their costs. It’s also worth considering using one of the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards in Canada since it’ll save you at least 2.5% when you’re abroad.


When it comes to figuring out where to stay in Malta, you have plenty of choices depending on the type of place you want to be. If you are a first time visitor, I suggest staying either in Sliema or Valetta as both are very central and it’s easy to get around the country from both. Valetta tends to be more popular with the older crowd while younger people like Sliema thanks to the nearby St. Julians (the party area).

Where to stay in Sliema

Where to stay in Valetta

Please note that I’ve used the average of a midrange hotel during the month of May (not peak season, not low season) to estimate the cost for this budget.

Local Transportation

When it comes to getting around Malta you can either use the local bus system or rent a car, there are pros and cons to both.

Renting a car allows for a lot more freedom to get around. It’s quicker and often easier than relying on buses, especially during peak season when it’s more crowded. That being said, finding parking in Malta can be a nightmare. In Sliema, you can expect to spend an hour looking for a free parking spot.

Alternatively, the bus system around Malta is very good, although it can be very slow. What would be a 20-minute drive is often an hour by bus thanks to all the stops. Buses in Malta are very affordable though. Tickets are about $2 and are paid in cash on board, the same goes for the ferry between Sliema and Valetta.

If you are going to Gozo (highly recommended) you can take the ferry across. It’s about $5 for a return ticket.

For the sake of this article, I’ve priced the transportation section based on public transit usage. If you do decide to rent a car, you’ll have to consider rental costs, fuel, and (possibly) insurance if you don’t have a credit card with car rental insurance.


A big draw of Malta is the natural scenery, the beaches and swimming areas, and the historic cities. These are all free to explore on your own time. Of course, there may be some paid activities you are interested in as well; perhaps a cooking class, a guided historical tour, or a boat tour. These, obviously, will all come at a price.

Additionally, there are quite a few museums around Malta, especially in Valetta. If you are not a fan of museums, then that’s an easy miss. However, if you are interested in learning about the War in Malta, of the history of Malta and the Knights of St. George, then definitely add a visit to these places in your itinerary.

I would suggest planning on spending about $200 on attractions in Malta. If you plan on doing a lot of tours, you’ll have to up that amount. Alternatively, if you are more interested in sight-seeing on your own then you can greatly reduce these costs.

Scuba divers will also know that Malta, and Gozo, is one of the best dive destinations in Europe. If you plan on doing any diving here, you’ll need to increase that $200 estimate.

Food and Drink

Food and drink prices can really vary throughout the country. However, for typical meals at mid-range restaurants you can expect to pay the following each day:

  • Breakfast: $7
  • Lunch: $15.00
  • Dinner: $25.00
  • Total: $47/day

Typical meals at restaurants will cost between $12-25 per meal. If you go for something fancier, say a seafood plate, then you can expect higher prices.

That being said, there are some really affordable street-type eats in Malta as well. One of the common snacks here is called pastizzi which are sort of like little pies with various fillings. The most common filling is ricotta cheese though you can also find vegetables and meat ones as well. These are available at little pastizzerias that can be found around the cities of Malta and will cost as little as 0.75 cents each. Definitely try them, they are delicious!

Alcohol is surprisingly cheap in Malta, both at the shops and also in restaurants. A glass of wine will cost you about 3 euro in a restaurant. However, if you end up visiting one of Malta’s wineries you can buy an entire bottle for 7 euro.

As for drinking water, you technically can drink the tap water. It has been deemed safe by the government. However, due to the filtering process, it tastes heavily of chemicals so you’ll want to buy drinking water. A large bottle of water should cost you 1 euro from the shops.

Random Spending

As always, I suggest adding on a little extra for random spending. This could be a nicer meal out, a few extra drinks one night, an additional day trip, or some souvenir shopping. For Malta, I suggest adding an extra $100 to your budget, just in case. They have typical souvenirs (shot glasses, t-shirts, mugs etc.) but it’s also known for its blown glass and filigree jewellery which may make nice gifts for friends or family back home.

Final thoughts

So, how much does it cost to go to Malta? Well, for one week (7 days and 6 nights) I estimate that you can expect to spend about $2,030 USD. Of course, you can either increase or decrease this budget using the tips above, but this estimate will give you a rough idea of what you will have to spend.

Malta is a great spot for a week for those looking to relax at the beach, explore old scenic towns, and maybe do some snorkelling or scuba diving. If you are looking for a more affordable vacation spot in the Mediterranean, Malta might be a good pick.