Quick things to know about living in Malta
Living in Malta comes with a unique mix of Mediterranean charm and somewhat modern convenience. English is one of the official languages (alongside Maltese), which makes settling in easier for most expats. The island is very small — you can drive from one end to the other in under an hour — but it’s packed with history, beaches, and lively towns. The country has seen an inflow foreign nationals moving to Malta to work in the iGaming and Fintech sectors. This has also lead to an inflow of foreigners to Malta who work as taxi drivers, delivery drivers, bus drivers, work in supermarkets and corners, and also work in the hospitality sector. This has caused the Maltese nationals to become, in general, very upset, as they believe their culture and country's identity is being lost, and the cost of housing has become too high for them.
The cost of living can vary depending on where you settle. But regardless of where you settle, the cost of living has been drastically increasing each year.. Areas like Sliema, Swieqi and St. Julian’s are popular with expats but also more expensive, while places like Mosta, Żebbuġ, or parts of Gozo offer more budget-friendly options (by budget friendly, we mean between €1000 to €1200 a month for an apartment to rent). However, Gozo is not a practical option, as it is a separate island, only accessible by ferry. The public transport bus service is free for residences with a personalized bus card (or €2 for a single trip if you don't have a personalized card), though not always punctual, and many locals rely on scooters or cars. Malta is part of the EU and the Schengen Area, making travel around Europe easy. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, a vibrant expat community, and easy access to sea, sun, and travel, Malta is a great place to build a new chapter — if you're up for a few quirks along the way.
Useful Apps for living in Malta
While there are many apps that you can have and use, there are a few that will become a habit to use while living in Malta.
Bolt and Uber - Transportation:
Probably the most popular apps in Malta. Given the unreliability of the public transport bus service, Bolt has become a mainstay in transportation in Malta. The abundance of Bolt drivers means you don't have to wait long for a driver confirmation. The cost of Bolt is also extremely affordable, compared to mainland Europe, with a trip from the airport to Sliema costing between €12 to €15. However, during the summer holiday period, the price of the fares drastically increase due to the influx of tourists which cause a supply and demand issue.
Much like Bolt, Uber has also become a mainstay in transportation in Malta. The Uber service is extremely competitive, and at a similar price. The rise of Uber and Bolt come at the expense of the traditional taxi service (white cabs), which has priced itself out of the market, and use pricing techniques based on cost per passenger or fixed prices to specific towns, which are grossly higher than Uber or Bolt.
Wolt Delivery, Bolt Food and Uber Eats - Take-aways, Groceries and small shopping items:
Wolt and Bolt Food are the go to places for take-away food and grocery delivery. The country is covered in Wolt delivery drivers (much to the irk of the Maltese drivers). Both Wolt and Bolt Food also serves as a merchant to place food orders for pick-up, and both have now expanded its delivery service to now cover categories such as: gifts, pet supplies, hardware items, alcohol, electronics, flowers, cosmetics and sports nutrition.
Much like Wolt Delivery and Bolt Food, Uber Eats covers various take-away and pick-up options and grocery stores. However, Bolt Food doesn't cover much non-food related items. As convenient as these apps are, please do consider the following negative aspects of them:
- These platforms take a big commission on sales from the restaurants and shops, which has a huge impact on local and small operators.
- In order to compensate for the commissions taken on sales, many shops and restaurants charge more per item on these apps, than if you went directly to them.
- Delivery drivers don't work directly for these platforms, but for a local agency that collects the full revenue of the work and then pay a minimum wage to the workers, who most of the time work incredibly long hours.
Revolut - Mobile Banking:
Revolut is the most popular banking service in Malta, with roughly 7 out of 10 adults using Revolut, despite not having a physical bank branch. The banking service is fully digital. Why is it so popular? It is cheap, has 5 different membership offers (ranging from free to €45 per month), quick and easy to open account (within 48 hours), has a powerful app, and offer services such as savings accounts, stock trading, crypto investing, virtual debit cards, exchanging and holding over 30 different currencies, seamlessly sending money abroad and creating accounts for your children.
You can register for a Revolut account through this affiliate link: Register for Revolut.
Amazon Shopping - Online Shopping:
Amazon shopping is hugely popular in Malta because the island has limited retail variety, especially for niche products, electronics, and specific brands. Heavily populated areas like Sliema and St Julian's have surprisingly limited electronic stores, result in residents either buying online or having to travel to towns such as Marsa, Qormi or Birkirkara to visit an electronics store. Many residents turn to Amazon (especially Amazon UK, Germany, or Italy) for better prices, wider selections, and fast international shipping. Despite Malta’s small size, delivery is usually smooth (usually taking a week to be fulfilled), and many people rely on it to access items that are either unavailable locally or significantly more expensive in local stores.
Tinder - Dating:
Tinder is quite popular in Malta, especially among younger locals, expats, and digital nomads looking to meet new people. Given the island’s small size and close-knit social circles, many use Tinder not just for dating but also to connect socially or casually while traveling or living abroad. The app’s popularity is particularly noticeable in urban areas like Sliema, St. Julian’s, and Valletta, where there's a vibrant mix of locals and internationals.
Facebook - Social Network and Marketplace:
Facebook is very popular in Malta, as many business lack their own website (or don't maintain it) and Facebook groups for property rentals, and buying and selling of used cars are extremely popular. Property agents make use of these Facebook groups (due to their websites not being maintained properly, and the speed of apartments going off the market) to push available places. The groups are very weak in moderation, and it often results in property agents, and the companies they work for, spamming groups multiple times a day. There are groups for properties available to rent directly from owners, but unfortunately, the property agents have also made their way into these groups (due to poor group moderation) and often lie about being an owner. Facebook groups fill the space where a lack of a marketplace solution or apps have yet to take hold off. As with any marketplace, a degree of caution is required to protect oneself from scams and fraudsters.