If you’re dreaming of a Mediterranean getaway but worried about your budget holding you back, you might be surprised to learn that Malta is one of the most budget-friendly destinations in Europe. Before visiting, I had heard that Malta was affordable, but I didn’t fully realize just how much value you get for your money until I tallied up my expenses after a week-long trip.
In this guide, I’m breaking down exactly how much we spent in Malta, covering everything from accommodation and transportation to food and excursions. Whether you’re planning a short getaway or a longer stay, this breakdown will help you estimate your own Malta travel budget and make the most of your trip without breaking the bank!
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Malta Travel Budget Overview
- Our Malta Trip Overview
- Malta Travel Budget: Expenses Breakdown
- Malta Travel Budget Tips: How we could have cut costs
TL;DR – Quick Tips for First-Time Visitors:
💰 We spent 113€ per person per day in Malta (all included)
🏨 Stay in Valletta for quick visits or Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa for longer stays
🚗 Rent a car to get around the island affordably and efficiently
✨ DON’T MISS renting a quad bike in Gozo, Mdina the Silent City, Valletta the capital, and riding the traditional gondola boats to Birgu
🩺 Travel anxious-free by getting travel medical insurance
🗺️ Short on time? Don’t waste your time and skip these activities
📍 Check out my 3-day Malta itinerary for a breakdown of the BEST things to do in Malta
Our Malta Trip Overview
Here is some context about our trip to gauge if your Malta travel budget will look similar or slightly different.
We spent 8 days and 8 nights in Malta at the beginning of November, right at the start of the off-season. While traveling during the shoulder season certainly helped lower our costs, Malta is generally an affordable destination, especially compared to other European countries.
For our Malta travel budget, we didn’t necessarily want to splurge like crazy but at the same time, we wanted to enjoy our holidays. We wanted to come back to a nice room, have a good night’s sleep and make the most of our days exploring the country as much as we could.
I will outline below all of our expenses over the course of a week-long visit with my fiancee. In the outline, our total expenses will be broken down both as a couple and per person for full transparency
Note: Since I traveled with my fiancé, we split all major costs evenly, including accommodation, restaurant bills, and transportation.
Malta Travel Budget: Expenses Breakdown
Accommodation Expenses: Where to stay on a budget
🏨 Total: 436 € (or 218 € per person)
Normally, I am an Airbnb-er all the way but in Malta, I was surprised to find that hotels were often just as affordable—if not cheaper—than Airbnb options.
After comparing prices, we used booking.com to reserve a beautiful hotel room in the north of the island for a very reasonable price; it was only 54.5 € a night! Our hotel had three different pools, a spa, two restaurants, and three different bars on site.
For the amenities and comfort, it was well worth the price!
Before booking anything, compare prices of hostels, hotels, and Airbnbs – don’t assume one is more affordable than another. From our experience, a nice, good-quality hotel could be the same price as your average Airbnb. Take the time to peruse your options!
✨Where we stayed: Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa.
PRO TIP: For shorter stays, I recommend staying in Valletta, which is more central and has easy access to the airport. Browse some options below!
Transportation Expenses: Getting around Malta for less
Total: 438.94 € roughly (or 219.47 € per person)
✈️ Total Flight: 234 €
For our trip to Malta, we booked flights through Air Malta using mytrip, a French service we tried for the first time. Everything went smoothly, and we were pleasantly surprised by the overall experience! The 234 € price also covered one carry-on bag per person—always something to consider with budget airlines. Either way, the extra baggage fees were reasonable, from our experience.
🚗 Total Car Rental: 165.94 €
While Malta boasts an extensive public bus network, which makes getting around quite easy, we decided to rent a car. Why? Although buses are convenient and more affordable, we wanted maximum freedom and flexibility, especially since our flight times were early in the morning, and we didn’t want to rely on bus schedules.
PRO TIP: We’ve been using rentalcars.com for our recent road trips and consistently found the best deals. Highly recommend this platform!
⛽️ Total Gas: 20 €
Even with all the exploring we did, the island is so small that we only needed about 2/3 of a tank over the course of a week. We only had to fill up once before heading back to the airport, keeping expenses low for the week.
🅿️ Total Parking: 19 €
Parking was easy for the most part. We only had to pay for parking when visiting major cities like Valletta and Sliema. Everywhere else, we found free parking either on the street or in parking lots.
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Bus vs car rental: which choice is best for you?
🚗 Pros for car rental:
- Freedom and flexibility: With a car rental, you’re in control, and you can come and go as you please. The island is so small that the longest drive we did was only about 40 minutes, making it easy to explore at your own pace.
- Affordable: Our car rental cost only about 18 € per day—definitely a great deal in my opinion!
❌ Cons for Car Rental:
- Driving challenges: Maltese drivers can be a bit wild, and don’t forget—Malta drives on the left side of the road! It was a bit stressful at times, especially for us as first-time visitors.
- Car rental complications: We encountered a few issues with our car rental when we arrived, which added unnecessary stress to our trip.
🚌 Pros for Taking the Bus:
- Frequent service: The buses run often and can take you to all the major areas on the island. With the bus, you don’t have to worry about driving, parking, or buying gas.
- Cost-effective: A bus trip costs just 2 € per person, making it a very affordable option.
❌ Cons for Taking the Bus:
- Longer travel time: Although there are many buses, if you need to change buses, you might end up waiting quite a bit. For example, a drive that took us 35 minutes by car took one couple we met around 1 to 1.5 hours by bus due to transfers and delays. Buses also run on a schedule, which can restrict your flexibility.
Food & Drink Expenses: How much does eating out in Malta cost?
🍝 Total: 417.4 € roughly (or 208.7 per person)
As I mentioned earlier, we wanted to enjoy ourselves during this trip, which meant indulging in cocktails from time to time and savoring nice meals with plenty of desserts (yes, lots of desserts!). But we didn’t go overboard every day. Our typical routine was a light breakfast and light lunch, followed by a more indulgent dinner.
Budgeting for food can be tricky since everyone’s preferences are different. I initially anticipated spending around 300 € (roughly 35-40 € per day) for the week in my Malta travel budget, but our actual expenses ended up being much lower than expected.
One notable difference we noticed was the cost of soft drinks compared to mainland Europe—prices in Malta can be higher. Additionally, we were advised against drinking tap water in Malta, which meant we were purchasing bottled water almost daily, adding to the cost.
Excursion Expenses: Cost of attractions & activities in Malta
🤿 Total: 367.3 € (or 183.65 per person)
While we didn’t book any tours (since we already had a car rental), we made sure to pack our days with as many activities and experiences as possible to truly experience the island.
To give you an idea of what we did, here’s a list of some of the highlights:
- Tried a traditional cooking class
- Took a beginner scuba diving lesson
- Rented a buggy in Gozo
- Visited Popeye’s Village
- Took two traditional boat rides
- Visited St. John’s Co-Cathedral
When you add everything up, I feel like our total excursion costs were quite reasonable for the variety of experiences we had.
We used a French discount company called le Petit Maltais, which provided access to discounts on several excursions. We were able to use this for our scuba diving lesson and buggy rental, which helped reduce costs.
However, because we were traveling during the off-season, some excursions weren’t available, so we couldn’t take full advantage of the discounts. But we made the most of it!
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Miscellaneous Expenses (unexpected expenses, gifts, souvenirs etc.)
💸 Total: 155 € (77.5 € per person)
In terms of miscellaneous expenses, this trip was relatively straightforward, and we didn’t splurge too much on gifts or souvenirs, keeping our total under 10 € for those.
However, there were a couple of unexpected costs that popped up. Since we were flying in and out of Paris, we hadn’t accounted for the cost of taking the RER to ORLY Airport. This cost us 24 €, which was an oversight when budgeting ahead of time.
We also had a hiccup when picking up our rental car, which led to an unexpected charge of 120 € for an extra driver (something we hadn’t planned for).
These unforeseen expenses added a bit to our overall costs, but they were manageable.
Summary: My personal expenses during our ENTIRE trip to Malta were roughly 907.32 € (or 113.42 € per day)
Malta Travel Budget Tips: How we could have cut costs
🚌 Take the bus instead of a car rental. While renting a car in Malta is affordable (and gives you flexibility), taking the bus is an excellent budget-friendly alternative. Malta has an extensive bus network that can take you to most major attractions. If you’re working with a limited budget, the bus is an easy and cost-effective choice.
🏨 Stay in a hostel rather than a hotel. We opted for comfort and chose to stay in a hotel, but there are definitely cheaper options available. Hostels, especially for solo travelers or those who don’t mind a more communal stay, offer affordable accommodations. Check out these cool, budget-friendly hostels on Hostelworld for more affordable stays!
❌ Skip some attractions. If we had to choose one attraction to skip, it would be Popeye’s Village. It’s a unique spot and a fun way to support the locals, but we didn’t spend much time there. At 28 € for two people, it felt a bit overpriced for the experience. Instead, consider exploring more of the island’s natural beauty or cultural sites for a similar price.
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Malta Travel Budget: Final Thoughts
Ultimately, your Malta travel budget will depend on your preferences and travel style. While it’s possible to visit Malta on a budget by using public transport, staying in affordable accommodations, and making strategic choices about attractions, there are still ways to indulge without completely breaking the bank.
By following the tips and insights we’ve shared, you can get the most out of your trip without sacrificing comfort or missing out on the island’s beautiful experiences.
Whether you opt for the convenience of a rental car, the ease of taking the bus, or a more luxurious hotel stay, Malta offers something for every budget. By planning ahead and adjusting your priorities, you can enjoy all that this Mediterranean gem has to offer—without worrying about your budget holding you back.
Malta is an incredible destination, and with a bit of smart budgeting, it can be an unforgettable trip that doesn’t cost more than you can afford.
Ready to start planning your trip to Malta? Check out my other resources for more travel tips, itineraries, and recommendations to make your trip stress-free and budget-friendly! Or, save yourself the time and stress and let me help you take some of the weight off! Check out my travel planning services on Thatch, I’d love to help you make the most of your trip!
