🇲🇹 Malta
Valletta: what to see and whether to move there
Valletta is a Knights Hospitaller fortress on a promontory, where Baroque gold inside its churches meets bastions overlooking the Mediterranean, and the whole capital is a single UNESCO World Heritage Site.
St. John's Co-Cathedral
A lavish Baroque interior holding Caravaggio's masterpiece 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist'.
Grand Master's Palace
The former seat of the Knights of Malta's grand masters, now home to the country's president.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
A hilltop terrace over the Grand Harbour, famous for its midday saluting battery cannon fire.
Fort St. Elmo & National War Museum
The stronghold of the 1565 Great Siege, now telling the island's military history.
National Museum of Archaeology
Home to the famed 'Sleeping Lady' figurine and artefacts from Malta's megalithic temples.
Republic Street (Triq ir-Repubblika)
The city's main pedestrian spine, lined with shops and cafes down to a harbour view.
Valletta Waterfront
Restored 18th-century warehouses by the sea, now home to restaurants and cruise-ship berths.
Café Cordina
Valletta's oldest patisserie, serving pastries on Republic Square since 1837.
Restaurant Nenu the Baker
Home-style Maltese cooking and wood-fired bread in the heart of the old city.
Is-Suq tal-Belt Market
A restored Victorian covered market turned lively food hall.
What the city lives on and who it suits
Valletta is the capital of Malta and the smallest capital in the European Union: about 6,000 people live within its walls, and the whole country has about 560,000. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site; by day it hosts ministries, courts, banks and museums, and by evening it empties noticeably. The real capital life spreads across the harbour area: Sliema, St Julian's, Gzira, Msida and the Three Cities.
Malta's economy rests on financial services, online gaming, tourism, aircraft maintenance and IT. English is an official language alongside Maltese, so Europeans and specialists from elsewhere move here readily.
It suits remote workers earning from €42,000 a year, staff of financial and gaming companies, and families who value English, the sea and the European Union. It does not suit those seeking quiet and space: the island is densely built and crowded with tourists in summer.
Neighbourhoods: where newcomers settle
| Area | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| Valletta | those who want to live in the historic city: old buildings, few cars, quiet evenings |
| Sliema | most newcomers: seafront, shops, ferry to Valletta |
| St Julian's and Paceville | young professionals: offices, restaurants, nightlife |
| Gzira and Msida | those who need cheaper rent near the centre |
| The Three Cities | those who value harbour views and calm |
| Gozo | families and remote workers: quieter and cheaper, ferry to Malta |
Cost of living
| Item | Approx. per month |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in Sliema or St Julian's | €1,000-1,400, ~$1,200-1,600 |
| One-bedroom flat in Gzira, Msida or Gozo | from €900 |
| Groceries for one | €300-400 |
| Public transport | free for residents with a personal card |
| Electricity in summer with air conditioning | €60-150 |
A single person lives comfortably on about €2,500-3,200 a month including rent; a family needs about €2,800 excluding rent. Dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 05.10.2026, rounded up.
Practicalities: transport, climate, money
- Transport. Buses across the island, free for residents; ferries between Sliema, Valletta and the Three Cities, and to Gozo. Traffic drives on the left; congestion and parking are constant problems.
- Climate. Hot dry summers around +30 and above, mild windy winters around +12-16.
- Taxes. Income tax 0-35%, the first €12,000 a year tax-free; remote workers on the nomad visa pay 10% after the first year. See Malta taxes.
- Language. English is official and used by government, banks and schools.
Family: schools and healthcare
Public schools are free and teach in Maltese and English. Private and international schools with a British curriculum cost about €5,000-15,000 a year. Public healthcare is free for contributors, private clinics are inexpensive by European standards, and the main hospital is in Msida.
Work and business
The largest employers of foreigners are online gaming companies, financial and payment firms, auditors and lawyers, aviation and IT. A Maltese company pays 35% on profit, but after part of the tax is refunded to the shareholder the final burden is usually about 5%, so Malta is used for holdings and licensed businesses. The financial services regulator vets owners strictly, banks check the source of funds, and opening an account for a new company can take several months.
Moving and legal status
| Basis | Main condition | More |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad residence permit | remote work and income from €42,000 a year gross, for a year renewable up to 4 years | nomad visa |
| Permanent residence by investment | €60,000 administrative fee, €37,000 contribution, property and capital | Malta permanent residence |
| Work | a work permit through the employer | - |
The citizenship by investment programme closed after the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union in April 2025; see Maltese citizenship. Permanent residence applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals are not accepted.
First steps after the move
- obtain a residence card from the immigration agency and a personal number;
- register with the tax office and social security if you work in Malta;
- open a bank account; Maltese banks check the source of funds carefully;
- get a personal transport card for free buses;
- apply early for a school place for children.
Is the city worth considering for living
Yes, if you want seaside life in the European Union in English, with a clear remote work visa and moderate taxes. No, if dense building, traffic and summer crowds bother you, or if you are a Russian national for whom some programmes are closed. We choose the basis, prepare documents and help with housing and banking; we fix our fee after a free consultation.
Services
Murblz services in Malta
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
FAQ
Best time to visit Malta?
How many days do you need in Valletta?
Is Malta expensive to live in?
How do you get residency in Malta?
What income does the Malta nomad visa need?
Can I buy Maltese citizenship?
Do I need a car in Malta?
Relocation options
Considering Malta permanent residence with a home near Valletta?
We compare buying or renting a home and the contributions for Malta permanent residence, check the source of funds and handle the application. The catalogue lists investor residence.