Compare countries · Malta vs Portugal
Malta vs Portugal
Malta(Europe)·
Portugal(Europe)
Across 11 comparable indicators: Malta leads on 3, Portugal on 6, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Malta cheaper than Portugal?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Malta at 56.8 and Portugal at 48.8. Portugal is about 14% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, Malta or Portugal?
On the UN Human Development Index, Malta scores 0.924 and Portugal scores 0.890. Malta scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Malta compared to Portugal?
GNI per capita runs $41,440 in Malta against $29,930 in Portugal; people live 83.0 years on average against 82.4; Numbeo users rate healthcare 53 against 72. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Malta
56.8
Worse than 79% of countries
Portugal
48.8
Worse than 65% of countries
Portugal: 14% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Malta
28.2
Worse than 86% of countries
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
Portugal: 11% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Malta
57.0
Better than 56% of countries
Portugal
67.0
Better than 75% of countries
Portugal: higher perceived safety (67.0 vs 57.0).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Malta
0.924
Better than 88% of countries
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
Malta: higher human development (0.924 vs 0.890).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Malta
$72,210
Better than 88% of countries
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
Malta: 36% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Malta
83.0 yrs
Better than 89% of countries
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Malta
53.3
Worse than 84% of countries
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Portugal: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 53.3).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Malta
209 Mbps
Better than 81% of countries
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
Portugal: 16% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Malta
61/100
Better than 62% of countries
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
Portugal: freer press (84 vs 61 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Malta
6.44
Better than 71% of countries
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
Malta: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.44 vs 6.03).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Malta
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
- English proficiency: EF doesn't score one of these countries — usually because English is a native language there.
Deciding between Malta and Portugal for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Malta profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Portugal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.