EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Malta vs Montenegro: taxes, salary and cost of living
A move between Malta and Montenegro is not simply a choice between a cheap and an expensive country; income, rent and taxation pull the result in different directions.
Malta vs Montenegro at a glance
| Indicator | Malta | Montenegro |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 18% | 21% |
| Income tax | 0-35% | 0% / 9% / 15% |
| Social contributions | 20% | 21.5% |
| Tax burden | 29.8% | 21.5% |
| Average monthly salary | €2,250 | €1,225 |
| Studio rent | €1,037 | €490 |
| Monthly food estimate | €350 | €230 |
| Gasoline | 1.34 €/L | 1.49 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.13 €/kWh | 0.11 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Malta records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €1,025, approximately 83.7% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Malta ranks 16 of 27 for salary and Montenegro ranks 24 of 27. That ranking is useful context, but gross and net labels must be checked in the source record.
What recurring living costs reveal
Montenegro has the lower listed studio rent by €547, a 111.6% difference relative to the higher rent. Malta sits 29 of 37 and Montenegro 9 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Montenegro also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €863 in Malta and €505 in Montenegro. This leaves €358 more in Malta, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Montenegro has the lower listed tax burden by 8.3 percentage points. Standard VAT is 18% in Malta versus 21% in Montenegro. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Malta has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.15 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €7.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For a remote worker paid from abroad, housing and daily costs may matter more than the local salary ranking; on that narrow view, Montenegro deserves closer attention. A locally employed professional should instead begin with salary and payroll definitions.
Final view: Malta or Montenegro?
Malta produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Montenegro leads on listed rent. That split explains why there is no universal winner.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Malta comparisons · Explore Montenegro comparisons