EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Malta vs Romania: taxes, salary and cost of living
Malta and Romania present two different cost profiles: the first question is whether the salary gap compensates for housing and daily expenses.
Malta vs Romania at a glance
| Indicator | Malta | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 18% | 21% |
| Income tax | 0-35% | 10% |
| Social contributions | 20% | 37.25% |
| Tax burden | 29.8% | 42% |
| Average monthly salary | €2,250 | €1,750 |
| Studio rent | €1,037 | €450 |
| Monthly food estimate | €350 | €300 |
| Gasoline | 1.34 €/L | 1.75 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.13 €/kWh | 0.27 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Malta records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €500, approximately 28.6% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Malta ranks 16 of 27 for salary and Romania ranks 19 of 27. That ranking is useful context, but gross and net labels must be checked in the source record.
What recurring living costs reveal
Romania has the lower listed studio rent by €587, a 130.4% difference relative to the higher rent. Malta sits 29 of 37 and Romania 7 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Romania 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 €1,000 in Romania. This leaves €137 more in Romania, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Malta has the lower listed tax burden by 12.2 percentage points. Standard VAT is 18% in Malta versus 21% in Romania. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Malta has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.41 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €20.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For Malta and Romania, short stays are influenced heavily by rent and restaurant prices; permanent relocation adds payroll, healthcare and administrative costs. These figures work best as a shortlist, not a final decision model.
Final view: Malta or Romania?
Romania produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Romania 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 Romania comparisons