Cheapest Cities to Study in Malta for International Students
Malta has no real city comparison to make: at 316 km² it holds one officially designated city, Valletta, population approximately 6,000, plus a network of towns. The University of Malta identifies the key divide — coastal areas such as Sliema, Gżira, St Julian's and Valletta are dearer; inland university towns like Msida, Paola, San Ġwann and Birkirkara are cheaper.
What the Data Actually Covers
No official source — including the University of Malta, the National Statistics Office or the MFHEA — publishes a per-town student rental price breakdown. What exists is:
- The University of Malta’s official living-cost guide: shared accommodation €550–700/person/month island-wide; single accommodation €800–1,600/month
- UM’s qualitative note that coastal/capital areas are dearer and inland towns are cheaper
- UM’s recommendation of Campus Hub Residence in Msida as the go-to option for new arrivals
Everything below is grounded in this official guidance and the location of each institution. Where specific per-town rental figures are not officially published, this post says so.
The Main Study Areas, Area by Area
Msida — the University Hub
Msida is where the University of Malta’s main campus sits, directly on the harbour, approximately 2 km west of Valletta. It is the natural base for UM students and the location of UM’s recommended accommodation: Campus Hub Residence, bookable through the university’s accommodation portal.
UM describes Msida as inland relative to the tourist strip — it has a working harbour, a dense residential grid and a supermarket cluster. Accommodation here falls at the more affordable end of the island’s range, making it the default recommendation for budget-conscious UM students.
Why Campus Hub Residence in Msida is worth considering: Beyond cost, it simplifies your e-Residence permit application. Private rentals require a notarised lease registered with the Malta Housing Authority; that paperwork, if not done correctly, can delay your permit. UM’s own residence bypasses this. Secure accommodation as soon as you receive your acceptance letter — demand is high before each October intake.
Paola (Raħal Ġdid) — MCAST and Affordable Rents
Paola is the main campus location for MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology), the country’s principal public vocational and applied-science institution offering degrees up to MQF Level 7. Paola sits in central-south Malta, well inland, and is one of the areas UM’s guidance implicitly puts in the more affordable bracket. It has good bus connections to the north and west of the island.
MCAST students living near Paola benefit from lower rents than the coastal north and tend to find more affordable private-flat options in surrounding towns such as Tarxien, Ħal Qormi and Żabbar.
San Ġwann and Birkirkara — Inland Residential Towns
San Ġwann (adjacent to Msida) and Birkirkara (central Malta) are established residential towns with no particular tourist presence, which keeps their rental market closer to local rates. Students at UM who cannot secure a place in Campus Hub Residence often look here, particularly students sharing in groups of three or more.
GBSB Global Business School is located in Birkirkara, making it a natural base for students at that institution.
Ħamrun, Gżira (inland side), Qormi
Ħamrun is home to St Martin’s Institute of Higher Education. Along with neighbouring Qormi and the inland edges of Gżira, it represents the more affordable middle tier — not as close to campus for UM students, but well-served by bus and cheaper than the seafront.
Sliema, Gżira (seafront), St Julian’s — the Dearer Option
Sliema, seafront Gżira and St Julian’s are Malta’s main expatriate and tourist zones. They have the widest selection of private apartments and the strongest English-speaking social scene, but rents here sit at the top of the island’s range. UM explicitly names these areas as dearer. For students on a tight budget, the social appeal needs to be weighed against the rent premium.
Valletta — the Capital
Valletta is Malta’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is compact, historic and walkable. Accommodation is scarce relative to its renown, and what exists sits at the upper end of the market — demand from tourism and short-term lets keeps supply constrained. Occasional good deals appear, but Valletta is not a budget student base.
Gozo — the Sister Island
Gozo is Malta’s smaller companion island, reached by a 25-minute ferry from Ċirkewwa (northern Malta). Queen Mary University of London (Barts) Medical School has a campus in Victoria (Gozo’s main town), making it relevant to a specific group of students.
For students at the main UM or MCAST campuses on the main island, Gozo study is impractical — the ferry adds time and cost to every commute. Accommodation on Gozo is generally quieter and can be cheaper than the tourist zones of the main island, but the logistical overhead offsets the saving for most students.
The Official Cost Range
The University of Malta’s official living-cost guide (as of June 2026) provides island-wide ranges, not per-town figures. These are the authoritative numbers to plan from:
| Accommodation type | Monthly cost per person (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Shared flat (2–3 people) | €550–700 |
| Single room or apartment | €800–1,600 |
| Campus Hub Residence, Msida | Included within the sharing range; book via UM |
Within the sharing range, location is the main driver. UM’s guidance indicates:
– Cheaper: Msida, Paola, San Ġwann, Birkirkara, Ħamrun, inland Gżira
– Dearer: Sliema, seafront Gżira, St Julian’s, Valletta
No official source gives a precise € difference between the cheaper and dearer areas. Practically, students report a €100–200/month rent difference between the most affordable inland flats and equivalent-size coastal units, though this is not confirmed by an official figure.
The Full Monthly Budget by Area Type
Combining the accommodation range with UM’s confirmed living-cost data:
| Expense | Cheaper inland area (EUR) | Dearer coastal area (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (sharing) | €550–620/mo | €650–700/mo |
| Food and groceries | €450 | €450 |
| Mobile / Wi-Fi | €30 | €30 |
| Public transport | €0 (e-Residence holders) | €0 |
| Laundry | €80–100 | €80–100 |
| Electricity / water | €50 | €50 |
| Other personal | €200–300 | €200–300 |
| Indicative monthly total | ~€1,360–1,550 | ~€1,460–1,630 |
The difference between a cheaper inland location and a dearer coastal one — when sharing — is roughly €100–150/month, or €1,200–1,800 per year. That is meaningful on a student budget, but not transformative compared with the larger variables: tuition level and field of study.
The Free Transport Factor
Malta’s public bus network connects every main town and is frequent on the central corridors. E-Residence permit holders travel entirely free. This changes the location calculation: a student in Paola or San Ġwann can reach UM’s Msida campus in 10–20 minutes at no cost.
Compare this to cities where a monthly transit pass costs €30–50 and free accommodation further from campus costs more in transport than it saves in rent. In Malta, the free transport means the cheapest habitable area and the most convenient area are not necessarily the same, and the gap between them costs nothing to bridge.
Gozo vs Main Island: The Numbers
If you are considering Queen Mary (Barts) Medical School in Gozo:
– Gozo has quieter accommodation markets and anecdotally cheaper private rents than mainland tourist areas
– The Government of Malta operates a ferry service from Ċirkewwa (free for Maltese residents; pay for visitors)
– Non-EU students on a student permit commuting from Malta to Gozo would need to factor ferry costs into their monthly budget — the ferry is not currently confirmed as free for e-Residence holders making this commute
– Medical tuition at Barts’ Gozo campus is not confirmed on official public pages; contact the institution directly for fees
Unless your programme is in Gozo, the commute cost and inconvenience make living there impractical as a cost-saving measure.
Practical Steps for Finding Cheaper Accommodation
Step 1: Apply to Campus Hub Residence first. Book it as soon as UM sends your acceptance. If it fills before you apply, you will need a private rental, which requires more documentation.
Step 2: If renting privately, look at Msida, San Ġwann or Birkirkara first. These are closest to UM’s campus and avoid the tourist-area rent premium.
Step 3: Arrange a notarised lease and register it with the Housing Authority. Without this, your e-Residence permit application is incomplete. Ask UM’s International Office or a licensed Maltese property agent to guide you through the paperwork before you arrive.
Step 4: Plan your documentation around the permit lead time. You apply for the e-Residence permit within your first 90 days in Malta. Your proof-of-address documentation (lease or Campus Hub booking) must be ready when you apply.
Step 5: Do not choose accommodation based on price alone. An unregistered rental that falls through leaves you without a valid address for the permit application. Stick to Campus Hub Residence or formally registered private rentals.
Across the Budget: A Summary
| Area | Approx. accommodation cost (sharing) | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Msida (Campus Hub) | Within €550–700 range | UM students, easiest permit paperwork |
| Paola | Lower within €550–700 range | MCAST students |
| San Ġwann / Birkirkara | Lower within €550–700 range | UM students seeking private rentals |
| Ħamrun / Qormi | Lower within €550–700 range | St Martin’s students |
| Sliema / Gżira seafront / St Julian’s | Upper €650–700+ range | Not recommended for tight budgets |
| Valletta | Upper range, limited supply | Not recommended for students on a budget |
| Gozo | Variable; ferry cost applies | Barts Medical students only |
What the Area Choice Does Not Affect
No matter which area you choose, these costs remain fixed:
– Tuition: set by Subsidiary Legislation 327.177 at the University of Malta (€8,500–13,400/yr for non-EU, depending on subject) — not affected by where you live
– Visa and permit fees: D-visa €100, e-Residence permit €50
– Food: approximately €450/month self-catering (variable by shopping habits, not location)
– IELTS/English test: required for all six African origins at UM regardless of accommodation
See the full Malta cost breakdown for tuition, permits and total first-year estimates, and the monthly budget guide for the line-by-line living cost detail.
How World Study Africa Helps
We do not charge students for accommodation guidance. Our core advisory service is free, funded by a 15–25% commission from partner universities. If you want help understanding the permit paperwork for Campus Hub Residence versus a private lease — or comparing Malta’s accommodation costs with those in Germany, Ireland or Cyprus — chat with our WhatsApp advisor.
Run the eligibility checker to see which scholarships could offset the cost of studying in Malta, and visit the compare page to see whether a different destination might offer better value for your specific level and field.
Frequently asked questions
No official source publishes a per-town rental price breakdown for students. The University of Malta's guidance states that coastal areas — Sliema, Gżira, St Julian's and Valletta — cost more, while inland towns are cheaper. Msida (where UM campus is), Paola (home of MCAST), San Ġwann and Birkirkara are the inland areas most commonly cited by students. UM's own Campus Hub Residence in Msida is the benchmark: shared accommodation costs €550–700/person/month island-wide.
Based on the University of Malta's official guidance, yes — Sliema and Gżira sit at the dearer end of the island's rental market. Msida, being inland and closer to the campus, is generally more affordable. The free bus network (available to e-Residence permit holders) means the cost of living slightly further from the tourist strip has no commuting penalty.
Sharing accommodation with two or three students — the standard arrangement — keeps the housing line at €550–700/month per person (UM official guide). Food runs around €450/month with home cooking. Public transport is free for e-Residence holders. The University of Malta's indicative shared-accommodation total is approximately €1,400–1,600/month — this is the realistic floor, not a premium figure. Budget at or above this.
Gozo (Malta's sister island, population ~37,000) is generally quieter and can be cheaper for accommodation, but it is served by a ferry that adds commuting time and cost. Queen Mary (Barts) Medical School has a Gozo campus, but the University of Malta and MCAST's main campuses are on the main island. Unless your institution is based in Gozo, the commute cost and complexity typically outweigh the rent saving.
Not directly — but your accommodation documentation does. Malta's e-Residence permit requires proof of a fixed address, either Campus Hub Residence (booked through UM) or a notarised private lease registered with the Housing Authority. Both are accepted. Choosing UM's on-campus residence simplifies the documentation; private rentals work but require the correct paperwork to avoid permit delays.