Best places to retire in Malta
Top retirement cities in Malta
- Valletta — retire score 67/100 (cost 56, climate 86, safety 64)
- San Pawl il-Baħar — retire score 66/100 (cost 53, climate 88, safety 62)
- Qormi — retire score 66/100 (cost 54, climate 86, safety 63)
- Żabbar — retire score 66/100 (cost 54, climate 86, safety 63)
- Birkirkara — retire score 66/100 (cost 53, climate 86, safety 63)
- Mosta — retire score 66/100 (cost 53, climate 86, safety 63)
- Sliema — retire score 66/100 (cost 53, climate 86, safety 63)
Why these cities rank for retirement in Malta
The retire score weights affordability at 40%, climate comfort at 30% and safety at 30%, because fixed-income retirees feel cost most, then weather, then security. In Malta, Valletta leads at 67/100 — cost 56, climate 86, safety 64 — while Valletta is the most affordable base (cost 56/100). Cost is anchored to Malta's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals (so you can judge whether winters and summers suit you), and safety blends natural-disaster exposure with crime. Two things our score deliberately omits — healthcare quality and retirement-visa eligibility — are decisive for retirees, so treat this as the affordability-climate-safety shortlist and verify health cover and residency rules for Malta separately before you commit.
The shortlist, by the numbers
Valletta scores 67/100 (cost 56, climate 86, safety 64; warmest-month highs ~26.7°C, coldest-month lows ~12.8°C). San Pawl il-Baħar scores 66/100 (cost 53, climate 88, safety 62; warmest-month highs ~26.3°C, coldest-month lows ~12.5°C). Qormi scores 66/100 (cost 54, climate 86, safety 63; warmest-month highs ~26.7°C, coldest-month lows ~12.8°C). Żabbar scores 66/100 (cost 54, climate 86, safety 63; warmest-month highs ~26.7°C, coldest-month lows ~12.8°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Valletta leads overall, while a city like Valletta wins purely on budget — so rank them by what your pension stretches to and the climate your health prefers.
FAQ
Where is the best place to retire in Malta?
Valletta ranks highest in our retirement score (67/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is Malta a good place to retire?
Malta's best retirement city scores 67/100; the most affordable is Valletta (cost 56/100). We weigh cost, climate and natural-disaster + crime safety — not healthcare or visas, which you should check separately.
What's the cheapest place to retire in Malta?
Valletta has the lowest cost of living in Malta in our data.