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You are here: Home / Cost of Living in Malta: food shopping

Cost of Living in Malta: food shopping

by Liz Ayling
November 6, 2009March 4, 2010Filed under:Uncategorized
Shopping in Malta is about doing as the locals do

Shopping in Malta is about doing as the locals do

Something we’re asked about a lot by people thinking of moving to Malta is the cost of living, in particular the bill for an average weekly shop. Any comparison is difficult as what constitutes one man’s average could be another’s splash out.

We’ve listed some staples and a few luxuries that regularly go into a weekly shop. Print out our Grocery Basket Malta and take it with you next time you shop wherever you are right now, to see how the prices tally. Prices are in Euro and average shelf prices as at 01/11/09. We will be updating it every quarter.

I feel that compared to the UK, my food bills are less; but if you’re coming here from Spain, then you might find prices similar, but some imported foods might be a bit more expensive. We don’t have economy of scale in Malta, and shipping to an island adds costs. However, since Malta joined the EU and tariffs came off imports, I find many products – like Italian delicacies and basic pasta – very good value. In fact, a local pasta firm went under as it could no longer compete, such was the leveling of prices.

I have kept a record in recent months of my weekly grocery basket, and have seen it average out around €130-150 for a family of three based on 3-4 meat/fish-based meals. An expat friend here, feeding a family of five (younger children) says hers is around €230 or so an average week. She has pricey nappies in that bill, and does quite a bit of entertaining of kids and adults. A long-term expat Swede with her family of five says she spends around €150 a week. It depends on whether you add in some luxuries one week or another.

Tips for saving: use the local veggie vans and shops; they generally have fresh produce at keen prices. Take your own shopping bag so you get loose veggies tipped in (don’t buy pre-packaged if you can help it.). Shop at one of Malta’s larger, value supermarkets to bulk buy (there’s enough of them now, and within short distances of each other so they tend to price competitively). We get a lot of free leaflets through the door with offers from local supermarkets – bother to cut them out and use! Whether in Malta or not, try to make a list and stick to it to avoid too many ad hoc, ‘just popping in to get a loaf and come out with a lot more’ trips to stores – these visits tend to bump up bills, even in the corner shops in Malta.

Download our Grocery Basket Malta (pdf) to compare with yours back home.

See also: Expat Insights: Getting Around & Shopping for more tips and understanding the quirks of shopping in Malta.

Photo: Amanda Holmes

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About Liz Ayling

Liz Ayling is a serial blogger, feature writer and self-taught geek who has been an expat in Malta for over 20 years. She founded destination site Malta InsideOut in 2009. You'll find her at at her screen in an old village farmhouse which she shares with her Maltese husband, teenage son and two cats. Liz considers herself an insider nowadays but never ceases to be surprised by all that Malta has to offer.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth Ayling says

    March 13, 2012 at 22:43

    On my agenda and thanks for the reminder Lisa! Will do by end this week.

  2. Lisa says

    March 13, 2012 at 19:10

    Can anyone please provide an updated cost of living? A grocery basket for 2012 would be most helpful.

  3. Fabian says

    January 24, 2012 at 14:45

    Hi Elizabeth, maybe you´d like to share your up-to-date price knowledge in our Cost of living Wiki http://www.eardex.com !
    All the best and congrats to your very informative website! (You can link to it from eardex, if you want)

    Fabian

  4. Doru says

    January 4, 2010 at 03:34

    Thanks a lot Elizabeth

  5. Elizabeth Ayling says

    January 3, 2010 at 20:57

    The ones I know are Pavi, Smart, Scotts, Lidl Malta, Conad Malta. But I found this list on Wikipedia which has all the main supermarket chains in Malta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_supermarket_chains_in_Malta

  6. Doru says

    January 3, 2010 at 16:07

    Hi,

    Could you please name some of the supermarkets for groceries mainly. I would like to take a look at their bargains on their websites, if they have one.

    Thanks

  7. Jesse says

    November 13, 2009 at 19:43

    Will look forward to reading more.

  8. Elizabeth Ayling says

    November 7, 2009 at 11:35

    Jesse, glad it was of help. I do have utilities and flat/housing rental costs on my ‘to do’ list. I realised that they each deserved their own article. It take a bit of fiddling around to compile as info is scattered, but it’s important to have one place to find a decent round-up of costs. Utilities is it – early this coming week! Thanks for the prompt!

  9. Jesse says

    November 6, 2009 at 21:08

    Thanks Elizabeth. Your list and article are very helpful to someone who is contemplating moving to Malta and concerned about the cost of living. Could you do utilities also, please.

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