Cyprus & Malta – the differences

Are you considering moving your place of residence and/or business to Cyprus or Malta?

Then you should definitely read this article. Here you will learn all the important information about the life of the two city-states Malta and Cyprus.

Malta and Cyprus are two beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea that attract millions of tourists every year due to their Mediterranean weather and sea.
Both islands are similar not only by the Mediterranean lifestyle, but also offer tax advantages to emigrants.
But where do the supposedly similar islands of Cyprus and Malta differ?

In this article you will get information about the main differences.

General info about Cyprus and Malta

The small island of Malta is located below the Italian island of Sicily and above Tunisia in the Mediterranean Sea.
To Malta belong the two islands Gozo and Comino, which is the tourist attraction of Malta because of the crystal blue water.

Cyprus is located south of Turkey, west of Syria and above Israel.
It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. Geographically, a look at the map would place Cyprus in Asia, but politically it belongs to Europe.

Malta Facts

Malta’s capital is Valetta.
The official language is English and Maltese.
About 503 thousand people live on the island, which is about ^320km2 in size.
Malta has, as you can see in the picture, a relatively young population average.
(http://wko.at/statistik/laenderprofile/lp-malta.pdf).

The city-state of Malta is gaining in attractiveness for foreigners every year.
This is also reflected in the increasing number of visitors.
In 2018, for example, Malta’s steadily growing tourism industry recorded the highest number of tourists since 1995 2.6 million visitors(https://www.laenderdaten.info/Europa/Malta/tourismus/ – as of 2018). It is hardly surprising that Malta’s GNP owes 12.7% to the tourism industry.
Cyprus also attracts millions of tourists each year (3.94 million in 2018) and owes much to the tourism industry, with a GNP of 13.82%. Both city-states are in the EU, have the euro as their currency and are characterized by a Mediterranean climate.

Cyprus Facts

Cyprus’ capital is Nicosia.
The national and official language is Greek and Turkish.
Almost 1.2 million people live in Cyprus.
The population pyramid shows that the majority of the population here is also young.

Summary of the general info

Flight connection

Malta can also be reached by car with a ferry via Sicily, but the flight is the more comfortable option.

Malta has excellent flight connections to Germany – even though Malta has only one airport due to its size.
Before Corona times flew several times a day e.g.
one plane to Cologne there and back.

Another advantage of the Malta-Germany connection is the low price, it is not uncommon to find flights for less than 50 euros – here is an example from the search on 12.10.2020 The flight time is between 2.3 and 2.5 hours, depending on the destination.

Airlines: Lufthansa, AirMalta, Bristh Airlines, Ryanair, Easyjet, Condor, Wizzair, SWISS, TUI FLY, British Airways

In short, Malta’s air connectivity is excellent, with flights to most European cities outside of Germany.

Cyprus, on the other hand, is geographically somewhat further away from Germany, so that the question of whether to come from Germany by car or by plane does not even arise – the answer always falls on the plane.
Due to the greater distance to Germany, the flight time to Cyprus is 90 minutes longer than to Malta.
Cyprus has two airports: Larnaca (in the south/east of the island) and Paphos (in the south/west of the island).

Airlines: Lufthasna, Eurowings, Germaniam, easy Jet, Condort, Cobalt, Cyorus Airways

Since Malta is geographically closer to Germany and instead of 3.5h flight time is only 2.5h flight time and Malta had more flight connections before Corona times, Malta wins the point.

Winner: Malta

Infrastructure

Both islands are southern European nations with a similar mentality.
They are former British colonies and therefore drive on the left side car.

Due to Malta’s manageable size, getting around the island is relatively simple. Malta has a very well developed bus network, which connects all cities on the island.
If you do want to take a car, you have to be prepared for left-hand traffic.
Despite the southern European mentality, you can feel safe with the Maltese, because they drive very carefully.

In addition, Malta has numerous other alternatives: from cab companies to Uber-like apps (Bolt, Ecabs), to e-scooters or bike loan systems (Nextbike), it’s all there.

You can also hire a car by the minute via GoTo and park it in the parking spaces provided.

The best and at the same time the most beautiful means of transportation are of course the boats or ferries.
There is for example.
There is a ferry that connects the most beautiful cities of Malta – Sliema and Valetta.
Every half hour, residents and visitors can use the ferry to get from one city to the other.
There are also ferry connections from Sliema and Valetta to Gozo.

In Cyprus, too, there are now similar apps such as nTAXI Cyprus, Bolt or Nextbike.
nTAXI Cyprus, Bolt, or Nextbike, which enable mobility via app.

Also, just like Malta, Cyprus has several ports where cruise ships and boats can dock, allowing you to travel around the island.

There is also an occasional ferry connection between Greece and Cyprus from Piraeus, Rhodus and Ayios Nikolas and Crete to Limassol.
Cargo ships also take passengers at various ports and offer the possibility to travel to Cyprus – even with a car.
The ferry of the Akgunler Denizcilik company also connects Turkey with Cyprus.

When comparing the road conditions, Cyprus definitely gets a point.
Due to the size of Cyprus, the island has well-developed highways, which Malta rather does not need, which explains the overall worse road conditions.
Nevertheless, Malta has such a well-developed infrastructure, which makes it possible to get from one side of the island to the other quickly.

Winner: Both

Weather

Malta

Cyprus

In terms of weather, both islands are very similar.
The average temperature is 24 degrees and 13 degrees at night.
Both countries reach their temperature peak in July and August with temperatures up to over 30 degrees.

If you want to escape the hot temperatures, you have no choice but to leave the island. Cyprus, on the other hand, offers more diverse options: The mountainous island offers hikes up the Troodos Mountains, which provide a good contrast to the sun and sand.
Cyprus is known for the fact that you can swim in the sea or ski at the same time.
Cyprus’ highest mountain is 1,952 meters. But please don’t expect a skiing experience like in the Alps now.

The only “serious” difference between the two islands is the number of rainy days per year.
Malta’s annual rainfall is almost twice that of Cyprus, which is not fundamentally a bad thing.
After all, the more rain, the more nature.
And of course you have to keep in mind that “more” rain on Malta is still a fraction of the amount of precipitation from Germany.

Winner: Both

Nature

As mentioned with the weather, Malta has more rainy days, which ultimately means that there is more nature to be found in Malta, as well as a greater selection of fruits and vegetables from the region.

Thus, Malta attracts hiking enthusiasts not only in summer but also in the cold months. Because not only in summer the island is beautiful because of the water quality – in winter the island attracts with a lot of greenery and beautiful hiking trails.

Winner: Malta

Costs

In Malta and Cyprus, food prices are relatively high compared to Germany.
Hardly surprising, considering that most of the food is imported from European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom or France.

In comparison Malta Cyprus gets a plus point, because the cost of living is somewhat lower there. If you find the one or other cappuccino for 1.5 euros in Malta, you can expect 4 euros for a cup of coffee in Cyprus.
In addition to the ‘normal’ supermarkets, there are also numerous local fruit and vegetable vendors in Malta, where you can buy cheaper local food.
If you miss Mal Germany, you can also find a Lidl here, which has about the same prices as in Germany.

Despite the high food prices, restaurant prices are relatively low.
On average, you can expect to pay around 10 euros for a quality meal.

Alcohol is also cheaper in Malta.
In Cyprus it is not uncommon to pay 8 to 10 euros for a cocktail in a bar.
You can also find these prices in Malta, but then you are already in a fancier bar.

But don’t be blinded by the cheaper cocktails and food, Cyprus also has plus points in terms of cost.
Would you like bspw.
If, for example, you want to own a car in Malta, you have to reckon with an import tax, which makes a car much more expensive in Malta than in Cyprus.

Rents are also more expensive on average in Malta than in Cyprus.
As most life takes place in the cities of Sliema, Sankt.
Juliens and Valetta, prices here are rising steadily and are coming close to the Munich housing market.
However, due to the coronavirus crisis, rental prices have now fallen again.
In Cyprus, for example, you can get
In Cyprus, for example, you can get a two-room apartment in good condition for 500 euros per month, whereas in Malta you can expect to pay 800 euros.

So unless you live on coffee alone, your total monthly expenses in Malta will be slightly higher than in Cyprus.

Winner: Cyprus

Activities

Despite the small size of the island of Malta, there are a number of activities on Malta.

In summer, of course, here are the activities related to water: From snorkeling, to diving, boat tours, kayaking, beach and beach bar.

Wine tasting, jeep and motorboat rides, hiking, exploring cities like Mdina and Valetta are among the activities you can do all year round.
There is also something for history buffs: you can visit Malta’s ancient sites and museums.
One of the most glaring differences is that Malta was not shaped by Ottoman influences.

Malta has seen countless cultural influences and is one of the places to visit if you are interested in European history.
From traditional old cities like Valletta and Mdina to the nature of Malta and Gozo, Malta is worth seeing.

Cyprus also has this to offer – from sandy beaches to snorkeling to hiking tours, you’ll find it all and in some respects has a bit more to offer.
If you want to do something specific, however, you will quickly find that it takes a considerable amount of travel time to get from, say, Limassol to Nicosia.
Limassol to Nicosia.

So both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Winner: Both

Beaches

One of the main reasons to move to one of the islands is certainly the close proximity to the sea and the beach. Living by the sea also means spending a lot of time by the sea or on the beach.

If you compare Malta and Cyprus, you will quickly see on the map: Cyprus is much larger and offers more sandy beaches that stretch for several kilometers.
On Malta you will also find beaches, but not in the vastness.
If you like a stone beach and find sand more of a mess, you’ll feel right at home in Malta.
Malta offers Rocky Beaches along the popular cities of Sliema, Saint Julien Valetta, which are also usually less visited than beaches.

In terms of water quality, Malta definitely gets a plus – Malta’s water is considered the cleanest water in Europe.

Winner: Malta

Parties

Both Malta and Cyprus have a party area.
In Malta it is Paceville, in Cyprus it is Ayia Napa.
Both areas are similar.

The only difference is that Malta’s party town Paceville is very close to the popular towns of St. Juliens (2 minutes away by car) and Sliema (10 minutes away by car).

The party mile Ayia Napa, on the other hand, is 112 km from Limassol, 61 km from Larnaca and 178 km from Paphos, and has few facilities for visitors apart from hotels, bars and restaurants.

Of course, Cyprus also has bars and restaurants outside Ayia Napa, but overall the party options are more plentiful in Malta.

Winner: Malta

Foreigner community

In both Malta and Cyprus you will find many ‘expats’ in percentage terms – not least due to the iGaming and financial industries.

Exact figures on the number of expats are difficult to obtain, but there are about 23 thousand foreigners in Malta and about 150 thousand in Cyprus.
on Cyprus.

Although the number of emigrants in Cyprus is much higher, but so you must not forget that Cyprus has relatively large distances compared to Malta.
Thus, to get from one side to the other takes over 3 hours, while in Malta it takes just under an hour.
Consequently, it can be assumed that communication is limited to people residing in the same area.
In addition, about 85-90% of young professionals are employed near Sliema, so the ‘hotspot’ of foreigners/ expats is also located here.

In Malta you will also find a few bars such as.
The Network’, where you can meet people your own age.

Winner: Both

Language

Although both countries are former British colonies and English is widely spoken in both countries, Malta also has English as an official language alongside Maltese. Cyprus’ official languages are Greek and Turkish.

As a tourist, this is hardly noticeable to you, as both countries have good English skills.
As an expat, however, this can make a big difference, as the fact that English is the official language means that official communication with banks, government agencies or other institutions will be in English.
Likewise, you will receive forms in English and/ or Maltese. If you have children who are still in school, the official language is certainly an important factor to consider when making your decision.

In Cyprus, on the other hand, you will find forms in Greek, so you will need external help to translate them, or at least this will involve a considerably higher effort on your part.

In this sense, unless you speak Greek, life is easier in Malta.

Winner: Malta

Bureaucracy

Cyprus’ bureaucracy is what you would expect from southern European countries, so you can expect longer waiting times than you are used to in Eastern Europe.
Also, in Cyprus you will have to deal with forms in Greek, which does not make the whole thing any easier.

Not so Malta, Malta is in no way inferior to the German bureaucracy.
Malta’s government is much more efficient and “user-friendly” for individuals and entrepreneurs for several reasons: You can make communication almost completely digital – including uploading and sending documents; there is better overall communication; you get answers faster; you have a direct contact to whom you can also ask questions.

Winner: Malta

Healthcare system

Malta’s health care system is very similar to Germany’s (for more, see this article: https://drwerner.com/de/gesundheitssystem-in-malta-ist-das-zweitbeste-in-europa/).

Compared to Cyprus, Malta has more hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants (4.7 vs. 3.4) and more physicians per 1,000 inhabitants (1.95 vs. 3.83).
This is also reflected in the average life expectancy of women 82.9 years (Cyprus) vs. 84.6 years (Malta).

Cyprus did not begin a unified health care system until 2019.

Winner: Malta

Crime

Both islands are considered extremely safe places.
Both Cyprus and Malta receive political stability scores of 73 (Cyprus) and 86 (Malta), respectively, from laenderdaten.info.

Winner: Both

Education system

Both the education system in Cyprus and Malta is based on the British system and therefore enjoys a very high level of education.
Despite the high level of education, foreign parents often choose private schools.

Nevertheless, the official language must be mentioned again at this point.
The fact that Malta has English as an official language, the inhabitants are on a corresponding English level, which residents from Cyprus can not claim of themselves.

Conclusion

Winner: Malta

As you can see, the two countries have some similarities and some differences. If you are an entrepreneur or a private person considering Malta or Cyprus as a location, I recommend that you visit both countries.
If you have any questions regarding the tax situation in Cyprus or Malta, please feel free to make an appointment and we will advise you on this.