Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Malta
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,090
Salary/mo
$2,180
Kenya
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$580
Salary/mo
$620
AI insights unavailable
Study Abroad GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Key Comparison Metrics
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Quick Verdict — 2026
Malta wins for students (GoScore 56 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $20,920 in Kenya — 38% less than Malta, saving $12,870.
Malta wins for working professionals (GoScore 54 vs 31). Professionals in Malta retain $648/month after expenses — $843/month more than in Kenya.
Malta is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 66 vs 46). PR takes ~5 years in Malta vs ~7 years in Kenya.
Total cost of attendance in Kenya — tuition ($7,000) plus living ($13,920) — is $20,920. In Malta: $33,790 ($7,630 tuition + $26,160 living).Kenya is 38% cheaper, saving $12,870 over the degree.
In Kenya, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $200/month — covering 71% of outside-city rent. In Malta, the same hours earn $785/month — covering 103% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Kenya retains $0/month from $620. In Malta: $648/month from $2,180. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $50,580. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Kenya) vs $3,270/mo (Malta).
Kenya: PR pathway ~7 years. Malta: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Kenya) and 12 months (Malta). Student visa fee: $120 vs $305.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Kenya) and 6.0 (Malta). Kenya has a lower threshold — beneficial for applicants close to their target band. Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇲🇹 Malta |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 56 |
| Work GoScore | 31 | 54 |
| Settle GoScore | 46 | 66 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,500 | $3,815 |
| Monthly student budget | $580 | $1,090 |
| Avg net salary / month | $620 | $2,180 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $480/mo | $1,090/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 7 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 41 / 100 | 71 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇰🇪 Kenya
This country has a growing international professional community with increasing support infrastructure for newcomers.
The local economy is experiencing above-average demand for skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.
English-medium professional environments are increasingly available, particularly in major cities and tech sectors.
🇲🇹 Malta
Malta is the EU's smallest and sunniest member state — with 300 days of sunshine per year and English as an official language.
Malta's Individual Investor Programme grants EU citizenship in 12–14 months for qualifying investors — the fastest EU citizenship pathway.
Source: Identity Malta 2024
Malta's iGaming and fintech sectors employ 10% of the country's entire workforce — creating significant tech and compliance job opportunities.
Source: MGA Malta 2024
The cost of a master's degree at the University of Malta is €5,200–9,000 total — among the cheapest EU English-medium postgraduate programmes.
Source: University of Malta 2024
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
You'll need IELTS to study in any of these countries. Take a free full-length mock test to know exactly where you stand.
Data Sources
Editorial
Compiled by mockDe Editorial Team
Verified by IELTS-certified advisors with study-abroad counselling experience.
Freshness
Data reflects 2026 benchmarks.
Last reviewed June 2026.
AI verdict cached permanently; regenerated on data change.
All figures in USD. AI insights by Gemini Pro. Values are indicative — verify official sources before making relocation decisions.