Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Malta
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,090
Salary/mo
$2,180
Philippines
44
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$500
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 44). A 2-year master's costs $12,600 in Philippines — 63% less than Malta, saving $21,190.
Malta wins for working professionals (GoScore 54 vs 33). Professionals in Malta retain $648/month after expenses — $848/month more than in Philippines.
Malta is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 66 vs 46). PR takes ~5 years in Malta vs ~10 years in Philippines.
Total cost of attendance in Malta — tuition ($7,630) plus living ($26,160) — is $33,790. In Philippines: $12,600 ($3,000 tuition + $9,600 living).Philippines is 63% cheaper, saving $21,190 over the degree.
In Malta, 20 hrs/week at $10/hr earns $785/month — covering 103% of outside-city rent. In Philippines, the same hours earn $160/month — covering 59% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Malta retains $648/month from $2,180. In Philippines: $0/month from $500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $50,880. Tech salaries: $3,270/mo (Malta) vs $900/mo (Philippines).
Malta: PR pathway ~5 years. Philippines: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Malta) and 0 months (Philippines). Student visa fee: $305 vs $70.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Malta) and 5.5 (Philippines). Philippines 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 | 🇲🇹 Malta | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 56 | 44 |
| Work GoScore | 54 | 33 |
| Settle GoScore | 66 | 46 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,815 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,090 | $400 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,180 | $500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,090/mo | $450/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 71 / 100 | 40 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇲🇹 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
🇵🇭 Philippines
The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest source of English-speaking professionals — over 100 million people speak English as a working language.
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) generates $30 billion/year in the Philippines — it's the world's largest offshore service delivery hub.
Source: IBPAP 2024
Filipino nurses and doctors work in over 40 countries — healthcare training here is internationally recognised across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Philippines became a lower-middle-income country in 2010 and is projected to join the upper-middle-income tier by 2026.
Source: World Bank 2024
Popular Comparisons
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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.