Short answer: student accommodation in Malta comes in four forms: a student residence, a homestay with a local family, a room in a shared flat, or a studio. The University of Malta budgets €550 to €700 a month for shared accommodation and €800 to €1,600 for single accommodation in a residence or apartment, and it points its international students to the Campus Hub Residence next to the Msida campus, partly because private rentals need Housing Authority paperwork that can slow down residence permits. English-language students usually book through their school, often as a package with the course. Below is a comparison table, prices from official and published sources, the areas students choose, and a box on scams and deposits.
Where you sleep shapes your whole student year in Malta. A residence makes friends almost automatic; a homestay gives you a local window on Maltese life; a shared flat gives you freedom, and makes you work for your social life. None is wrong. Choose with your eyes open.
Residence, homestay, shared flat or studio: the comparison
| Type | Typical price guide | What is usually included | Social level | Rules and watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student residence | Single accommodation €800 to €1,600 a month (University of Malta estimate, residence or apartment); shared rooms cheaper | Furnished room, bills, wifi, common areas; sometimes cleaning | High: people on every floor, events | House rules, guest policies, limited privacy in shared rooms |
| Homestay | Usually booked through your school; ask for the weekly price and what meals are included | Room in a family home; often breakfast or half board | Medium: family life, quieter evenings | House rules and agreed hours vary; commute depends on the family’s location |
| Shared flat | €550 to €700 a month for shared accommodation (University of Malta estimate); about a third of new shared contracts were €200 to €299 per tenant (Housing Authority, H1 2025) | Room in a furnished flat; bills often extra | Depends on your flatmates | Deposit, inventory, lease registration, bill-sharing |
| Studio or one-bed | Single accommodation up to €1,600 a month (University of Malta estimate); market ranges in the harbour towns from about €900 to €1,700+ | Your own space; bills usually extra | Low unless you make the effort | Highest cost per person; same lease checks as a shared flat |
Sources: University of Malta living costs, Housing Authority data via Business Now (H1 2025), Finorum market ranges (September 2026). Last checked October 2026. Always confirm current prices with the provider.
Residence vs homestay in Malta
Student residences
Residences are the easiest option for your first months. You arrive with an address that works for paperwork, you meet people from the first evening, and bills and wifi are usually bundled. The downside is cost per square metre and less privacy, especially in shared rooms.
For University of Malta students, the university’s international accommodation page features the Campus Hub Residence, right next to the main Msida campus, with several options and packages bookable online. The university says demand is high and asks students to secure accommodation as soon as they receive their letter of acceptance. It also notes that Campus Hub is run by a third party and that the university is not associated with its operator.
Homestays
Homestays are common for English-language students, especially younger students and short stays. You live with a local family, often with some meals included, and you practise English (and maybe a little Maltese) every day. It suits people who want structure and a softer landing. It suits less well people who want to come and go freely or cook for themselves. Ask the school exactly what is included, how far the home is from school and what the house rules are.
Through your school
Most English-language schools arrange residences, homestays and shared apartments for their students, sometimes as packages. International House Malta, for example, published long-stay 2026 packages combining its General English 20 course with a residence room: from €2,960 (triple shared) to €3,800 (single) for 8 weeks, and from €8,640 to €11,160 for 24 weeks. That gives you a sense of how course-plus-room packages are priced. Our guide to the best English schools in Malta lists every licensed school.
Shared flats and the paperwork question
Shared flats are where most longer-stay students end up. They are usually cheaper per person than a residence, you choose your own area and you can cook. But they come with admin:
- Lease registration. Residential leases must be registered with the Housing Authority. Ask the landlord for proof.
- Residence permits. The University of Malta warns that private apartments need documents such as Housing Authority forms and notarised lease agreements, which can delay e-Residence Permit applications. Non-EU students should check what their permit process needs before signing.
- Bills. Electricity and water are billed by ARMS. Make sure the right number of people is registered on the account so you get residential rates; our cost of living guide explains the tariffs.
- Flatmates. Meet them before you move in if you can, and agree how bills and cleaning will work.
English school accommodation in Malta: what to ask
- Is the price per week or per month, and does it include bills and wifi?
- How far is the accommodation from school, on foot and by bus?
- Single or shared room? How many people per bathroom?
- For homestays: which meals are included, and are there house rules about guests or returning late?
- Is there a minimum age, or are the residents mostly teenagers in summer?
- What is the deposit, and when is it returned?
- Can you change accommodation if it does not work out?
Residence or shared flat: a monthly cost example
Here is how the two most common choices compare once you add the other costs. Lines come from the University of Malta’s published estimates; adjust them to the actual offers you receive.
| Monthly line | Single room in a residence or apartment | Room in a shared flat |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €800 to €1,600 | €550 to €700 |
| Electricity and water | often included in residences; check | about €50 |
| Mobile and wifi | wifi often included; mobile about €30 | about €30 |
| Food and drink | about €450 | about €450 |
| Laundry | €80 to €100 | €80 to €100 |
| Transport | €0 with a personalised tallinja card | €0 with a personalised tallinja card |
University of Malta living-cost estimates, last checked October 2026. Residence inclusions vary; read the contract.
When to book
- University students: the University of Malta asks students to secure accommodation as soon as they receive their letter of acceptance, because demand is high.
- Language students: book school accommodation when you book the course, especially for June to August, when schools are busiest.
- Shared flats: start looking once you are in Malta or can view by live video with the landlord. Book two to four weeks of short-term accommodation as a base if you will search on arrival.
- Before the academic year: September is competitive in Msida and Gżira. The earlier you start, the more choice you have.
Moving-in checklist
- ☐ Signed agreement with the deposit amount and return conditions
- ☐ Inventory signed by both sides, plus photos of every room
- ☐ Proof of Housing Authority lease registration for private flats
- ☐ Bills: who pays, how they are split, and how many people are registered on the ARMS account
- ☐ Wifi details and a test of the connection
- ☐ House rules, guest policy and cleaning rota agreed with flatmates or the residence
- ☐ Your address noted for your residence permit, bank and tallinja card applications
Living with flatmates: rules that keep the peace
- Agree a cleaning rota in week one, before anyone gets annoyed.
- Split bills by a simple rule and keep the actual ARMS bill visible.
- Be clear about guests and quiet hours, especially before exams.
- Have one shared meal or outing early on. It makes every later conversation easier.
Where students live
| Area | Good for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Msida | University of Malta students | Next to the campus and Mater Dei Hospital; many bus routes |
| Gżira | University and language students | Between Msida and Sliema; promenade; often cheaper than Sliema |
| Sliema | Language students | Close to many schools; seafront, shops, ferry to Valletta |
| St Julian’s and Swieqi | Language students, social types | The biggest cluster of schools; Swieqi is quieter |
| San Ġwann | University students | Residential, near St Julian’s and the university |
| Paola area | MCAST students | Close to MCAST’s main campus |
For rents, bus links and honest notes on each area, see our guide to where to live in Malta.
Scams and deposits: protect yourself
- Never pay before you have seen the room in person or by live video with the landlord or a known agent. Photos can be copied from real listings.
- Be wary of urgency and bargains. “Three other students want it, pay now” and prices far below the area range are classic warning signs.
- Use traceable payments. Avoid cash without a receipt and untraceable transfer methods.
- Get it in writing. A lease or written agreement, an inventory, and the deposit amount and return conditions.
- Ask about registration. Residential leases must be registered with the Housing Authority.
- Photograph everything on the day you move in and email the photos to the landlord.
The social side: why accommodation matters
The University of Malta and most schools have strong social scenes, but where you live decides how easy it is to join in. In a residence, you will have people to eat with in week one. In a homestay, your social life will come from school, so say yes to the activities. In a shared flat, you may need to make the first move: invite your flatmates for a coffee, suggest a beach day, join a society.
Whatever you choose, build a weekly routine with people in it: a class or society, a weekend outing, a regular coffee. Our 30-day plan for making friends in Malta has a sample week that works for students, and our guide to studying in Malta covers budgets and admin.
Safety when meeting new people
- Meet new people and potential flatmates in public places first.
- Tell a friend where you are going, especially to a viewing.
- Know your way home, including the night bus or a ride-hailing app.
- Leave whenever you feel uncomfortable.
Frequently asked questions
How much is student accommodation in Malta?
The University of Malta estimates €550 to €700 a month for shared accommodation and €800 to €1,600 a month for single accommodation in a residence or apartment. Housing Authority data showed about a third of new shared contracts at €200 to €299 per tenant in the first half of 2025, usually for rooms further from the harbour.
Is a residence or a homestay better in Malta?
A residence is better if you want independence and an easy social life with other students. A homestay is better if you want a calmer, structured stay with a local family and daily English practice. Short-stay English students often choose homestays; longer-stay students tend to prefer residences or shared flats.
Where does the University of Malta recommend students stay?
The university’s international accommodation page features the Campus Hub Residence next to the Msida campus, bookable online, and advises booking as soon as you have your letter of acceptance. It notes that Campus Hub is run by a third party.
Can I rent a private flat as an international student?
Yes, but the University of Malta warns that private rentals need documents such as Housing Authority forms and notarised lease agreements, which can delay residence permit applications for non-EU students. Make sure the lease is registered and that you have all the documents your permit needs.
Where do language students live in Malta?
Most live near their school, usually in Sliema, St Julian’s, Swieqi or Gżira, in school-arranged residences, homestays or shared apartments. Living within walking distance of school saves time and makes it easier to join activities.
How do I avoid accommodation scams in Malta?
Never pay before seeing the room in person or by live video, be wary of urgent requests and prices far below the area range, use traceable payments and get a written agreement with an inventory and clear deposit terms.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It works in your browser and on Android through Google Play, starting in Malta; the iPhone app is not in the App Store yet. Open MeetNow and see the plans in Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s.
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