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ThonRetire

Head to head · verified July 2026

Greece vs Malta

Malta scores 1 point higher on our balanced view — but that gap is small enough that your own priorities can flip it. The breakdowns below show exactly where each one earns and loses.

Everyday street scene in Greece

GreeceGreece

Mediterranean

77/100

Greece's 7% flat tax is the broadest deal in Europe — it covers all foreign income, not just pensions, for fifteen years. The entry bar is the highest of the Mediterranean set (€3,500/mo or €126k banked) and you must actually live there — 183 days — to keep it. Elderly-care units license under Ν. 2345/1995 — silence can approve; no public list of licensed units was opened. Cheaper than Spain or Italy, with freehold property open to foreigners.

Full Greece guide
Everyday street scene in Malta

MaltaMalta

Mediterranean

78/100

Malta is the EU with English as an official language and a flat 15% tax on the pension you remit — a clean, treaty-backed deal for Australians. The fine print: at least 75% of your pension must be remitted, the minimum tax is €7.5k a year, and you'll need a €275k property or €9.6k rent to qualify. OPSA publishes a searchable register of licensed older-persons providers — around ninety-six entries when opened. Small island, dense, superbly safe.

Full Malta guide

Side by side

Greece compared with Malta
CriterionGreeceMalta
Visa & Residency
Retirement visaFIP VisaMalta Retirement Prog.
Minimum ageNone (18+)55 (MRP)
Min income / assets€3,500/mo or €126kPension ≥75% of income
Visa processing time~10d visa; permit 2–4 mo~3–4 months
Path to permanent residency5 yrs5 yrs
Path to citizenship7 yrs + Greek language exam~7 yrs — discretionary
Tax
Tax-residency threshold183 days or vital interests183 days or ordinary residence
Tax on foreign pension7%15%
Capital gains tax7% under regime; else 15%0% foreign gains even if remitted
Inheritance / estate tax1–10% (low for close kin)No inheritance tax (5% stamp)
Annual property taxENFIA — few hundred €/yrNone annual; 5% duty on purchase
Finance & Property
Foreign property ownershipYesYes (AIP permit in areas)
Deposit / bond required€3,500/mo income or €126k depositBuy €275k / rent €9.6k+
Forced-heirship rulesForced heirship; will can elect AU lawForced heirship; elect AU law (EU650)
Cost to establish residency~€2–4k (€1k permit + legal)~€6–10k (€2.5k fee + legal)
Living
Cost of living22002600
Healthcare quality7.98.8
Safety7.88.4
Logistics
Flight time from Australia2524
Health insurance requiredYesYes
Visa renewal ease3-yr permit; needs 183 d/yr stayAnnual compliance — routine
Provision for dependentsYes — +20% spouse incomeSpouse + deps, +€500 tax each

Showing the open fields. 17 more criteria — tax-residency day counts, capital gains, forced heirship, setup costs and processing times — need a free Thon account. Sign in to see the full table.

Why Greece scores 77

77/100

Why this number

Every point is accounted for. Nothing is hidden in a weighting you cannot see.

  1. Base country quality81Greece scores 81/100 before anything about you is applied — visa system, tax regime, healthcare, safety and property rights.
  2. Australian passport-4Worse than average for Australian retirees: No AU treaty; long flight
  3. Best fit for you77A decision aid, not a prediction. Two people with the same passport can rank these differently — that is the point of showing the working.
  • No double-tax treaty — Greece has no tax treaty in force with Australia — the same income can be taxed twice unless you structure around it.

Why Malta scores 78

78/100

Why this number

Every point is accounted for. Nothing is hidden in a weighting you cannot see.

  1. Base country quality80Malta scores 80/100 before anything about you is applied — visa system, tax regime, healthcare, safety and property rights.
  2. Australian passport-2Worse than average for Australian retirees: Housing cost; 24h from Sydney
  3. Best fit for you78A decision aid, not a prediction. Two people with the same passport can rank these differently — that is the point of showing the working.