The latest Caritas Malta study reveals that a family of four, with two adults and two children, needs at least €19,153 annually to maintain a decent living in Malta.
This is part of the 2024 edition of the Minimum Essential Budget for a Decent Living (MEBDL), which calculates the cost of essential goods and services such as food, clothing, health, education, and transport.
The study outlines three household types: a family of four (€19,153), a single parent with two children (€17,012.83), and a couple aged 65 and over (€14,731.79).
Caritas also introduced an Augmented Basket, which includes extra costs like dining out, owning a car, and unsubsidized housing, raising the budget for a family of four to €33,176.50, for a single parent to €30,724.33, and for an elderly couple to €26,556.29.
Food expenses account for 30% to 56% of total costs across all household types. The study includes 31 policy recommendations aimed at promoting social justice, economic equality, and sustainable living for low-income families in Malta.
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Source: Caritas Malta