Maltese spend weekly average of €24 in restaurants but only €2 on books

While spending €24 a week in restaurants they only spend €6 a week on cultural services – a category which includes cinemas, theatre and concerts and just €2 a week on books.

The survey also shows that on average the Maltese spend an average of  €6 a week on cigarettes more than three times the amount spent on books. But they only spend €1.5 on wine, 84 cents on beer and 50 cents on spirits.

A recent household budgetary survey, published by NSO, shows that while the Maltese household spends less than €2 a week on books, they spend €24 in restaurants, €7 on hairdressing and personal grooming, €7 on mobile phone services, €2.5 on jewellery and nearly €4 on their pets. 

The survey also shows that the Maltese spend nearly four times as much on their pets than on plants and gardening. The total Maltese expenditure on pets amounts to a staggering €27 million, while that on books amounts to just €10 million.

But the Maltese spend even more on books than on health insurance.  In a clear indication that few have a health insurance, the annual average spend on this sector amounts to a sheer €70 a year. The Maltese spend three times as much they spend on health insurance on jewellery. On average, the Maltese spend an annual sum €130 on jewellery, clocks and watches.

The average Maltese household also spends €1231 on restaurants and cafes. This is a strong indication that although the Maltese like eating out, most either opt for cheaper venues or do not eat out on a weekly basis.

When it comes to health a typical Maltese family spends a miserly €8 a month on dental care. But at least the Maltese spend more on fruit (€6 a week) than on sweets and confectionary (€4 a week). They also spend €8 a week on mineral water, soft drinks and juices.

The average Maltese household only spends €163 a year on air travel and a further €315 on package holidays. 

Class differences

But the average expenditure figures do not show the full picture, for the survey reveals that when it comes to lifestyle, class differences persist.

While families earning more than €35,001 a year spent an average of €49 a week on hotels and restaurants, three times as much as those earning between €10,501 and 14000 a year who only spend €17.4 a week. Those earning less than €10,501 only spent €11 a week.

When it comes to expenditure in culture and recreation, the most affluent category also spends nearly three times as much as those earning between €10,500 and €14,000 a year.

Yet the difference was less marked with regards to expenditure on water, electricity, gas and housing. In this case those earning more than €35,001 spent €52 a week for these necessities, less than double those earning between €10501 and €14000 who spend a weekly average of €30.

The difference is also less pronounced when it comes to food and non-alcoholic beverages, with those earning more than €35,001 a year spending €106 a week while those earning between €10,501 and €14,000 spending €76. 

A major class divide also emerges when it comes to spending on educational fees.  While the most affluent category spends €750 a year, those earning less than €10,501 spend a negligible sum which is not even registered in the survey.