We examine the effect of media freedom on public expenditure efficiency, using a panel of 158 advanced and developing countries from 1994 to 2016. We find robust evidence that media freedom significantly improves government efficiency, and the effect is strongly complementary to per capita income, level of education, Internet access, and fiscal rules. We further empirically examine the underlying mechanisms and show that the effect of media freedom on efficiency is mainly channeled through reduced corruption, improved transparency and accountability in the public sector, and enhanced electoral competition. These findings underscore the critical role of media freedom in fostering good governance and efficient resource use.