🙂A single person spends $1,829 per month in Balzan vs $2,035 in San Gwann, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,861 per month in Balzan vs $3,034 in San Gwann, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,893 per month in Balzan vs $4,033 in San Gwann, rent included.
🙂Balzan is about 10% cheaper than San Gwann, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Balzan and San Gwann sit above the global median – Balzan by 37%, San Gwann by 52%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.18€16.42
$21.66€18.54
-11.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.0
$68.3€58.4
2.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.63€9.95
$11.46€9.81
1.48%
Cappuccino
$2.75€2.36
$2.77€2.37
-0.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.76
$2.20€1.88
-6.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.87
$1.10€0.94
-7.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51€3.01
$4.67€4.00
-24.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64€2.26
$4.74€4.06
-44.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.08
$1.36€1.16
-7.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95€0.82
$1.52€1.30
-37.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.40€2.91
$3.40€2.91
-
Eggs
$3.69€3.16
$3.60€3.08
2.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96€8.52
$9.86€8.44
1.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.47€8.11
$10.82€9.27
-12.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.50€10.70
$14.15€12.11
-11.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$3.42€2.93
-20.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.71
$2.07€1.77
-3.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82€1.56
$2.75€2.35
-33.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19€1.02
$3.30€2.83
-63.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94€0.81
$1.85€1.58
-49.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92€0.79
$1.53€1.31
-39.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84€0.72
$1.94€1.66
-56.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.82
$0.72€0.62
31.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52€5.58
$6.84€5.85
-4.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.22€5.32
$7.47€6.39
-16.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.93
$1.27€1.09
-14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.26
$1.31€1.13
12.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09€2.64
$2.36€2.02
30.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$15.03€12.87
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.95
$7.15€6.12
-68.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93€1.66
$1.90€1.62
1.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.82€29.81
$34.39€29.44
1.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56€1.34
$1.56€1.33
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K€22.6K
$26.1K€22.3K
1.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.2K
$28.5K€24.4K
19.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159€136
$118€101
34.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.77€17.78
$29.59€25.33
-29.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.14€28.36
$33.50€28.68
-1.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.2€54.1
$57.9€49.60
9.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.42€20.05
$22.97€19.66
1.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.49€13.26
$10.62€9.09
45.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261€224
$447€383
-41.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8K€10.9K
$11.5K€9,871
10.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$56.4€48.26
80.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.71€33.13
$63.0€54.0
-38.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143€122
$85.4€73.1
67.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€87.8
$134€114
-23.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873€747
$1,237€1,059
-29.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$784€671
$970€830
-19.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,625€1,391
$2,355€2,016
-30.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492€1,277
$1,636€1,400
-8.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,106€3,514
$5,955€5,097
-31.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,908€2,490
$2,884€2,469
0.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balzan
San Gwann
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,062€909
$1,843€1,577
-42.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
4.28
26.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Balzan: April 25, 2026
Last update for San Gwann: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $873 in Balzan versus $1,237 in San Gwann. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 74% higher in San Gwann, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Balzan versus $68.0 in San Gwann. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Balzan vs $289 in San Gwann – so Balzan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Balzan vs San Gwann: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Balzan and San Gwann compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,829 in Balzan, $2,035 in San Gwann – roughly 11% apart. San Gwann costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Balzan compared to San Gwann?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,743 per month in Balzan and $3,052 in San Gwann. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Balzan and San Gwann?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Balzan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Balzan and $68.0 in San Gwann. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 18% more in San Gwann, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Balzan, where all-in costs run around $1,829, than in San Gwann at $2,035. In Balzan it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Gwann it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Balzan or San Gwann?
Families tend to lean toward Balzan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Balzan or San Gwann safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Balzan and San Gwann?
If budget matters most, go with Balzan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Gwann makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.