🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,616 in Ferrara versus $1,932 in Mellieha.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,515 in Ferrara versus $2,808 in Mellieha.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,415 in Ferrara versus $3,685 in Mellieha.
🙂Living in Ferrara costs roughly 16% less than in Mellieha, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ferrara21% above, Mellieha44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.72€16.12
$20.33€17.51
-7.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3€58.8
$69.7€60.0
-1.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.63€10.02
$11.59€9.98
0.35%
Cappuccino
$1.99€1.71
$2.64€2.28
-24.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.17
$2.67€2.30
-5.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$2.06€1.78
-37.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66€4.88
$4.27€3.67
32.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.95
$3.50€3.02
31.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50€1.29
$1.33€1.14
12.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46€2.11
$1.36€1.17
80.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$3.54€3.05
-21.19%
Eggs
$4.29€3.69
$3.80€3.27
12.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71€12.67
$10.02€8.63
46.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.79€9.29
$10.27€8.85
5.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.70€16.96
$13.71€11.81
43.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$3.46€2.98
-43.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.06€1.77
-10.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24€2.79
$2.89€2.49
12.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53€3.04
$3.18€2.74
11.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.81€1.56
-3.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68€1.45
$2.93€2.52
-42.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.26
$1.70€1.46
-14.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34€0.30
$1.14€0.98
-70.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28€5.41
$6.34€5.46
-0.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.56€3.92
$6.18€5.32
-26.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.36
$2.34€2.02
-32.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$1.76€1.51
-6.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.48
$2.94€2.53
-41.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.66€30.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.02€6.90
$7.96€6.86
0.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83€1.58
$1.90€1.64
-3.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.39€29.61
$34.17€29.42
0.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$1.52€1.30
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K€32.5K
$26.4K€22.7K
43.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K€34.5K
$41.1K€35.4K
-2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€166
$110€94.8
74.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.00€11.19
$30.27€26.07
-57.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31€26.96
$32.80€28.25
-4.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.05€29.32
$63.1€54.3
-46.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.97€14.61
$22.95€19.76
-26.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99€7.74
$8.70€7.49
3.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350€301
$260€224
34.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,852€5,900
$9,117€7,851
-24.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.3€70.8
$75.3€64.8
9.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.75€35.09
$38.60€33.24
5.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€90.9
$95.2€82.0
10.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7€79.8
$102€88.2
-9.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$638€549
$1,038€894
-38.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570€490
$940€809
-39.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,292€1,113
$1,749€1,506
-26.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$933€803
$1,408€1,213
-33.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430€2,093
$4,070€3,504
-40.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,849€1,592
$2,935€2,527
-37.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ferrara
Mellieha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,685€1,451
$1,407€1,211
19.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
5.43
-18.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ferrara: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mellieha: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $638 in Ferrara and $1,038 in Mellieha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ferrara pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Ferrara vs $70.0 in Mellieha. Groceries flip the comparison at $315 vs $295, with Mellieha cheaper for home cooking.
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
Ferrara vs Mellieha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ferrara or Mellieha?
Ferrara wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Mellieha. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ferrara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ferrara or Mellieha?
Ferrara pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ferrara vs Mellieha?
Rent for a central apartment: $638 in Ferrara versus $1,038 in Mellieha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ferrara and Mellieha?
Childcare runs $350 in Ferrara versus $260 in Mellieha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ferrara vs Mellieha?
Dining out is cheaper in Ferrara – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $70.0 in Mellieha. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ferrara or Mellieha?
At $1,616 in Ferrara versus $1,932 in Mellieha, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ferrara but tight or insufficient in Mellieha. The gap between the two cities makes Ferrara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ferrara or Mellieha?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ferrara compared to Mellieha?
Safety-wise, Ferrara and Mellieha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ferrara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Mellieha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.