😐A single person spends $2,010 per month in Marsaxlokk vs $1,772 in Balzan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,096 per month in Marsaxlokk vs $2,807 in Balzan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,181 per month in Marsaxlokk vs $3,841 in Balzan, rent included.
😐Marsaxlokk costs about 13% more than Balzan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Marsaxlokk and Balzan sit above the global median – Marsaxlokk by 50%, Balzan by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.93€18.02
$19.37€16.68
8.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.3€82.1
$68.8€59.2
38.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.50€9.91
$11.48€9.89
0.17%
Cappuccino
$2.93€2.53
$2.71€2.34
8.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.69
$2.07€1.78
50.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.86
$1.06€0.91
102.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.89
$3.43€2.95
31.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.04
$2.63€2.26
78.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.15
$1.24€1.06
8.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28€1.10
$1.02€0.88
25.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.23€3.65
$3.44€2.96
22.97%
Eggs
$4.54€3.91
$3.73€3.21
21.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.38€8.94
$9.69€8.35
7.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.10
$9.30€8.01
1.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.14€12.17
$12.55€10.81
12.67%
Apples(1kg)
$4.47€3.85
$2.59€2.23
72.59%
Banana(1kg)
$3.15€2.71
$1.98€1.70
59.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22€2.77
$1.82€1.57
76.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74€3.22
$1.15€0.99
225.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47€2.12
$0.94€0.81
162.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$0.88€0.76
53.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41€2.07
$0.90€0.77
167.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24€1.07
$1.00€0.86
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52€5.62
$6.35€5.47
2.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.30€7.15
$6.03€5.19
37.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.07€0.92
82.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.95
$1.47€1.27
54.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.71€2.34
$3.10€2.67
-12.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.93€5.11
$2.28€1.96
160.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.13€3.56
$1.87€1.61
120.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$48.33€41.62
$35.38€30.47
36.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$1.58€1.36
-4.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K€33.7K
$25.9K€22.3K
50.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K€32.8K
$33.0K€28.4K
15.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.6€81.4
$165€142
-42.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.95€24.07
$21.16€18.22
32.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.13€38.86
$32.57€28.04
38.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.9€55.9
$63.9€55.1
1.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81€19.64
$23.04€19.84
-1.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.39€8.95
$15.23€13.12
-31.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433€373
$262€226
65.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K€9,545
$12.7K€10.9K
-12.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0€78.4
$101€87.0
-9.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.28€33.82
$39.17€33.73
0.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.1
$143€123
-29.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101€86.6
$103€88.3
-1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,141€983
$860€740
32.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$947€815
$783€674
20.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,976€1,701
$1,619€1,394
22.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,491€1,284
$1,532€1,319
-2.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,317€3,718
$4,054€3,490
6.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,288€2,832
$2,893€2,491
13.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsaxlokk
Balzan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,061€914
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
5.43
-6.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marsaxlokk: June 1, 2026
Last update for Balzan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,141 in Marsaxlokk versus $860 in Balzan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Marsaxlokk versus $69.0 in Balzan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $243 – making Balzan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Marsaxlokk vs Balzan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Marsaxlokk and Balzan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,010 in Marsaxlokk, $1,772 in Balzan – roughly 13% apart. Marsaxlokk costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Marsaxlokk compared to Balzan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,015 per month in Marsaxlokk and $2,658 in Balzan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Marsaxlokk and Balzan?
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 $95.0 in Marsaxlokk and $69.0 in Balzan. 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 32% more in Marsaxlokk, 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 $1,772, than in Marsaxlokk at $2,010. In Balzan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsaxlokk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Marsaxlokk or Balzan?
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 Marsaxlokk or Balzan 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 Marsaxlokk and Balzan?
If budget matters most, go with Balzan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marsaxlokk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Marsaxlokk vs other spots: cost of living compared