🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,932 in Mellieha versus $2,187 in Sliema.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,808 in Mellieha versus $3,413 in Sliema.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,685 in Mellieha versus $4,638 in Sliema.
🙂Living in Mellieha costs roughly 12% less than in Sliema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mellieha44% above, Sliema63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33€17.51
$21.22€18.27
-4.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€60.0
$95.5€82.2
-27.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59€9.98
$11.79€10.15
-1.70%
Cappuccino
$2.64€2.28
$2.87€2.47
-8.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.30
$2.99€2.58
-10.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.23€1.92
-7.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.27€3.67
$4.58€3.94
-6.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50€3.02
$4.64€4.00
-24.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.14
$1.40€1.20
-5.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36€1.17
$1.23€1.06
10.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54€3.05
$4.17€3.59
-15.11%
Eggs
$3.80€3.27
$4.48€3.86
-15.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02€8.63
$10.27€8.84
-2.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.27€8.85
$9.13€7.86
12.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.71€11.81
$18.94€16.31
-27.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$4.46€3.84
-22.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$3.13€2.70
-34.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89€2.49
$3.21€2.76
-9.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18€2.74
$3.65€3.15
-12.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$2.48€2.14
-27.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93€2.52
$1.36€1.17
115.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.46
$2.44€2.11
-30.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$1.25€1.08
-8.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34€5.46
$6.34€5.46
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.18€5.32
$8.49€7.31
-27.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.02
$1.92€1.65
21.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$2.35€2.02
-25.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.53
$2.93€2.52
0.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.96€6.86
$5.66€4.87
40.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90€1.64
$4.13€3.55
-54.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.17€29.42
$49.29€42.44
-30.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52€1.30
$1.57€1.35
-3.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K€22.7K
$38.3K€32.9K
-31.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K€35.4K
$38.1K€32.9K
7.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110€94.8
$93.9€80.8
17.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.27€26.07
$28.53€24.56
6.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.80€28.25
$45.78€39.42
-28.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1€54.3
$67.9€58.5
-7.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.95€19.76
$23.05€19.85
-0.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.70€7.49
$10.37€8.93
-16.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260€224
$782€673
-66.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,117€7,851
$11.1K€9,558
-17.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.3€64.8
$91.4€78.7
-17.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.60€33.24
$38.23€32.92
0.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2€82.0
$101€87.3
-6.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€88.2
$102€88.2
-0.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,038€894
$1,419€1,222
-26.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$940€809
$1,122€966
-16.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,749€1,506
$2,453€2,112
-28.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,408€1,213
$1,943€1,673
-27.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,070€3,504
$5,563€4,790
-26.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,935€2,527
$3,693€3,180
-20.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mellieha
Sliema
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,407€1,211
$1,913€1,647
-26.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5.08
6.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mellieha: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sliema: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,038 in Mellieha and $1,419 in Sliema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sliema pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Mellieha vs $96.0 in Sliema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $333 per month, with Mellieha cheaper across the board.
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
Mellieha vs Sliema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sliema cheaper than Mellieha?
Mellieha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mellieha or Sliema?
On paper, Sliema earns 36% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mellieha and Sliema?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,038 in Mellieha versus $1,419 in Sliema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $260 in Mellieha versus $782 in Sliema. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mellieha or Sliema?
Dining out is cheaper in Mellieha – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $96.0 in Sliema. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Mellieha or Sliema?
At $1,932 in Mellieha versus $2,187 in Sliema, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mellieha but tight or insufficient in Sliema. The gap between the two cities makes Mellieha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mellieha or Sliema more family-friendly?
For families, Mellieha is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sliema, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mellieha or Sliema?
Safety-wise, Mellieha and Sliema 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mellieha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Sliema. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.