Cost of Living Comparison Between Sliema and Bugibba Cost of Living Comparison Between Sliema and Bugibba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,187 per month in Sliema vs $1,577 in Bugibba, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,413 per month in Sliema vs $2,459 in Bugibba, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,638 per month in Sliema vs $3,342 in Bugibba, rent included.

Sliema costs about 39% more than Bugibba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sliema and Bugibba sit above the global median – Sliema by 63%, Bugibba by 18%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.22 €18.27

$15.34 €13.21

38.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.5 €82.2

$69.4 €59.7

37.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 €10.15

$10.12 €8.71

16.50%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$2.35 €2.02

22.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 €2.58

$2.36 €2.03

26.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 €1.92

$1.79 €1.54

24.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.58 €3.94

$4.53 €3.90

1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 €4.00

$4.52 €3.90

2.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 €1.20

$1.24 €1.07

12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 €1.06

$1.38 €1.19

-10.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 €3.59

$2.41 €2.07

73.03%

Eggs

$4.48 €3.86

$3.50 €3.02

28.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 €8.84

$9.66 €8.32

6.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.13 €7.86

$8.21 €7.07

11.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 €16.31

$13.47 €11.60

40.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 €3.84

$2.37 €2.04

88.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 €2.70

$1.59 €1.37

96.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 €2.76

$2.52 €2.17

27.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.65 €3.15

$2.44 €2.10

49.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 €2.14

$1.69 €1.45

46.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 €1.17

$1.37 €1.18

-0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 €2.11

$1.26 €1.08

93.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 €1.08

$0.49 €0.42

155.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.34 €5.46

$6.62 €5.70

-4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 €7.31

$5.97 €5.14

42.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 €1.65

$1.52 €1.31

26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 €2.02

$1.32 €1.14

78.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 €2.52

$2.36 €2.04

24.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 €4.87

$3.50 €3.02

61.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.13 €3.55

$1.93 €1.66

113.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.29 €42.44

$34.03 €29.30

44.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 €1.35

$1.51 €1.30

3.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.3K €32.9K

$25.0K €21.5K

53.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.1K €32.9K

$22.4K €19.3K

70.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.9 €80.8

$77.6 €66.8

21.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.53 €24.56

$18.62 €16.03

53.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.78 €39.42

$31.28 €26.94

46.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 €58.5

$65.7 €56.5

3.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.05 €19.85

$34.94 €30.09

-34.03%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 €8.93

$10.97 €9.45

-5.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$782 €673

$265 €228

195.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K €9,558

$12.9K €11.1K

-13.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.4 €78.7

$104 €89.5

-12.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 €32.92

$28.40 €24.46

34.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.3

$68.1 €58.6

48.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 €88.2

$62.9 €54.2

62.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 €1,222

$955 €822

48.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 €966

$774 €666

44.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,453 €2,112

$1,533 €1,320

60.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 €1,673

$1,321 €1,137

47.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,563 €4,790

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,693 €3,180

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,913 €1,647

$1,685 €1,451

13.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.08

4.61

10.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sliema: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bugibba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,419 in Sliema versus $955 in Bugibba. 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 14% higher in Sliema, 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 $96.0 in Sliema versus $69.0 in Bugibba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $245 – making Bugibba 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

Sliema vs Bugibba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,187 in Sliema, $1,577 in Bugibba – roughly 39% apart. Sliema costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,280 per month in Sliema and $2,365 in Bugibba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bugibba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,187 in Sliema and $1,577 in Bugibba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $782 per month in Sliema and $265 in Bugibba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bugibba, where all-in costs run around $1,577, than in Sliema at $2,187. In Bugibba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sliema it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sliema has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,577 in Bugibba to $2,187 in Sliema. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bugibba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sliema makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.