Cost of Living Comparison Between Sliema and Marsa Cost of Living Comparison Between Sliema and Marsa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,187 per month in Sliema vs $2,976 in Marsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,413 per month in Sliema vs $4,186 in Marsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,638 per month in Sliema vs $5,395 in Marsa, rent included.

Sliema is about 27% cheaper than Marsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sliema and Marsa sit above the global median – Sliema by 63%, Marsa by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.22 €18.27

$20.86 €17.96

1.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.5 €82.2

$96.2 €82.9

-0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 €10.15

$11.74 €10.11

0.43%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$3.03 €2.61

-5.28%

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

$2.99 €2.58

$2.25 €1.94

32.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 €1.92

$2.28 €1.96

-2.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.58 €3.94

$4.66 €4.02

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 €4.00

$2.70 €2.33

71.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 €1.20

$1.36 €1.17

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 €1.06

$1.29 €1.11

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 €3.59

$4.21 €3.63

-0.95%

Eggs

$4.48 €3.86

$4.51 €3.89

-0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 €8.84

$10.21 €8.79

0.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.13 €7.86

$9.08 €7.82

0.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 €16.31

$13.68 €11.78

38.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 €3.84

$4.40 €3.79

1.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 €2.70

$3.02 €2.60

3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 €2.76

$3.38 €2.91

-5.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.65 €3.15

$3.79 €3.26

-3.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 €2.14

$2.56 €2.20

-3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 €1.17

$1.30 €1.12

4.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 €2.11

$2.44 €2.10

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 €1.08

$1.24 €1.07

0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.34 €5.46

$6.44 €5.54

-1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 €7.31

$8.64 €7.44

-1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 €1.65

$1.87 €1.61

2.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 €2.02

$2.21 €1.91

6.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 €2.52

$2.82 €2.43

3.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 €4.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.13 €3.55

$3.60 €3.10

14.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.29 €42.44

$49.94 €43.01

-1.30%

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

$39.4K €34.0K

-2.96%

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

$38.1K €32.9K

$38.4K €33.1K

-0.77%

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

$93.9 €80.8

$94.1 €81.1

-0.27%

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

$28.53 €24.56

$27.87 €24.00

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.78 €39.42

$45.80 €39.44

-0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 €58.5

$64.7 €55.7

5.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.05 €19.85

$23.54 €20.27

-2.08%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 €8.93

$10.34 €8.90

0.29%

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

$782 €673

$431 €371

81.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K €9,558

$11.3K €9,691

-1.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.4 €78.7

$92.4 €79.6

-1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 €32.92

$38.74 €33.36

-1.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.3

$103 €88.6

-1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 €88.2

$101 €86.6

1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 €1,222

$1,676 €1,443

-15.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 €966

$1,929 €1,661

-41.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,453 €2,112

$2,274 €1,959

7.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 €1,673

$2,893 €2,492

-32.84%

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

$3,306 €2,847

-42.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.08

4.27

18.97%

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

Last update for Sliema: May 30, 2026

Last update for Marsa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,419 in Sliema versus $1,676 in Marsa. 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 73% higher in Marsa, 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 $96.0 in Marsa. Groceries tell a different story – $333 in Sliema vs $317 in Marsa – so Marsa 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

Sliema vs Marsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marsa is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,280 per month in Sliema and $4,464 in Marsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sliema, 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 $2,976 in Marsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $782 per month in Sliema and $431 in Marsa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sliema, where all-in costs run around $2,187, than in Marsa at $2,976. In Sliema it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sliema – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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