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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,175 per month in Sliema vs $3,035 in Marsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,360 per month in Sliema vs $4,255 in Marsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,546 per month in Sliema vs $5,475 in Marsa, rent included.

Sliema is about 28% cheaper than Marsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sliema and Marsa sit above the global median – Sliema by 63%, Marsa by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.02 €18.39

$20.92 €18.30

0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 €83.2

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.48 €10.05

$11.52 €10.07

-0.35%

Cappuccino

$2.90 €2.54

$3.02 €2.64

-3.97%

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

$2.96 €2.59

$2.37 €2.08

24.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 €1.99

$2.21 €1.93

2.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.65 €4.07

$4.61 €4.03

0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 €4.07

$2.70 €2.37

72.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 €1.21

$1.36 €1.19

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 €1.09

$1.25 €1.09

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 €3.64

$4.33 €3.79

-3.70%

Eggs

$4.49 €3.92

$4.66 €4.08

-3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 €9.14

$10.24 €8.96

2.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 €8.26

$9.56 €8.37

-1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.15 €16.76

$14.16 €12.39

35.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 €3.76

$4.41 €3.86

-2.49%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 €2.76

$3.06 €2.67

3.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 €2.83

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 €3.23

$3.70 €3.23

-0.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 €2.20

$2.50 €2.19

0.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 €1.16

$1.30 €1.14

2.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 €2.03

$2.33 €2.04

-0.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 €1.09

$1.19 €1.04

5.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.78

$6.46 €5.65

2.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.37 €7.32

$8.08 €7.07

3.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 €1.61

$1.92 €1.68

-3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 €2.02

$2.30 €2.01

0.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 €2.50

$2.70 €2.36

5.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 €5.16

$5.76 €5.04

2.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.22 €3.70

$3.69 €3.23

14.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.09 €42.95

$48.30 €42.26

1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 €1.39

$1.58 €1.38

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

$39.1K €34.2K

-0.00%

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

$38.2K €33.4K

$37.9K €33.2K

0.59%

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

$92.5 €80.9

$93.6 €81.9

-1.19%

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

$27.88 €24.40

$27.94 €24.45

-0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.26 €40.47

$45.62 €39.91

1.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 €60.0

$64.9 €56.8

5.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.26 €20.35

$22.75 €19.91

2.24%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 €9.07

$10.21 €8.93

1.57%

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

$774 €677

$420 €368

84.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K €9,724

$11.0K €9,630

0.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.1 €80.6

$90.1 €78.8

2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.27 €34.36

$38.60 €33.77

1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €89.7

$104 €91.2

-1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 €88.9

$99.6 €87.2

1.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 €1,272

$1,699 €1,486

-14.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,098 €961

$1,928 €1,687

-43.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 €2,115

$2,354 €2,059

2.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,993 €1,743

$2,937 €2,570

-32.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,510 €4,821

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,551 €3,107

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,886 €1,650

$3,172 €2,775

-40.54%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Marsa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,454 in Sliema versus $1,699 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 68% 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 $95.0 in Sliema versus $95.0 in Marsa. Groceries tell a different story – $334 in Sliema vs $319 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

Marsa costs about 40% more than Sliema, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,262 per month in Sliema and $4,552 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 $2,175 in Sliema and $3,035 in Marsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Sliema and $420 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 $2,175, than in Marsa at $3,035. 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.