🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,187 in Sliema versus $2,208 in St. Julians.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,413 in Sliema versus $3,301 in St. Julians.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Sliema versus $4,394 in St. Julians.
🙂Living in Sliema costs roughly 1% less than in St. Julians, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sliema63% above, St. Julians65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.22€18.41
$18.59€16.12
14.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.5€82.9
$80.3€69.6
19.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79€10.23
$11.41€9.90
3.33%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.08€2.67
-6.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.60
$2.72€2.36
9.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.94
$1.77€1.54
25.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.58€3.97
$4.71€4.09
-2.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€4.03
$4.53€3.93
2.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.21
$1.36€1.18
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23€1.07
$1.47€1.28
-16.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.17€3.62
$3.25€2.82
28.31%
Eggs
$4.48€3.88
$3.59€3.12
24.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.27€8.91
$9.03€7.83
13.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.13€7.92
$10.57€9.17
-13.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.94€16.43
$13.69€11.87
38.35%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46€3.87
$3.23€2.80
38.08%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13€2.72
$2.04€1.77
53.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21€2.78
$2.84€2.47
13.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.65€3.17
$3.21€2.78
13.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48€2.15
$1.87€1.63
32.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.18
$2.93€2.54
-53.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.44€2.12
$1.87€1.62
30.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.09
$0.93€0.81
34.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34€5.50
$6.44€5.58
-1.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49€7.36
$6.30€5.47
34.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.66
$2.12€1.84
-9.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.04
$1.85€1.60
27.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93€2.54
$2.34€2.03
25.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.91
$7.11€6.17
-20.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.13€3.58
$0.90€0.78
358.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.29€42.76
$40.08€34.77
22.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.36
$1.59€1.38
-1.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K€33.2K
$25.3K€21.9K
51.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K€33.1K
$28.5K€24.7K
34.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.9€81.4
$75.8€65.7
23.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.53€24.75
$28.80€24.99
-0.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.78€39.72
$33.04€28.66
38.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9€58.9
$108€93.4
-36.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.05€19.99
$37.37€32.42
-38.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.37€8.99
$10.37€9.00
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$782€678
$581€504
34.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K€9,629
$11.3K€9,776
-1.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€79.3
$101€87.2
-9.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.23€33.16
$74.4€64.5
-48.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€88.0
$120€104
-15.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€88.9
$185€161
-44.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,419€1,231
$1,372€1,190
3.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,122€973
$1,103€957
1.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,453€2,128
$2,252€1,954
8.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,943€1,686
$1,783€1,547
9.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,563€4,826
$3,973€3,447
40.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,693€3,204
$2,685€2,329
37.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliema
St. Julians
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,913€1,660
$2,103€1,824
-9.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
4.87
4.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sliema: May 30, 2026
Last update for St. Julians: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,419 in Sliema and $1,372 in St. Julians. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St. Julians pays 10% 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: $96.0 in Sliema vs $80.0 in St. Julians for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $290 per month, with St. Julians 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
Sliema vs St. Julians: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sliema and St. Julians?
Sliema and St. Julians differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,187 vs $2,208 including rent). Sliema is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, St. Julians earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sliema and St. Julians?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,419 in Sliema versus $1,372 in St. Julians. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sliema and St. Julians?
Childcare runs $782 in Sliema versus $581 in St. Julians. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sliema – a meal for two runs $96.0 versus $80.0 in St. Julians. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,187 in Sliema versus $2,208 in St. Julians, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sliema but tight or insufficient in St. Julians. The gap between the two cities makes Sliema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sliema and St. Julians?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Sliema or St. Julians safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sliema and St. Julians are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Sliema or St. Julians?
Expats usually find Sliema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in St. Julians. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.