😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,099 in Stirling versus $1,932 in Mellieha.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,262 in Stirling versus $2,808 in Mellieha.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,426 in Stirling versus $3,685 in Mellieha.
😐Living in Stirling is roughly 9% more expensive than Mellieha, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stirling57% above, Mellieha44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.99£11.91
$20.33€17.51
-21.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0£60.3
$69.7€60.0
16.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88£7.36
$11.59€9.98
-14.75%
Cappuccino
$3.83£2.85
$2.64€2.28
45.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03£1.51
$2.67€2.30
-23.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58£1.17
$2.06€1.78
-23.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98£4.45
$4.27€3.67
40.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85£4.36
$3.50€3.02
67.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92£0.68
$1.33€1.14
-30.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67£1.25
$1.36€1.17
22.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81£1.35
$3.54€3.05
-48.87%
Eggs
$3.73£2.77
$3.80€3.27
-1.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.90£6.63
$10.02€8.63
-11.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39£6.25
$10.27€8.85
-18.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.85£10.32
$13.71€11.81
1.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74£2.04
$3.46€2.98
-20.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72£1.28
$2.06€1.77
-16.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89£2.15
$2.89€2.49
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18£3.11
$3.18€2.74
31.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19£0.88
$1.81€1.56
-34.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38£1.03
$2.93€2.52
-52.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.88
$1.70€1.46
-30.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32£0.98
$1.14€0.98
15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.80£13.26
$6.34€5.46
180.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.24£8.37
$6.18€5.32
81.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19£1.63
$2.34€2.02
-6.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26£1.69
$1.76€1.51
28.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.73£2.78
$2.94€2.53
26.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.8£57.2
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51£3.36
$7.96€6.86
-43.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35£1.00
$1.90€1.64
-28.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.69£11.68
$34.17€29.42
-54.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87£1.39
$1.52€1.30
23.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K£29.0K
$26.4K€22.7K
47.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5K£30.9K
$41.1K€35.4K
1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$376£280
$110€94.8
241.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.20£12.07
$30.27€26.07
-46.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.43£28.62
$32.80€28.25
17.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.38£21.14
$63.1€54.3
-55.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.95€19.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.00£6.70
$8.70€7.49
3.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,851£1,378
$260€224
612.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K£11.3K
$9,117€7,851
66.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0£61.9
$75.3€64.8
10.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.97£29.77
$38.60€33.24
3.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8£69.8
$95.2€82.0
-1.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1£57.4
$102€88.2
-24.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,009£752
$1,038€894
-2.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$846£630
$940€809
-9.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,357£1,755
$1,749€1,506
34.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,782£1,328
$1,408€1,213
26.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,070€3,504
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,935€2,527
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stirling
Mellieha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,470£2,585
$1,407€1,211
146.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.53
5.43
1.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stirling: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mellieha: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,009 in Stirling and $1,038 in Mellieha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stirling pays 147% 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: $81.0 in Stirling vs $70.0 in Mellieha. Groceries flip the comparison at $280 vs $295, with Stirling cheaper for home cooking.
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
Stirling vs Mellieha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mellieha cheaper than Stirling?
Mellieha is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Stirling or Mellieha?
Stirling pays 147% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Stirling and Mellieha?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,009 in Stirling versus $1,038 in Mellieha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,851 in Stirling versus $260 in Mellieha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Stirling or Mellieha?
Dining out is cheaper in Mellieha – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $81.0 in Stirling. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Stirling or Mellieha?
At $1,932 in Mellieha versus $2,099 in Stirling, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mellieha but tight or insufficient in Stirling. The gap between the two cities makes Mellieha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Stirling or Mellieha?
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.
Which city is safer, Stirling or Mellieha?
Safety-wise, Stirling and Mellieha 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 9% less than in Stirling. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.