Essentials
- City
- Paceville, St. Julian's, Northern Harbour District, Malta
- Population
- Approximately 14,000 (St. Julian's area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available via GO and Melita)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Local banks include HSBC Malta and Bank of Valletta (BOV)
- Tap Water
- Safe but brackish/salty; most residents use RO filters or buy 2L bottles for €0.40
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style three-pin)
- SIM Card
- Epic, GO, and Melita. Prepaid 10GB data bundles start at €10-€15
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut is the standard for most expats; local accounts at MeDirect are common for residents
- Accommodation
- High-end hotels (InterContinental, Westin), serviced apartments, and shared penthouses via MaltaPark
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; major credit cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com dominate; expect €70-€120/night for a decent studio in 2026
- Budget Accommodation
- Marco Polo Hostel (Ross Street) - Dorms from €20/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- St. George’s Bay for nightlife and beachfront access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Portomaso or nearby Sliema (15 min walk) for a quieter, more professional environment
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SOHO Office Space (The Strand/Portomaso) - Hot desk starts at €25 per day or €250/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Concrete Coffee (Spinola Bay) - High-speed Wi-Fi and excellent specialty coffee
- Networking Events
- Silicon Drinkabout Malta (Rotational bars in St. Julian's) - Weekly Friday meetups for tech/startups
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Malta Facebook Group meetups at The Thirsty Barber (St. George's Road)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (cheapest), Uber, and eCabs (premium local service)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tallinja Bike (Electric bike sharing) - Locations at Ross and Spinola; €3 per 30 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- St. George's Bay (Man-made sandy beach right in Paceville)
- Top Regional Airline
- KM Malta Airlines (National carrier replacing Air Malta)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (Huge hub at Luqa/MLA Airport)
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Ta' Giorni Bypass) provides direct access to the rest of the island
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains. St. Julian's Terminus (Ross bus stop) is the primary transport hub
- Public Transport Passes
- Tallinja Card - Free public transport for residents (including expats with a residency card)
- Regional Travel
- Valletta Ferry from Sliema (10 min walk from Paceville) – €1.50 one way
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Mater Dei (Public, Msida) or St. James Hospital (Private, Sliema/Zejtun)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lotusse Yoga Malta (The George Urban Boutique Hotel) - Sessions from €15
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Cynergi Health & Fitness Club (Eden Place) - Day pass €25, Monthly approx €85
- Laundry Services
- 24/7 Self Service Laundry (Triq Santu Wistin) - Wash and dry cycle approx €8
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and Bolt Food (Deliveries average €2.50 fee)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Stuffat tal-Fenek (Rabbit Stew) at Gululu (Spinola Bay) - €22
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Grassy Hopper (Spinola) - Plant-based bowls and smoothies
- Best Dessert Spots
- RivaReno Gelato (St. Sebastian Street) - Italian artisanal gelato
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Greens Supermarket (The Point or Swieqi) - Large variety and fair pricing
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de (ships to Malta) or local tech retailer Scan.mt
- Grocery Delivery
- Maltasupermarket.com (Online portal for Tower and Valyou supermarkets)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Triq Santa Rita (the iconic 'Steps' of Paceville)
- Local Brewery
- Lord Chambray (Gozo-based, widely available in Paceville bars like The Crafty Cat)
- Wine Bars
- The Thirsty Knight (Paceville Avenue) - Extensive local and Italian selection
- Street Food Stalls
- Pastizzerija Sphinx (Ross Street) - Pastizzi (pea/cheese cakes) for €0.50
- Popular International Cuisine
- Hugo's Burger Bar (St. George's Road) - Popular gourmet burgers from €10
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Spinola Bay Love Sign and the Portomaso Business Tower
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Malta Experience (Valletta - 15 min bus) or Il-Ħaġar
- Historical Sites
- Dragonara Palace (now a Casino) built in 1870
- Religious Sites
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Balluta Bay)
- Annual Events
- Isle of MTV (June) and the Lost & Found Festival (May)
- Cultural Districts
- Valletta (Capital City) - UNESCO world heritage site a short bus ride away
- Theater Venues
- Teatru Manoel (Valletta) - One of the oldest working theaters in Europe
- Local Markets
- Marsaxlokk Sunday Fish Market (reachable via South-bound buses)
- Music Scene
- Gianpula Village (Open-air clubs nearby in Rabat via shuttle)
- Street Art
- Sliema Promenade murals by local and international artists
- Cooking Classes
- Diar il-Bniet (Dingli) - Farm-to-table Maltese cooking classes
- Art Galleries
- Christine X Art Gallery (Sliema)
- Historic Buildings
- Villa Rosa (St. George's Bay) - 19th-century country house
- Local Heritage
- The Luzzu (Traditional colorful fishing boats in Spinola Bay)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Pembroke Heritage Trail (cliffs and rocky coast starting right after St. George's Bay)
- National Parks Nearby
- Majjistral Nature and History Park (30 mins by car)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Promenade - 5km scenic walk from St. Julian's to Gzira/Sliema
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Tigné Point (Sliema) for the best view of the Valletta skyline
- Birdwatching Locations
- Simar Nature Reserve (20 mins away near St. Paul's Bay)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Permit required; officially designated BBQ areas at Mistra Bay
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- MaltaPost (Post office on Triq Elija Zammit)
- Tech Repair Services
- Atom IT (Msida) or iCentre (Pieta) for Apple repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Mercury Towers (Public gaming/activity areas)
- Language Classes
- EF International Language Campus (Paceville) - English and Maltese courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- University of Malta Library (Msida) - 10 mins by bus
- Community Centers
- Millennium Chapel (Paceville) - Offers community support and quiet meditation
- Gaming Lounges
- Level Up (Paceville) - E-sports and gaming setups
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Dragonara Casino or Olympic Casino (Eden Place)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €9,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €380,000 in Portomaso)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000 in San Gwann)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €8,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €480,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €240,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €560,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €280,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 35% (Potentially refundable down to effective 5% for non-resident owners)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for non-residents under the imputation system
- Tax System
- Remittance-based for non-domiciled residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over €60,000
- VAT
- 18% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, following EU ATAD guidelines
- Property Tax
- None (No annual property tax, only transfer tax on sale)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Stamp Duty on purchase
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Nomad Residence Permit: 10% flat tax on income from 'authorized work'