Essentials
- City
- St. Julian's (San Ġiljan), Northern Harbour District, Malta
- Population
- 14,000 (permanent population), significantly higher with expats and tourists
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-250 Mbps via Melita or GO Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Major banks: HSBC Malta, Bank of Valletta (BOV)
- Tap Water
- Safe but brackish taste; most residents use RO filters or buy 19L jugs (EcoPure)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (British standard)
- SIM Card
- Epic, GO, and Melita. Prepaid 10GB data bundles approx. €15-€20
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut is the standard; MeDirect for local savings; BOV for physical branches
- Accommodation
- High-end sea-view apartments and modern penthouses; rentals via QuickLets or Zanzi Homes
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless widely accepted in restaurants, bars, and supermarkets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Zest Rentals; average €1,200 - €2,200/month for central flats
- Budget Accommodation
- Inhawi Hostel (Triq il-Kbira) near Balluta Bay, approx. €25-€40/night for a dorm
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Paceville for nightlife, Spinola Bay for dining and luxury hotels (Hilton, Westin)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Balluta Bay for a mix of cafes, sea views, and a slightly quieter residential feel
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SOHO Office Space (The Strand or Savoy Gardens); Hot desk approx. €250/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Mint (Stella Maris Street) or Lot 61 (Spinola) – excellent coffee and laptop-friendly desks
- Networking Events
- Business 1st meetups and 'Global expats in Malta' networking nights at Hugo's Terrace
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats Malta Facebook group events and weekly 'English Speaking' meetups at local pubs
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt, Uber, and eCabs (eCabs is local and very reliable)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tallinja Bike or Bolt Scooters; approx. €0.15 - €0.25 per minute
- Best Beach Nearby
- St. George's Bay (sandy, in town) or a short bus ride to Sliema Exiles (rocky)
- Top Regional Airline
- KM Malta Airlines (formerly Air Malta)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, Lufthansa, Emirates (daily flights to Dubai)
- Highway Access
- Route 1 connects St. Julian's to the South and the Gozo Ferry Terminal in the North
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Malta has no trains. Main bus hub is the Valletta Terminus (20 mins away)
- Public Transport Passes
- Tallinja Card; personalized cards offer free bus travel for residents
- Regional Travel
- Gozo Channel Ferry (€4.65 return) or the Fast Ferry from Valletta to Gozo (€7.50)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Mater Dei Hospital (Public) or St. James Hospital (Private, Sliema/Zejtun)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lot 108 (Spinola Bay) and Freemyme (St. George's Bay)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Cynergi Health & Fitness (Eden Place); Monthly membership approx. €85
- Laundry Services
- Portuguese Dry Cleaners (Triq Ross) or 24/7 Self-Service Laundry in Paceville
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and Bolt Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pastizzi (peas or ricotta) from Crystal Palace or local 'Maxims' kiosks (€0.50)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Grassy Hopper or Balance Bowl (Gzira/Sliema border)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Rivareno Gelato near Spinola Bay
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Greens Supermarket (Swieqi) and Lidl (San Gwann)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de (shipping to Malta is common), Click and Collect via Maltapost SendOn
- Grocery Delivery
- Wolt Market or the Greens Supermarket online app
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Paceville (St. Rita Steps) – a dense cluster of clubs and bars like Havana
- Local Brewery
- Lord Chambray (Gozo-based, widely available) and Farsons (Cisk Lager)
- Wine Bars
- Gululu (Spinola Bay) or Thirsty Barber (Paceville) for cocktails and wine
- Street Food Stalls
- Is-Suq Tal-Belt (Valletta Food Market) or the kiosks along the Sliema-St.Julian's promenade
- Popular International Cuisine
- Wagamama (Spinola) or Caviar & Bull (High-end Mediterranean)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Spinola Bay Love Monument, Portomaso Tower (Malta's tallest building)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Contemporary Art Museum (MICAS - nearby Floriana) or MUZA in Valletta
- Historical Sites
- Old Parish Church of Lapsi and the Lazzaretto (Manoel Island, nearby)
- Religious Sites
- Knights of Malta's Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Balluta Bay)
- Annual Events
- Feast of St. Julian's (August); Isle of MTV (July in nearby Floriana)
- Cultural Districts
- Valletta (UNESCO Heritage site, 15 min drive)
- Theater Venues
- Teatru Manoel (Valletta) and Salesian Theatre (Sliema)
- Local Markets
- Sunday Fish Market in Marsaxlokk (Requires a 30-min drive/bus)
- Music Scene
- Jazz nights at Bridge Bar (Valletta) or electronic music at Uno Village
- Street Art
- Murals around White Rocks (Pembroke/St. Julian's border)
- Cooking Classes
- Mediterranean Culinary Academy (Naxxar/Valletta)
- Art Galleries
- Christine X Art Gallery (Sliema) and Cavalieri Art Hotel exhibitions
- Historic Buildings
- Palazzo Spinola (17th-century palace overlooking the bay)
- Local Heritage
- The Luzzu (traditional colorful fishing boat) docked in Spinola Bay
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Pembroke Garigue Heritage Park for coastal walks (10 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Majjistral Nature and History Park (30 mins by car)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 5km promenade from St. Julian's to Gzira/Sliema
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) overlooking the Grand Harbour
- Birdwatching Locations
- Simar Nature Reserve or Ghadira Nature Reserve (North Malta)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Restricted in most bays; designated BBQ areas at Bahar ic-Caghaq
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- MaltaPost, DHL, and Aramex
- Tech Repair Services
- iCentre (Pieta) for Apple repairs; PC Zone (Sliema)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sliema Wanderers Sports Club or local community hubs
- Language Classes
- EC Malta English School or IELS Malta
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library (Valletta) or University of Malta Library (Msida)
- Community Centers
- Millennium Chapel (Paceville) – provides counseling and community support
- Gaming Lounges
- The Gamers Lounge (Msida)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Dragonara Casino (Malta's oldest) and Portomaso Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,500/m² (e.g., 40 m² = €300,000 in Portomaso/Spinola)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,500/m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000 in San Gwann)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,800/m² (e.g., 60 m² = €408,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,000/m² (e.g., 60 m² = €240,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,000/m² (e.g., 80 m² = €480,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800/m² (e.g., 80 m² = €304,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 35% (effectively 5% after shareholder refunds for non-residents)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for non-residents under the full imputation system
- Tax System
- Remittance-based tax system for non-domiciled residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over €60,000
- VAT
- 18% standard rate; 7% for accommodation
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, implemented via EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD)
- Property Tax
- 0% annual property tax; only a one-time stamp duty on purchase
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Stamp Duty on the purchase price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Nomad Residence Permit: 10% flat tax on income from 'authorized activities'