Sliema
Sliema is the most expat-popular district on the Maltese main island a 30,000-person modern Mediterranean district on the northern shore of Marsamxett harbour, directly across from Valletta (uniquely the most photographed UNESCO Renaissance-era walled city on earth). The 5-minute Marsamxett-harbour ferry connects Sliema to Valletta; the broader Sliema-and-St Julian's urban strip is Malta's most expat-popular living district, with modern apartments, café-and-boutique culture, the Tigné Point promenade, and the year-round Mediterranean climate that gives Malta its uniquely 320 sunny days a year. Malta is uniquely the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone English is co-official with Maltese (uniquely on earth a Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, descended from Sicilian Arabic, the only Semitic language that is an official EU language). The Malta Nomad Residence Permit uniquely applies a 10% flat tax on Malta-source income for qualifying remote workers. Malta is uniquely the European online-gaming licensing hub. Gozo (the smaller second island, with the legendary Comino-Blue-Lagoon between the islands) is 25 minutes by ferry from Malta's Cirkewwa port. A one-bedroom in Tower Road or Tigné Point costs €1,100–1,500/month.
Sliema, Malta has a large, well-established expat community and excellent year-round weather. Expect rent from $1,300/mo (about $2,290/mo all-in), with an easy visa process — see how it stacks up against 355 other cities on Jonzy.
Best for: Mediterranean expat-favourite base, Malta Nomad Residence Permit, Finance, gaming, and aviation, English-language Mediterranean living.
- Rent from $1,300/mo, about $2,290/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 88/100 · Internet 92/100 · excellent year-round weather.
- Visa: Easy process, about 6 weeks (retirement option: Malta Global Residence Programme).
- Local salaries average around $1,600/mo, with a large, well-established expat community.
Cost of living in Sliema
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $1,300/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $480/mo |
| Transport | $70/mo |
| Healthcare | $100/mo |
| Utilities | $140/mo |
| Other essentials | $200/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $2,290/mo |
How Sliema stacks up
- Rent eats about 57% of a one-person monthly budget in Sliema — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$2,290/mo all-in, Sliema runs about 64% pricier than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$1,600/mo) covers roughly 70% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is internet (92/100); the weakest is healthcare (84/100).
Is Sliema right for you?
Highlights
- Fast, reliable internet (92/100).
- Very safe by catalog scores (88/100).
- Excellent year-round weather.
- Large expat community — quick to plug into.
- Dedicated retirement route (Malta Global Residence Programme).
Watch-outs
- Above-median cost of living for the catalog.
Quality of life in Sliema
- Safety: 88/100
- Internet speed: 92/100
- Climate: 88/100
- Healthcare: 84/100
- Expat community: 90/100
Taxes in Sliema
Malta operates a 0–35% progressive PIT (the top rate kicks in at €60k/year)
Living in Malta
Malta is the smallest EU member state by area a 530,000-person Mediterranean island country (the main island Malta plus Gozo and Comino), an EU and Schengen-and-Eurozone member, uniquely the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone (English is co-official with Maltese). Malta operates a 0–35% progressive PIT (the top rate kicks in at €60,000/year). The Malta Nomad Residence Permit uniquely applies a 10% flat tax on Malta-source income for qualifying remote workers uniquely advantageous in the EU. The Global Residence Programme caps PIT on foreign-source remitted income at a flat 15% for qualifying inbound non-EU residents. The Highly Qualified Persons Rules cap PIT at 15% for qualifying executives in financial services, gaming, and aviation. Malta is uniquely the European online-gaming licensing hub Betsson, Tipico, and 250+ remote-gaming companies headquartered here. Malta has comprehensive tax treaties with most major economies including the US, UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Israel, and the UAE. EU citizens enjoy free movement; non-EU professionals enter on the EU Blue Card, the Nomad Residence Permit, or the Global Residence Programme.
Sliema relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Sliema?
Budget roughly $2,290/mo all-in for one person in Sliema — rent from $1,300/mo, plus food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras. It has a large, well-established expat community, so ready-made shortcuts on where to live exist.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Sliema?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Sliema: rent from $1,300, food $480, transport $70, healthcare $100, utilities $140, and other essentials $200 — about $2,290/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Sliema a good place to relocate?
Sliema has excellent year-round weather and a large, well-established expat community, with an easy visa process (about 6 weeks). Those are catalog averages — Jonzy ranks Sliema against 355 other cities for your specific income, passport, and priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Sliema?
Long-stay relocation routes for Sliema depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Nomad Residence Permit" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Malta against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sliema?
Core costs for one person run about $2,290/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $3,200/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $1,600/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Sliema best for?
Sliema tends to suit mediterranean expat-favourite base, malta nomad residence permit, finance, gaming, and aviation and english-language mediterranean living — based on its cost profile (about $2,290/mo all-in), 92/100 internet, 88/100 safety, and a large, well-established expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Sliema expensive to live in?
At about $2,290/mo all-in for one person, Sliema is among the more expensive cities in the catalog — roughly 64% above the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Sliema safe to live in?
Sliema scores 88/100 on Jonzy's safety index, among the safer cities in the catalog. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Sliema good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 92/100 — fast and dependable enough for video-heavy remote work. The expat and nomad scene rates 90/100, and work-life balance 80/100. Combined with ~$2,290/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Sliema; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Sliema?
Sliema scores 88/100 for climate — one of the better climates in the catalog. It logs roughly 320 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Sliema?
Typical tax snapshot for Sliema, Malta: Malta operates a 0–35% progressive PIT (the top rate kicks in at €60k/year). Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.