Many people who are thinking about moving to Malta are facing to make a choice where they want to live. You probably heard about the locations Sliema and St. Julians, as they are often mentioned in forums and other articles about Hotspots in Malta. The two towns on the east coast of Malta, north of Valletta have become the most popular locations for foreigners. Many companies of the iGaming industry have their offices either there or in towns neighbouring Sliema and St. Julians. Living there will make it very easy to get to work – that is if you are considering to take up work in Malta.
An important point for many younger people is the nightlife. St. Julians area Paceville is by far the most lively area in Malta, and many tourists flock to the bars and nightclubs that are open every night until the early hours. Because of that, you should be prepared to hear the occasional loud and drunk horde or people, and you should not move there if that is something that bothers you. On the positive side: in St. Julians you can find bustling nightlife, exquisite restaurants and even a sandy beach in a bay.
Sliema offers nice bars and tasteful restaurants along the beautiful coast. If you are not into nightlife you might want to consider living in Sliema, as it is generally a lot quieter than St. Julians. You will also find the rocky beaches that are very popular with locals and tourists and offer great swimming and snorkelling opportunities.
The downside of living in these areas is that rents have soared in the last few years, simply because the demand for flats increased dramatically by the expatriates living in Malta and working in the iGaming or finance industry. It is not uncommon to pay around €600 or €700 for a one-bedroom flat – a flatshare might be a little bit cheaper. If you want to live close by you can also look for a flat in Gzira, as rents there are considerably cheaper, but you will have no beach or bustling nightlife nearby.
So, when you have decided to move to Malta, you should carefully compare the locations to your needs and ideally check out the locations beforehand.
