Gżira: harbor living across the water from Valletta
A residential town next to Sliema on Marsamxett Harbour, with a seafront promenade, rents a little lower than its neighbor's, and free buses and ferries once you're a resident.
- 8,029
- Population (2014)
- $2,400/mo
- Monthly budget · single
- 67°F / 19°C
- Avg temperature
Plan on about $2,400 a month in U.S. dollars for one person living in Gżira, with most single budgets landing between $1,900 and $2,800. A couple should budget about $3,400 and a family of four about $5,100. A one-bedroom near the center rents for around $1,150 a month, or about $950 farther out. Those are 2026 figures.
That's about $200 a month less than Sliema for one person, and you'd barely notice the border between the two. Gżira looks across Marsamxett Harbour at Valletta's walls, with a waterfront promenade, a public seafront garden and a marina along the water and apartment blocks packed in behind. About 8,000 people lived here as of 2014.
Gżira suits remote workers and retirees who want Sliema's shops and the Valletta ferry within walking distance, but a more everyday neighborhood to come home to. It's a weaker pick if you want nightlife outside your door or a beach: there isn't one here.
Reviewed and updated October 8, 2026 · 3 min read
At a glance
$2,400
Monthly budget · single person
$1,150/mo 1-bed rent, center
70/100
Safety index
$35
Internet / month
67°Fannual average
Feb 55° · Aug 81°
Climate
8,029
Population (2014)
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Cost of living
What it costs to live in Gżira
Single person
$1,900–$2,800/mo
about 25% below Austin, TX
Couple
$2,800–$4,100/mo
about 25% below Austin, TX
Family of four
$4,200–$6,000/mo
about 35% below Austin, TX
Compared with Austin, TX (Expatsi estimate, 2026).
- $15 −25%
- Inexpensive meal
- $950–$1,350/mo −41%
- 1-bed rent, center
- $800–$1,100/mo −30%
- 1-bed rent, outside
- $35/mo −46%
- Internet
- $0/mo −100%
- Transit pass
- $492/sq ft −24%
- Buy price, center
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Daily life
How Gżira lives
- A- grade, 73rd percentile among the cities we track
- Dining & cafésstrong
- B+ grade, 63rd percentile among the cities we track
- Arts & culturestrong
- A- grade, 82nd percentile among the cities we track
- Parks & outdoorsstrong
- B grade, 48th percentile among the cities we track
- Schools & educationtypical
- B grade, 51st percentile among the cities we track
- Healthcare accesstypical
- B- grade, 36th percentile among the cities we track
- Bike infrastructuretypical
- B+ grade, 69th percentile among the cities we track
- Public transitstrong
- A- grade, good physical accessibility
- Accessibilitygood
Graded on OpenStreetMap amenity density relative to the 298 cities we track. Accessibility is the exception: it's graded against a fixed standard (terrain steepness and sidewalk surfaces), not a curve.
Climate
Weather through the year
Annual average 67°F (19°C) · 21 in of rain a year · Source: Meteostat station normals (16597, 1991-2020)
On the ground
Scenes from Gżira
Getting around
Transport in Gżira
Most people in Gżira get around on foot and by bus. Gżira sits between Sliema and Msida, so Sliema's shops are a stroll along the seafront and Malta's main public hospital is in the next town over.
Since October 2022, buses across Malta and Gozo have been free for residents who register for a personalized Tallinja card. You still tap it every time you board, and anyone riding without one pays for a ticket. The card also covers the harbor ferries: since January 2024, Tallinja card holders ride free between Sliema, Valletta and the Three Cities, and get free use of the Barrakka Lift up into Valletta. From Gżira, the Sliema ferry landing is a short walk, which makes it an easy commute into the capital.
Malta has no trains, so it's buses, ferries, taxis or a car. Plenty of residents in this part of the harbor skip the car entirely. Taxi apps such as eCabs cover late nights and airport runs.
- 46/sq mi
- Transit stops
- 1.7/sq mi
- Bike infrastructure
- 21/sq mi
- Wheelchair-accessible places
Mapped features per square mile from OpenStreetMap.
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Community
Community & practical notes
Community: Gżira shares its waterfront with Sliema, the area where many newcomers to Malta start out, and you can run a normal week in English. The town's biggest local story is Manoel Island, a small island that's part of Gżira. In March 2026, the government reached a settlement with the developer to end its concession, with plans to turn the island into a national park.
LGBTQ expats: Malta ranks second in Europe on ILGA-Europe's 2026 Rainbow Map, which scores countries on LGBTQ laws and policies, with 88%. It held first place for ten years before Spain passed it this year.
Black Americans: There's little published data on Black Americans in Malta specifically. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency's "Being Black in the EU" survey, which in Malta mostly reached African migrants, found discrimination at work linked to skin color. Malta's equality body, the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE), investigates discrimination complaints. Before you sign a lease, it's worth talking with Black expats already living on the island.
Healthcare: Mater Dei Hospital, Malta's main public hospital and emergency department, is in Msida, right next to Gżira. Dial 112 in an emergency. Americans applying for residence generally need private health insurance, so budget for coverage from day one.
Remote work: Home internet runs about $35 a month. SOHO runs coworking centers at Savoy Gardens on Triq D'Argens and on The Strand, and Spaces and Regus also have Gżira locations. If you'll keep a U.S. job, see Malta's Nomad Residence Permit.
Limited mobility: Mixed. The waterfront promenade is the easiest stretch to get around, but older streets and apartment buildings vary a lot. If you use a wheelchair or walker, visit before committing, and ask whether a building has an elevator before you sign.
Retirement: Gżira works for retirees who want a hospital close by, free buses and ferries, and January highs averaging about 60°F (August highs average about 89°F). Compare Malta's Global Residence Programme and Permanent Residence Programme, check other countries on our retirement visa page, and get the full picture in our Malta guide.
Housing
Renting and buying
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $950–$1,350/mo
- 1-bed rent (outside center)
- $800–$1,100/mo
- Buy price (center)
- $492/sq ft
- Buy price (outside center)
- $334/sq ft
Expatsi estimates, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Gżira?
Mild winters and hot, dry summers. January highs average about 60°F and August highs about 89°F. July is the driest month, and November is the wettest.
Is Gżira LGBTQ-friendly?
Malta ranks second in Europe on ILGA-Europe's 2026 Rainbow Map of LGBTQ laws and policies, with a score of 88%. It held the top spot for ten years before Spain moved ahead in 2026.
Do you need a car to live in Gżira?
Most residents don't. Malta's buses have been free since October 2022 for residents with a personalized Tallinja card, and since January 2024 the same card gets you free rides on the harbor ferries between Sliema, Valletta and the Three Cities. Taxi apps such as eCabs fill the gaps.
How much does it cost to live in Gżira, Malta?
One person should plan on about $2,400 a month in U.S. dollars, with most single budgets between $1,900 and $2,800 (2026 figures). A one-bedroom apartment near the center rents for around $1,150 a month.
Is Gżira less expensive than Sliema?
Yes, a little. A single person's monthly budget runs about $2,400 in Gżira versus about $2,600 in Sliema, and a central one-bedroom averages around $1,150 versus about $1,350 (2026 figures, U.S. dollars). The two towns sit side by side, so you can live in Gżira and still walk to Sliema's shops.
Can Americans retire in Gżira, Malta?
Yes, if you qualify for a Maltese residence program. Americans often compare the Global Residence Programme and the Permanent Residence Programme. Plan on private health insurance as part of your application. Malta's main public hospital, Mater Dei, is in Msida, next door to Gżira.
Does Gżira have a beach?
No. Gżira's coast is a harbor waterfront with a promenade, a seafront garden and a marina. For a swim, residents head elsewhere on the island.
Is Gżira safe?
Gżira scores 70 out of 100 for safety in Expatsi's city data. It's a dense residential harbor town, and the usual big-city habits, like watching your phone and bag in busy spots, cover most day-to-day concerns.
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