Where to Buy in Malta: Sliema, St Julian's and Gozo Compared
Ask where to buy in Malta and three names come up again and again: Sliema and St Julian's on the main island's central east coast, and Gozo, the smaller and slower sister island. They suit very different buyers, and their housing stock differs just as much.
The backdrop is a market still rising: the National Statistics Office's Residential Property Price Index shows prices up 5.7 per cent year on year in the third quarter of 2025. Here is how the three areas compare.
The market backdrop
The NSO's Residential Property Price Index, published in January 2026, reached 174.63 in Q3 2025 against a 2015 base, meaning Maltese prices have risen by roughly three quarters in a decade. Apartments rose 5.3 per cent year on year and maisonettes 5.9 per cent.
Demand is concentrated in the harbour towns, where apartments dominate the stock; Gozo's supply leans more towards village houses, farmhouses and lower-rise blocks.
Sliema: seafront apartments and walkability
Sliema is Malta's most established seafront town: a long promenade, shopping around Tower Road and Bisazza Street, and a short ferry across Marsamxett Harbour to Valletta. Almost all of the stock is apartments, from converted townhouses to new towers.
The Tigné Point and Fort Cambridge developments here are Specially Designated Areas, so buyers of any nationality can purchase in them without a permit, which is a large part of their appeal to international buyers.
St Julian's: nightlife, offices and rental demand
Immediately up the coast from Sliema, St Julian's mixes the restaurants of Spinola Bay, the Paceville entertainment district and a growing cluster of offices. It suits buyers who want to live, or let, where much of Malta's international workforce is based.
Portomaso, with its marina and landmark tower, and the Pender Place and Mercury House sites are all Specially Designated Areas, giving foreign buyers permit-free options here too.
Gozo: space, quiet and lower prices
Reached by ferry from Ċirkewwa, with a fast ferry running direct to Valletta, Gozo is greener and quieter, with village houses and farmhouses that barely exist in Sliema or St Julian's. Official programmes recognise its lower price level: the Malta Retirement Programme sets its qualifying property value at €250,000 on Gozo against €275,000 on Malta, according to law firm Chetcuti Cauchi.
Gozo has its own Specially Designated Areas too, including Fort Chambray above Mġarr harbour and the Kempinski Residences in San Lawrenz.
Choosing between them
All three areas are open to foreign buyers: EU citizens buy freely in most cases, while non-EU buyers need an AIP permit outside the Specially Designated Areas mentioned above, according to the Malta Tax and Customs Administration. Habio has over 900 Malta listings plus area and buyer guides if you want to compare what your budget buys in each.
- Sliema: best for walkable seafront apartment living and easy Valletta commutes
- St Julian's: best for rental demand from Malta's international workforce
- Gozo: best for space, character homes and lower entry prices
Frequently asked questions
Is Gozo cheaper than Malta for property?
Generally yes, and official schemes reflect it: the Malta Retirement Programme accepts a €250,000 qualifying property on Gozo versus €275,000 on Malta, with lower rental thresholds too.
Are property prices in Malta still rising?
Yes. The National Statistics Office's Residential Property Price Index rose 5.7 per cent year on year in Q3 2025, with apartments up 5.3 per cent and maisonettes up 5.9 per cent.
Can foreigners buy in Sliema or St Julian's?
Yes. EU buyers usually need no permit, and non-EU buyers can either obtain an AIP permit or buy permit-free in Specially Designated Areas such as Tigné Point, Fort Cambridge, Portomaso and Pender Place.
How do you travel between Gozo and Malta?
By the Mġarr to Ċirkewwa car ferry or by fast ferry direct to Valletta, so commuting or day trips between the islands are straightforward.
Sources
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Markets and rules change — verify the current position with official sources before acting. Published 2 August 2026.