Burmarrad vs Mqabba
Side-by-side comparison of property prices, lifestyle, and practical info to help you choose the right area.
Summary
Burmarrad suits families wanting rural space near the coast, while Mqabba is better for budget buyers and frequent flyers near the airport. Both villages score 7/10 for family suitability and 8/10 for safety, with populations under 3,500 and quiet, traditional atmospheres. Property prices are among Malta's lowest in both areas.
The key difference is location and transport. Burmarrad sits on St Paul's Bay's inland edge, 5 minutes from coastal amenities and a 30-minute drive from the airport. Mqabba is in Malta's south, just 10 minutes from the airport but 25 minutes from Valletta. Both require a car — Burmarrad has a single bus route (49), and Mqabba is served by Route 82, but neither is well-connected.
Burmarrad offers larger properties with gardens, flat terrain, and countryside views, scoring 6/10 for beaches and 3/10 for dining. Mqabba provides authentic village life with strong community traditions and famous fireworks displays, scoring slightly higher at 4/10 for dining and transport. Mqabba's quarry landscape and festa-season noise may deter some buyers, while Burmarrad has no local amenities whatsoever.
Living in Burmarrad
Burmarrad is a small residential area on the inland edge of St. Paul's Bay — a flat, rural-feeling neighbourhood of modern houses and smallholdings that sits between the coast and the agricultural land of the Pwales Valley. It's not a traditional village with a church square; it's a spread-out residential community that grew as St. Paul's Bay expanded inland. The surrounding Pwales Valley is one of Malta's few remaining agricultural areas, with small farms producing vegetables, strawberries, and the tomatoes that go into Malta's famous sun-dried tomato paste. The valley floor is flat and green — a rarity in Malta — and the distant view of the Mellieha ridge provides a pleasant backdrop. Property in Burmarrad is among the most affordable in the St. Paul's Bay area. Buyers get larger properties with gardens — almost unheard of in coastal apartments — at prices well below the seafront. The trade-off is distance from the coast and a car-dependent lifestyle.
Highlights
- Pwales Valley — one of Malta's few agricultural areas
- Larger properties with gardens at affordable prices
- Flat terrain and open countryside views
- Part of the St. Paul's Bay area but quieter
- Close to Mistra Bay and Xemxija
Living in Mqabba
Mqabba is a small village in Malta's southern interior, squeezed between Zurrieq, Qrendi, and Kirkop. It's a quiet, residential community known for two things: having one of Malta's most spectacular fireworks factories and sitting in the heart of Malta's soft-stone quarrying region. The limestone quarries around Mqabba supply the building blocks for much of Malta's construction industry. The village itself is unassuming — a single square, a parish church dedicated to the Assumption, and residential streets of traditional houses. But Mqabba punches above its weight in festa pyrotechnics. The village's fireworks team has won international competitions and holds records for the largest aerial fireworks display in Malta. The annual festa draws crowds from across the island specifically for the fireworks. Property in Mqabba is among the most affordable in Malta. Traditional townhouses with original features are available at low prices, and the village has basic amenities. The quarry industry provides local employment, and the drive to Valletta takes about 25 minutes.
Highlights
- Malta's most celebrated fireworks team
- Heart of Malta's limestone quarrying industry
- Among the lowest property prices in Malta
- International fireworks competition winners
- Quiet, traditional village life
