Kercem vs St. Julian's

Side-by-side comparison of property prices, lifestyle, and practical info to help you choose the right area.

Summary

Kercem is better for families and nature lovers seeking affordable rural living, while St. Julian's suits young professionals and nightlife lovers wanting urban convenience and entertainment. Kercem is a quiet hillside village in Gozo with a population of 1,900, offering high safety (9/10) and family-friendliness (7/10) at affordable prices. It has minimal nightlife (1/10) and limited public transport (3/10), making a car essential. Residents are a 15-minute drive from the Mgarr ferry and over 90 minutes from the airport. Living here means access to Lunzjata Valley's freshwater springs and walking trails to western cliffs, with Victoria's amenities nearby. St. Julian's is Malta's entertainment hub with 13,200 residents, scoring maximum ratings for nightlife and dining (both 10/10) and strong transport links (8/10). It sits just 25 minutes from the airport by car and 5 minutes from Sliema's ferry terminal. The area centres on Spinola Bay, Paceville's bars and clubs, and the Portomaso marina. Drawbacks include noise, premium rents, limited parking, and heavy tourist traffic in summer.

Kercem

Rural hillside village

St. Julian's

Lively coastal entertainment hub

€1000

Avg. Rent

€2093

Listings

Avg. Bedrooms

2.1

Limited. Pleasant countryside walks but no amenities within walking distance. Car essential.

Walkability

Very good. Flat coastal promenade connects to Sliema. Paceville is entirely walkable. Some uphill streets heading inland.

Excellent. No parking pressure.

Parking

Difficult, especially on weekends and evenings. Paceville is nearly impossible by car after 8pm. Portomaso has underground parking (paid).

Very low. Quiet rural village.

Noise Level

High in Paceville area. Moderate elsewhere. Spinola and Balluta are surprisingly peaceful considering proximity.

Living in Kercem

Kercem is a village on the western edge of Gozo, spread across the slopes leading up to the island's highest point at Ta' Dbiegi. The village has a split character: the old core is a traditional Gozitan settlement with a parish church and narrow streets, while the surrounding countryside is some of Gozo's most attractive — rolling hills, olive groves, and walking trails that lead to the cliffs at San Lawrenz. The village is known for the Lunzjata Valley, a green corridor that runs through the western part of Gozo with freshwater springs that sustain vegetation year-round. The Villa Rundle Gardens, one of Gozo's few public green spaces, sit near Kercem's boundary. The area has attracted a small but growing community of foreign buyers drawn by the rural lifestyle and low property prices. Property in Kercem is affordable even by Gozo standards. Traditional village houses and modern apartments are both available, and the hilltop position offers views that stretch to the sea on a clear day. The village is peaceful and car-dependent, with basic amenities but no major commercial strip.

Highlights

Gozo's highest point at Ta' Dbiegi nearby
Lunzjata Valley — green corridor with freshwater springs
Walking trails to western Gozo cliffs
Affordable even by Gozo standards
Growing community of foreign residents

Living in St. Julian's

St. Julian's is where Malta goes to play. By day it's a pleasant coastal town spread around Spinola Bay — one of the most photographed fishing boat harbours on the island — and Balluta Bay with its grand art nouveau houses. By night it becomes Paceville, the island's densest concentration of bars, clubs, casinos, and restaurants, drawing revellers from across Malta until the early hours. The town has a split personality that works in its favour. The Paceville side is loud, youthful, and commercial, home to international hotel chains and the Dragonara Casino. The Spinola and Balluta side is refined, with upscale restaurants housed in converted townhouses and a promenade that connects westward to Sliema. Portomaso, with its signature tower and marina, sits between the two — a luxury residential and commercial complex that symbolises the area's premium positioning. St. Julian's is the heart of Malta's iGaming and tech industries. Office buildings cluster around the Mriehel area and along the coast, making it the most convenient base for professionals working in these sectors. Property here commands some of the highest rents on the island, particularly in developments with sea views.

Highlights

Spinola Bay — iconic fishing boat harbour lined with restaurants
Paceville — Malta's nightlife district with dozens of bars and clubs
Portomaso Marina and luxury tower
Heart of Malta's iGaming industry
Balluta Bay with its art nouveau buildings

Lifestyle Comparison

4/10

dining

10/10

7/10

family

4/10

9/10

safety

6/10

5/10

beaches

5/10

1/10

nightlife

10/10

3/10

transport

8/10

Which Area Is Right For You?

Choose Kercem

families nature lovers

Kercem comes out ahead in family, safety .

Choose St. Julian's

young professionals nightlife lovers tourists

St. Julian's comes out ahead in dining, nightlife, transport .

Frequently Asked Questions

Kercem is the stronger pick for family, safety. St. Julian's stands out for dining, nightlife, transport. Kercem is popular with families and nature lovers. St. Julian's is popular with young professionals and nightlife lovers and tourists.

Kercem has a lower average rent at €1000/month compared to St. Julian's €2093 — a difference of around €1093.

Kercem and St. Julian's are around 28 km apart — roughly a 70-minute drive depending on traffic.