Mgarr vs St. Julian's

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

Summary

Mgarr is better for families and nature lovers seeking rural peace and affordable farmhouses, while St. Julian's suits young professionals and nightlife lovers wanting urban energy and walking-distance amenities. Mgarr scores 9/10 for beaches and 8/10 for safety but just 2/10 for nightlife and 3/10 for transport. A car is essential — the drive to Valletta takes 25+ minutes, and village amenities are limited to basic shops. Properties here are Malta's most affordable farmhouses with land, set among working farms, vineyards, and strawberry fields. The population is roughly 4,100. St. Julian's rates 10/10 for both dining and nightlife, with 8/10 for transport thanks to frequent bus routes to Valletta and proximity to Sliema's ferry. Rents are premium, parking is scarce, and Paceville gets loud on weekends. The population of 13,200 reflects a denser, tourist-heavy environment. Both areas sit roughly 25 minutes from the airport by car.

Mgarr

Agricultural village with oversize church

St. Julian's

Lively coastal entertainment hub

€1500

Avg. Rent

€2093

Listings

Avg. Bedrooms

2.1

Limited. Village centre walkable. Countryside is walkable but you'll need a car for everything else.

Walkability

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

Excellent. No parking pressure. Ample space.

Parking

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

Very low. Agricultural quiet. Occasional farm vehicles and church bells.

Noise Level

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

Living in Mgarr

Mgarr is a rural village in northwest Malta that serves as the island's agricultural heartland. Surrounded by farmland, vineyards, and olive groves, Mgarr produces more of Malta's home-grown food than anywhere else — strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, and the grapes that go into Malta's growing wine industry. The annual Strawberry Festival draws thousands of visitors each spring. The village centre is a traditional Maltese square dominated by an enormous parish church that's dramatically oversized for the population — locals reportedly wanted to build the largest church in Malta but ran out of funds before completing the dome. The unfinished dome is a source of village pride rather than embarrassment. The surrounding countryside is scattered with cart ruts, megalithic sites, and the Bingemma valley. Property in Mgarr offers rural Malta at its most affordable. Farmhouses with land are still available, and the village has a genuine agricultural character that's disappeared from most of the island. The trade-off is distance — Mgarr is a 25-minute drive from Valletta with limited public transport.

Highlights

Annual Strawberry Festival — Malta's biggest food event
Working farms, vineyards, and olive groves
Farmhouse properties with land at affordable prices
Cart ruts and megalithic sites in the countryside
Genuinely rural Malta

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

5/10

dining

10/10

7/10

family

4/10

8/10

safety

6/10

9/10

beaches

5/10

2/10

nightlife

10/10

3/10

transport

8/10

Which Area Is Right For You?

Choose Mgarr

nature lovers families

Mgarr comes out ahead in family, safety, beaches .

Choose St. Julian's

young professionals nightlife lovers tourists

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Mgarr has a lower average rent at €1500/month compared to St. Julian's €2093 — a difference of around €593.

Mgarr and St. Julian's are around 11 km apart — roughly a 28-minute drive depending on traffic.