Mgarr vs Zabbar
Side-by-side comparison of property prices, lifestyle, and practical info to help you choose the right area.
Summary
Mgarr is better for nature lovers seeking rural farmhouse living, while Zabbar wins for families wanting affordable urban convenience closer to Valletta.
Mgarr sits in Malta's farming heartland with a population of 4,100, offering lifestyle ratings of 9/10 for beaches and 8/10 for safety. Properties here are the most affordable farmhouses with land in Malta, but a car is essential — the drive to Valletta takes over 25 minutes and public transport scores just 3/10. Zabbar is one of Malta's largest towns at 17,200 residents, scoring 8/10 for family life and 6/10 for transport, with a 15-minute drive to Valletta and 15-minute access to the airport.
Mgarr suits buyers prioritising clean air, dark skies, and direct access to beaches like Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha. Zabbar suits families who need urban amenities, excellent parking, and a 10-minute drive to Marsaskala's waterfront, with some of the lowest property prices in urban Malta.
Agricultural village with oversize church
Traditional residential town with deep festa culture
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 Zabbar
Zabbar is one of Malta's largest inland towns — a sprawling residential community southeast of the Grand Harbour area with a strong working-class identity and a devotion to its patron saint that borders on the legendary. The town was granted the title Città Hompesch by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch in 1797, just before Napoleon expelled the Knights in 1798. The town centre is built around a large parish church dedicated to Our Lady of Graces, which holds a remarkable collection of ex-voto paintings — offerings from sailors and soldiers who survived shipwrecks and battles, each depicting the incident that nearly killed them. The collection is one of the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean and worth a visit regardless of religious inclination. Zabbar is a practical, affordable base. Property prices are among the lowest in the urbanised part of Malta, and the town has all daily amenities — schools, shops, medical services. It's not a destination town — tourists rarely visit — but for residents it offers authentic Maltese life without the premium of coastal locations. The drive to Valletta takes about 15 minutes, and Marsaskala's beaches are ten minutes south.
Highlights
- One of Malta's largest towns by population
- Extraordinary collection of ex-voto paintings in the parish church
- Among the most affordable property in urban Malta
- Strong community and traditional Maltese life
- 10 minutes from Marsaskala beaches
Lifestyle Comparison
Which Area Is Right For You?
Choose Mgarr
Mgarr comes out ahead in safety, beaches .
Choose Zabbar
Zabbar comes out ahead in family, nightlife, transport .
Frequently Asked Questions
Available Properties
Mgarr (2 listings)
New High end finishings 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom penthouse for Rent. Within walking distance of all amenities and Għnejna Beach. Beautiful apartment featuring elegant parquet floors.
