September 5, 2025 
5 mins to read Working in Malta is growing in popularity with expats. The country is sunny, beautiful and offers great career opportunities. Sliema and Valletta are two of the most popular places to work abroad in Malta. The two towns lay close to each other, but there are differences. In this blog, we will compare these two Maltese cities, so you can pick a favourite for the start of your working abroad career.
Life in Sliema
The city of Sliema is a modern, cosmopolitan city. It once was a tiny fisherman town just outside of Valletta. When England left Malta in 1979, the Maltase slowly started to demolish the old and beautiful townhouse facades. Nowadays, they have built “skyscrapers” instead.
You can find lots of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants in the city. Living there will never be boring. If you like being in the center of a buzzing city life, Sliema is the place for you. It’s a quite modern city, which also shines through in the housing options. There are lots of modern apartments, and many come with lovely sea views.
The expat community in Sliema is quite big as well. You will surely make international friends while living in the city. Think about it: After work you drink cocktails at a seaside bar, while chatting with your new friends from Denmark. Don’t get the wrong idea when we say Sliema is a ‘big’ Maltese city. In comparison to other European cities, it’s still really small.
Working in Sliema
Sliema is an international working city. As you live there, you will be surrounded by offices. International companies love settling down in Sliema. English is the spoken language in almost every office. In the city itself, there are various cafés where loads of people are working remotely.
Life in Valletta
Valletta has been the capital of Malta since 1571. The Ottoman Empire conquered the island and replaced the capital Birgu with Valletta. The city was built in just six years. If you prefer a low paced life, with lots of beautiful buildings and history, pick Valletta as your hometown in Malta. The city has so much to offer, with lots of history, museums, historical facades, old apartments, cute pubs and old school bars. Staying in Valletta can feel like living in a real life museum.
Although modern times have changed it a little bit, Valletta is still seen as a labour city. There are more craftsmen and “old school labour jobs”. The locals also generally speak more Maltese than English.
Working in Valletta
Valletta is the perfect location to settle down as a digital nomad. The big companies often are located in Sliema, but Valletta offers a lot of places to work remotely. The vibe of Valletta will make your digital nomad life a relaxing one. No big cafés with hundreds of others working from behind their computer, but a relaxing vibe with locals recognizing you after a few weeks.
Working in Malta: Career options
Sliema and Valletta are located very close to each other. This makes it possible to have a job in Sliema while living in Valletta, or the other way around. At Job Squad we offer multiple jobs in Malta. You could become a Danish Online Game Presenter for example. In Malta, there are Online Game Presenter positions available in multiple languages. If you have the feeling taking a job like this is throwing away your career, think again! Read our blog on how starting in the gaming industry can help you land your dream job in the future.
Check out other positions in Malta here.
Why living and working in Malta is worth it
Whether you pick Sliema or Valletta as the place you want to live in, living and working in Malta is definitely worth it. The island is one of the most sunny destinations in Europe, with around 300 days of sunshine every year. Enjoy the beaches, the delicious food (with Italian, Spanish and English influences) and the vibrant nightlife.
Almost everyone in Malta speaks fluent English. This is because the country was ‘owned’ by Great-Brittain for years. Even the elderly people speak English. This makes the feeling at home in Malta go quickly, because there is no language barrier. Read more about Malta on our page about this special country.
If you want to start living and working in Malta, it’s good to get into the already existing expat community. You can do this by looking for other expats on the streets of Sliema or Valletta, but it could be easier just to join a Facebook group for example. In a group like that, you can see when events are organised, or ask questions when you need help.
Job Squads experience with living in Sliema and Valletta
Linda, one of the founders of Job Squad, has lived in Malta herself! We asked her about the differences between living in Sliema and Valletta. She told us all about the history of both cities. Linda loves Valletta, with the beautiful old buildings and the visible history. In Sliema everything is newer and more modern. Linda summarized it like this: “In Sliema you live in a new apartment looking at beautiful Valletta. In Valletta you live in an old apartment looking at the not so beautiful Sliema.”
Comparison between Sliema and Valletta
As a conclusion, we would like to give you an overview of the most important differences between Sliema and Valletta. Malta’s capital Valletta is the historical town, while Sliema has become a modern and vibrant city over the years. Both cities are located on the north eastern side of Malta, with beaches along the Mediterranean Sea.
| Topic | Sliema | Valletta |
| Inhabitants | ~11.000 | ~6.000 |
| Athmosphere | Vibrant | Calm, historical |
| Cost of living | Higher | Lower |
| Main attractions | Shopping malls, seafront promenades, cafés | Baroque architecture, museums |
| Nightlife | Bars, lounges, vibrant | Quieter evenings, cultural events |
| Best for | Shoppers, lovers of a vibrant life | History lovers, culture seekers |
