Xewkija and Sannat sit on opposite ends of Gozo’s character spectrum - one central and practical, the other rural and among the island’s most affordable - despite being only a short drive apart.
Similarities
Both are inland, non-coastal villages without the holiday-let intensity of Gozo’s beach-adjacent hubs like Marsalforn or Xlendi, and both suit buyers looking for a genuine residential base on the island rather than a purely tourism-driven purchase. Neither carries the price premium of Victoria itself, and both offer meaningfully lower entry prices than mainland Malta’s Northern Harbour towns.
Differences
Xewkija sits centrally on Gozo, close to the heliport and within easy reach of Victoria, and is recognisable for its Rotunda church - one of the largest unsupported domes in the world. NSO’s 2025 relative apartment price level placed it at 57.14 against a national average of 100, making it the single most affordable locality in the country - roughly 43% below the national average. Its housing mix is balanced across townhouses, houses of character, apartments and terraced houses, and it functions as an accessible entry point for first-time buyers and growing families rather than a specifically holiday-oriented market.
Sannat sits at Gozo’s southern edge near the Ta’ Ċenċ cliffs, defined by open countryside and clifftop views rather than commercial or tourist activity. NSO data placed it at 62.74, the second most affordable locality nationally, and it carries low rental demand to match - noticeably cheaper than the Xlendi-adjacent holiday-let hotspots just to its west. It suits buyers who want genuine rural quiet and open space over convenience or rental income.
Which suits you
Buyers wanting a practical, well-connected base close to Victoria and Gozo’s road network, with a wider mix of housing types, should lean toward Xewkija. Those prioritising countryside and clifftop character above all else - and who aren’t relying on rental income - are generally better served by Sannat.