For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $555 a month against $1,843 in Italy, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Afghanistan and in Italy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $555 per month in Afghanistan vs $1,843 in Italy, rent included.
Afghanistan $555
Italy $1,843
A couple spends around $745 per month in Afghanistan vs $2,816 in Italy, rent included.
Afghanistan $745
Italy $2,816
A family of three spends $934 per month in Afghanistan vs $3,788 in Italy, rent included.
Afghanistan $934
Italy $3,788
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Italy ($1,038–$2,555) than in Afghanistan ($24–$504), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Afghanistan is roughly 70% lower than in Italy on average.
📊
Afghanistan sits 59% below the global median, while Italy is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25؋146
$20.46€18.38
-89.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78؋700
$79.5€71.4
-86.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.76؋244
$11.15€10.02
-66.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03؋132
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.61؋494
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.97؋62.8
$2.04€1.83
-52.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48؋31.23
$3.10€2.79
-84.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17؋11.04
$1.40€1.26
-87.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.51€4.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74€5.16
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81؋52.9
$1.57€1.41
-48.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28؋18.33
$2.38€2.14
-88.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85؋120
$2.90€2.60
-36.21%
Eggs
$1.67؋109
$4.07€3.66
-58.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.69؋305
$17.44€15.67
-73.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.69؋239
$12.56€11.28
-70.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.44؋418
$20.17€18.12
-68.07%
Apples(1kg)
$0.68؋44.45
$2.58€2.32
-73.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01؋65.7
$2.19€1.97
-53.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02؋66.2
$2.68€2.41
-61.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58؋37.37
$3.27€2.94
-82.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55؋36.01
$1.90€1.71
-71.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44؋28.35
$1.82€1.63
-75.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36؋23.49
$1.57€1.41
-77.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38؋24.46
$0.55€0.49
-30.91%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.90؋123
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70؋45.21
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02؋66.0
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37؋154
$6.69€6.01
-64.57%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.99€7.18
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77€1.59
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.35€2.11
-
🚌 Getting Around
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32؋21.03
$1.91€1.72
-83.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.55؋945
$43.44€39.03
-66.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42؋92.2
$5.62€5.05
-74.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44؋28.82
$1.71€1.54
-74.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72؋112
$33.64€30.22
-94.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11؋72.1
$2.03€1.82
-45.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,359؋542.8K
$35.3K€31.7K
-76.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K؋2.3M
$36.7K€33.0K
-5.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.1؋3,709
$227€204
-74.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.94؋905
$11.59€10.41
20.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$165؋10.7K
$30.38€27.30
442.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.77؋699
$51.8€46.52
-79.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.05؋263
$23.70€21.29
-82.91%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66؋173
$10.60€9.53
-74.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$20.34؋1,321
$568€510
-96.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,292؋83.9K
$11.5K€10.4K
-88.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.49؋876
$90.5€81.3
-85.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.97؋1,167
$38.55€34.64
-53.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.87؋2,849
$103€92.2
-57.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.87؋2,070
$131€118
-75.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117؋7,586
$826€742
-85.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$89.7؋5,827
$646€581
-86.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202؋13.1K
$1,400€1,258
-85.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113؋7,332
$1,054€947
-89.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$664؋43.1K
$3,662€3,290
-81.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$347؋22.6K
$2,301€2,068
-84.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Afghanistan
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$261؋17.0K
$1,886€1,695
-86.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.22
3.56
411.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Afghanistan: October 27, 2026
Last update for Italy: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
$236 42.5%
Italy
$269 14.6% ↑ 13.8%$33
🛒Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
$102 18.4%
Italy
$348 18.9% ↑ 242%$246
🏠Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
$90 16.2%
Italy
$646 35.1% ↑ 620%$556
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
$48 8.7%
Italy
$163 8.9% ↑ 238%$115
🍽Eating Out
Afghanistan
$43 7.8%
Italy
$279 15.1% ↑ 541%$235
🚌Getting Around
Afghanistan
$19 3.5%
Italy
$65 3.5% ↑ 235%$46
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
$16 2.9%
Italy
$73 4% ↑ 353%$57
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
$250 26.8%
Italy
$280 7.4% ↑ 12.1%$30
🛒Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
$248 26.6%
Italy
$823 21.7% ↑ 231%$574
🏠Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
$113 12.1%
Italy
$1.1K 27.8% ↑ 834%$941
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
$107 11.5%
Italy
$363 9.6% ↑ 238%$256
🍽Eating Out
Afghanistan
$140 15%
Italy
$964 25.5% ↑ 588%$824
🚌Getting Around
Afghanistan
$40 4.2%
Italy
$134 3.6% ↑ 239%$95
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
$36 3.9%
Italy
$170 4.5% ↑ 368%$133
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $89 in Afghanistan vs $729 in Italy. For reference, capital cities sit at $122 in Kabul and $1,297 in Rome.
💰Average salary: $228 in Afghanistan vs $1,890 in Italy. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 719% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 564% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 153% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are about 8.3 times higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Afghanistan vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Afghanistan or Italy?
Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 70% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Afghanistan or in Italy?
Housing costs more in Italy: a central one-bedroom averages $729 versus $89 in Afghanistan.
How do daily expenses compare in Afghanistan vs Italy?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Afghanistan, adding to the overall 232% price gap.
Which country is better for expats: Afghanistan or Italy?
Afghanistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Afghanistan vs other spots: cost of living compared