For one person, living is cheaper in Argentina: $1,344 a month against $1,804 in Italy, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 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 Argentina and in Italy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,344 in Argentina versus $1,804 in Italy.
Argentina $1,344
Italy $1,804
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,176 in Argentina versus $2,778 in Italy.
Argentina $2,176
Italy $2,778
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,007 in Argentina versus $3,752 in Italy.
Argentina $3,007
Italy $3,752
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,035 to $2,560, compared to $890–$1,656 in Argentina. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
🌍
Living in Argentina costs about 25% less than in Italy on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Argentina 0% above, Italy 34% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.71ARS 22.3K
$19.89€17.70
-26.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7ARS 83.0K
$77.0€68.5
-28.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.02ARS 19.8K
$11.00€9.78
18.36%
Cappuccino
$3.48ARS 5,288
$1.99€1.77
74.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10ARS 3,193
$2.96€2.63
-29.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57ARS 2,385
$1.41€1.25
11.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.60ARS 5,459
$5.60€4.98
-35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89ARS 5,903
$5.67€5.05
-31.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37ARS 2,074
$1.61€1.43
-14.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31ARS 3,501
$2.30€2.05
0.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75ARS 2,655
$2.99€2.66
-41.47%
Eggs
$2.72ARS 4,120
$4.06€3.61
-33.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.24ARS 15.5K
$17.23€15.33
-40.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58ARS 13.0K
$12.68€11.28
-32.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.85ARS 18.0K
$20.36€18.11
-41.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48ARS 3,770
$2.54€2.26
-2.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12ARS 3,213
$2.15€1.91
-1.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40ARS 2,131
$2.56€2.28
-45.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41ARS 3,664
$3.22€2.86
-25.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18ARS 1,792
$1.92€1.70
-38.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09ARS 1,655
$1.84€1.64
-40.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56ARS 2,374
$1.51€1.34
3.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56ARS 2,375
$0.55€0.49
183.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12ARS 6,253
$6.81€6.06
-39.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.04ARS 7,648
$8.03€7.15
-37.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96ARS 2,969
$1.72€1.53
13.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07ARS 4,666
$2.37€2.11
29.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Argentina
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02ARS 1,543
$1.88€1.67
-45.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.91ARS 42.3K
$43.31€38.52
-35.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57ARS 2,386
$5.57€4.95
-71.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98ARS 1,489
$1.63€1.45
-39.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44ARS 11.3K
$33.78€30.04
-77.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27ARS 1,928
$2.04€1.81
-37.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KARS 40.4M
$35.6K€31.7K
-25.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KARS 51.0M
$35.4K€31.5K
-5.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137ARS 208.4K
$222€198
-38.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27ARS 26.2K
$11.43€10.17
51.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.41ARS 38.6K
$30.65€27.26
-17.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.76ARS 52.7K
$52.7€46.89
-34.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.57ARS 28.2K
$23.82€21.19
-22.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.99ARS 15.2K
$10.51€9.35
-4.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332ARS 504.0K
$541€481
-38.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,258ARS 9.5M
$11.7K€10.4K
-46.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109ARS 165.5K
$90.0€80.0
21.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$85.5ARS 129.7K
$39.08€34.76
118.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121ARS 183.6K
$101€90.2
19.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122ARS 184.5K
$132€117
-7.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Argentina
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538ARS 817.1K
$805€716
-33.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372ARS 564.6K
$619€550
-39.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,097ARS 1.7M
$1,388€1,235
-20.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$804ARS 1.2M
$1,050€934
-23.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,181ARS 3.3M
$3,623€3,223
-39.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,454ARS 2.2M
$2,229€1,983
-34.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Argentina
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$786ARS 1.2M
$1,889€1,680
-58.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
58.21
3.56
1535.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Argentina: October 13, 2026
Last update for Italy: October 11, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Argentina
$372 27.7%
Italy
$619 34.3% ↑ 66.3%$247
🛒Groceries & Markets
Argentina
$263 19.6%
Italy
$347 19.2% ↑ 31.7%$83
🍽Eating Out
Argentina
$239 17.8%
Italy
$273 15.1% ↑ 14.2%$34
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
$197 14.6%
Italy
$163 9% ↓ 17.1%$34
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
$180 13.4%
Italy
$265 14.7% ↑ 46.9%$84
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
$55 4.1%
Italy
$74 4.1% ↑ 34.7%$19
🚌Getting Around
Argentina
$38 2.9%
Italy
$65 3.6% ↑ 67.9%$26
🏠Accommodation & Living
Argentina
$804 26.7%
Italy
$1K 28% ↑ 30.6%$246
🛒Groceries & Markets
Argentina
$609 20.2%
Italy
$821 21.9% ↑ 34.8%$212
🍽Eating Out
Argentina
$753 25.1%
Italy
$939 25% ↑ 24.7%$186
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
$437 14.5%
Italy
$362 9.7% ↓ 17.1%$75
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
$197 6.6%
Italy
$276 7.4% ↑ 39.8%$79
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
$128 4.3%
Italy
$171 4.6% ↑ 33.8%$43
🚌Getting Around
Argentina
$79 2.6%
Italy
$133 3.5% ↑ 68.3%$54
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $515 in Argentina, $721 in Italy. Capital cities: $756 in Buenos Aires vs $1,222 in Rome.
💰National salary averages: $799 in Argentina, $1,888 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 40% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 40% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 925% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 136% 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
Argentina vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Italy?
At $1,344 per month in Argentina and $1,804 in Italy, there's a 34% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Argentina: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $721 in Italy and $515 in Argentina. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Argentina or in Italy?
In Argentina, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Italy it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or to Italy?
It depends on what you're after: Argentina wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.