Cost of Living Comparison Between Austria and ItalyCost of Living Comparison Between Austria and Italy
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,269 in Austria versus $1,782 in Italy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Austria versus $2,722 in Italy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,426 in Austria versus $3,662 in Italy.
🌍Living in Austria is roughly 27% more expensive than in Italy on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Austria 66% above, Italy 30% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,169 to $2,657, compared to $1,846–$2,807 in Austria. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austria
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.96
$21.07€18.26
-12.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3€71.4
$81.0€70.2
1.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.97€12.10
$11.50€9.96
21.48%
Cappuccino
$4.86€4.21
$2.10€1.82
131.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.47
$3.07€2.66
30.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.71
$1.44€1.25
117.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87€5.09
$5.86€5.08
0.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47€4.74
$5.72€4.96
-4.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austria
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71€1.48
$1.59€1.38
7.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.86€2.48
$2.41€2.09
18.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48€2.15
$2.99€2.60
-17.06%
Eggs
$4.94€4.28
$4.34€3.76
13.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.25€16.68
$17.62€15.27
9.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.80€12.83
$12.69€10.99
16.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.70€19.67
$20.80€18.02
9.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94€2.55
$2.61€2.26
12.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.12
$2.14€1.86
14.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.23€2.80
$2.79€2.42
15.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.30€3.73
$3.37€2.92
27.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.04€1.77
9.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.96€1.70
8.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02€1.75
$1.56€1.35
29.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.53€0.46
79.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.04€6.97
$6.84€5.93
17.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.75€7.58
$7.71€6.68
13.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.27
$1.86€1.61
-20.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.76
$2.49€2.16
-18.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Austria
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.54€3.07
$1.91€1.66
85.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.5€53.3
$44.16€38.27
39.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.72€4.96
$5.87€5.09
-2.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.44€2.12
$1.70€1.48
43.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.40€35.01
$35.16€30.47
14.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$2.11€1.83
-9.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K€26.7K
$36.9K€32.0K
-16.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K€25.4K
$36.5K€31.6K
-19.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austria
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$373€323
$229€199
62.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.32€14.15
$12.09€10.48
34.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52€31.64
$31.57€27.36
15.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austria
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.51€36.84
$54.1€46.90
-21.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.16€21.80
$24.51€21.24
2.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28€12.37
$10.78€9.34
32.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austria
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449€389
$562€487
-20.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$12.2K€10.6K
42.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austria
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$94.3€81.7
6.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.43€36.77
$40.72€35.29
4.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€93.8
$104€90.2
4.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€119
$136€118
0.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austria
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,015€880
$832€721
22.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$828€717
$646€560
28.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,831€1,586
$1,450€1,256
26.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,436€1,244
$1,081€937
32.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,712€6,683
$3,816€3,307
102.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,898€4,245
$2,312€2,003
111.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austria
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,123€2,706
$1,954€1,693
59.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
3.57
-0.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Austria: September 13, 2026
Last update for Italy: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $986 in Austria, $748 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,352 in Vienna vs $1,238 in Rome.
💰National salary averages: $2,998 in Austria, $1,958 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 32% higher in Austria.
⭐Public transport is 38% more expensive in Austria.
⭐Salaries are 53% higher in Austria, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Austria.
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
Austria vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Austria and Italy?
At $2,327 per month in Austria and $1,913 in Italy, there's a 22% 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 simply cheaper in Italy: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in Austria is consistently higher than in Italy across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Austria or in Italy?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Austria 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 Austria or to Italy?
It depends on what you're after: Italy wins on affordability; Austria may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.