Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Argentina Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Argentina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,717 in Italy versus $968 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,624 in Italy versus $1,579 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Italy versus $2,189 in Argentina.

Living in Italy is roughly 77% more expensive than Argentina on average.

Italy (28% above) and Argentina (28% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $597$1,412 in Argentina. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.44 €15.02
$12.01 ARS 17.3K
45.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 €68.4
$50.1 ARS 72.1K
58.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 €10.12
$10.03 ARS 14.4K
17.25%
Cappuccino
$2.00 €1.72
$3.43 ARS 4,931
-41.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.59
$1.96 ARS 2,815
53.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.46 ARS 2,105
-7.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 €5.11
$2.96 ARS 4,252
100.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 €4.61
$3.01 ARS 4,336
78.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.38 ARS 1,991
18.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.08
$1.99 ARS 2,864
21.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.58
$2.04 ARS 2,928
46.57%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.41
$2.70 ARS 3,890
46.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.84 €14.50
$9.98 ARS 14.4K
68.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.43 €10.70
$6.82 ARS 9,808
82.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.29 €17.47
$8.69 ARS 12.5K
133.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 €2.13
$2.17 ARS 3,118
13.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.01 ARS 2,893
6.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$1.36 ARS 1,953
94.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 €2.92
$2.48 ARS 3,563
37.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.30 ARS 1,865
47.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 €1.56
$1.24 ARS 1,787
45.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.53 ARS 2,200
1.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.47
$1.48 ARS 2,123
-63.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$2.95 ARS 4,237
130.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 €6.18
$4.86 ARS 6,985
47.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.55
$1.88 ARS 2,701
-4.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.08
$2.99 ARS 4,304
-19.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.78 ARS 1,123
156.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.35 €36.46
$20.92 ARS 30.1K
102.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 €5.12
$1.53 ARS 2,199
288.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.30
$0.97 ARS 1,401
55.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.04 €29.31
$5.88 ARS 8,458
478.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.12 ARS 1,617
83.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K €28.3K
$24.6K ARS 35.3M
33.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K €29.0K
$30.3K ARS 43.6M
11.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 €194
$85.0 ARS 122.2K
165.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 €11.41
$16.93 ARS 24.3K
-21.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95 €26.65
$23.33 ARS 33.6K
32.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 €48.00
$30.26 ARS 43.5K
84.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.15 €21.65
$13.40 ARS 19.3K
87.69%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 €8.83
$7.02 ARS 10.1K
46.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 €496
$255 ARS 366.4K
126.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K €9,007
$3,767 ARS 5.4M
177.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8 €79.1
$97.2 ARS 139.8K
-5.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72 €35.06
$77.8 ARS 111.9K
-47.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 €84.4
$121 ARS 174.6K
-19.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €113
$119 ARS 171.5K
9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 €740
$483 ARS 694.4K
78.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 €574
$330 ARS 474.6K
102.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 €1,270
$888 ARS 1.3M
66.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 €936
$633 ARS 909.9K
71.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,850 €3,316
$2,078 ARS 3.0M
85.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,359 €2,031
$1,376 ARS 2.0M
71.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,933 €1,665
$737 ARS 1.1M
162.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
65.53
-93.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026

Last update for Argentina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $1,325 in Rome vs $658 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $1,949 in Italy, $722 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 111% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 111% more in Italy.

Public transport is 780% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 170% higher in Italy, giving Italy stronger purchasing power.

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
Italy vs Argentina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Italy?
At $1,005 per month in Argentina and $1,839 in Italy, there's a 83% 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?
Argentina is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Italy beats Argentina across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Argentina or Italy?
In Argentina, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or 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.

Italy vs other spots: cost of living compared

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