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: $1,718 in Italy versus $966 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,621 in Italy versus $1,579 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,524 in Italy versus $2,191 in Argentina.

Living in Italy is roughly 78% more expensive than in Argentina on average.

Italy (29% above) and Argentina (28% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,176 to $2,467, compared to $607$1,393 in Argentina. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 €15.38
$12.19 ARS 18.0K
44.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5 €72.1
$49.73 ARS 73.5K
65.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 €10.25
$10.16 ARS 15.0K
15.35%
Cappuccino
$1.92 €1.68
$3.43 ARS 5,076
-44.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.62
$1.94 ARS 2,863
54.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.19
$1.45 ARS 2,146
-6.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 €5.04
$3.03 ARS 4,480
90.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 €4.57
$3.01 ARS 4,444
73.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 €1.48
$1.37 ARS 2,022
23.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 €2.04
$1.99 ARS 2,936
17.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 €2.67
$2.10 ARS 3,110
45.24%
Eggs
$3.99 €3.49
$2.70 ARS 3,988
47.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.68 €14.59
$10.28 ARS 15.2K
62.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.57 €11.00
$6.87 ARS 10.2K
82.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.53 €17.96
$8.93 ARS 13.2K
129.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 €2.24
$2.17 ARS 3,209
17.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 €1.93
$2.02 ARS 2,981
8.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 €2.34
$1.36 ARS 2,008
97.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.37 €2.95
$2.37 ARS 3,505
42.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$1.29 ARS 1,912
58.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 €1.65
$1.24 ARS 1,833
51.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.29
$1.58 ARS 2,332
-6.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.47
$1.47 ARS 2,166
-63.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00 €6.12
$3.02 ARS 4,468
131.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.09 €6.20
$5.06 ARS 7,473
40.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.58
$1.86 ARS 2,751
-3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 €2.19
$3.01 ARS 4,451
-16.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 €1.71
$0.77 ARS 1,145
154.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.58 €36.38
$20.65 ARS 30.5K
101.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.80 €5.08
$1.54 ARS 2,269
276.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 €1.40
$0.98 ARS 1,453
63.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.07 €30.68
$6.07 ARS 8,977
477.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.08 ARS 1,601
97.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K €28.5K
$24.6K ARS 36.4M
32.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K €29.6K
$30.2K ARS 44.6M
12.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 €197
$87.1 ARS 128.7K
158.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14 €11.50
$17.18 ARS 25.4K
-23.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.19 €27.29
$22.86 ARS 33.8K
36.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 €50.0
$30.87 ARS 45.6K
85.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.85 €22.61
$13.43 ARS 19.9K
92.48%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 €9.05
$6.69 ARS 9,887
54.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 €493
$249 ARS 368.3K
126.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K €9,047
$3,755 ARS 5.6M
175.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9 €80.4
$97.2 ARS 143.6K
-5.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54 €35.47
$78.5 ARS 116.0K
-48.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 €85.9
$121 ARS 178.5K
-18.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €116
$120 ARS 177.7K
9.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$855 €748
$499 ARS 737.7K
71.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 €580
$339 ARS 501.4K
95.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,522 €1,332
$893 ARS 1.3M
70.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 €953
$613 ARS 906.7K
77.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,747 €3,278
$2,091 ARS 3.1M
79.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,299 €2,011
$1,398 ARS 2.1M
64.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,897 €1,659
$738 ARS 1.1M
157.08%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Argentina: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $1,328 in Rome vs $657 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $1,912 in Italy, $727 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 163% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.

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 $1,000 per month in Argentina and $1,822 in Italy, there's a 82% 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 Argentina: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Italy?
In Argentina, $1,500 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.

Italy vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries