Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and AustriaCost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Austria
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $2,265 in Austria.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,621 in Italy versus $3,331 in Austria.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,524 in Italy versus $4,396 in Austria.
🌍Living in Italy costs about 24% less than in Austria on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 29% above, Austria 70% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,176 to $2,467, compared to $1,801–$2,733 in Austria. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Austria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.36
$17.03€14.87
3.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5€72.0
$80.7€70.5
2.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.72€10.24
$11.54€10.08
1.56%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.68
$4.44€3.88
-56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.61
$3.76€3.28
-20.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.19
$3.05€2.67
-55.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.03
$5.69€4.97
1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22€4.56
$5.12€4.48
1.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Austria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.48
$1.66€1.45
1.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33€2.04
$2.82€2.47
-17.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05€2.67
$2.59€2.27
17.76%
Eggs
$3.99€3.49
$4.55€3.97
-12.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.68€14.57
$18.35€16.03
-9.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.57€10.98
$15.03€13.13
-16.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.53€17.94
$23.02€20.11
-10.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56€2.23
$2.94€2.57
-12.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.93
$2.40€2.09
-8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.34
$3.15€2.75
-14.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.37€2.95
$4.56€3.98
-26.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.78
$2.21€1.93
-7.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88€1.64
$2.06€1.80
-8.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.29
$1.95€1.70
-24.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.47
$0.85€0.75
-36.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00€6.11
$7.59€6.63
-7.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09€6.19
$8.50€7.43
-16.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.57
$1.42€1.24
26.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.19
$1.95€1.70
28.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Austria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.71
$2.81€2.45
-30.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.58€36.33
$58.1€50.8
-28.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.80€5.07
$5.93€5.18
-2.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.39
$1.99€1.74
-19.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.07€30.64
$34.77€30.38
0.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.86
$1.75€1.53
21.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K€28.5K
$30.3K€26.5K
7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K€29.5K
$31.2K€27.2K
8.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Austria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€197
$384€336
-41.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14€11.48
$20.49€17.90
-35.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.19€27.25
$40.52€35.40
-23.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Austria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.94
$46.87€40.95
21.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.85€22.58
$25.91€22.63
-0.23%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34€9.03
$13.81€12.06
-25.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Austria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$564€493
$384€335
47.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€9,035
$15.0K€13.1K
-31.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Austria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€80.3
$101€88.3
-9.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54€35.42
$44.48€38.86
-8.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2€85.8
$106€92.3
-7.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€115
$141€123
-6.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Austria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€747
$1,016€888
-15.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663€580
$829€724
-19.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522€1,330
$1,814€1,585
-16.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,089€951
$1,453€1,270
-25.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,747€3,274
$7,694€6,722
-51.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,299€2,009
$4,823€4,214
-52.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Austria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,897€1,657
$2,989€2,612
-36.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
3.72
18.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: July 11, 2026
Last update for Austria: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $915 in Austria. Capital cities: $1,328 in Rome vs $1,245 in Vienna.
💰National salary averages: $1,912 in Italy, $2,914 in Austria. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 23% higher in Austria.
⭐Public transport is 32% more expensive in Austria.
⭐Salaries are 52% 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
Italy vs Austria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Austria and Italy?
At $2,267 per month in Austria and $1,822 in Italy, there's a 24% 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.