For one person, living is cheaper in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: $1,310 a month against $1,843 in Italy, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Italy and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Italy and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,843 in Italy versus $1,310 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Italy $1,843
Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,310
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,816 in Italy versus $2,560 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Italy $2,816
Democratic Republic of the Congo $2,560
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,788 in Italy versus $3,810 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Italy $3,788
Democratic Republic of the Congo $3,810
📏
Italy ($1,038–$2,555) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($400–$1,736) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in Italy is roughly 41% more expensive than in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on average.
📊
Italy (35% above) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.46€18.38
$14.90CDF 33.6K
37.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5€71.4
$84.4CDF 190.7K
-5.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15€10.02
$9.82CDF 22.2K
13.54%
Cappuccino
$2.04€1.83
$5.40CDF 12.2K
-62.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.79
$1.82CDF 4,117
70.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.26
$1.53CDF 3,457
-8.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.51€4.95
$1.95CDF 4,404
182.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74€5.16
$4.63CDF 10.5K
23.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.41
$2.03CDF 4,591
-22.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.14
$1.70CDF 3,836
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.60
$2.54CDF 5,747
14.17%
Eggs
$4.07€3.66
$3.28CDF 7,399
24.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.44€15.67
$8.08CDF 18.3K
115.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.56€11.28
$8.50CDF 19.2K
47.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.17€18.12
$10.52CDF 23.8K
91.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.58€2.32
$3.61CDF 8,159
-28.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.97
$2.50CDF 5,641
-12.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.41
$3.18CDF 7,171
-15.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.27€2.94
$2.79CDF 6,298
17.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.71
$2.43CDF 5,494
-21.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.63
$2.73CDF 6,160
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57€1.41
$2.06CDF 4,661
-23.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$1.25CDF 2,831
-56.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.69€6.01
$4.52CDF 10.2K
48.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99€7.18
$15.18CDF 34.3K
-47.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.59
$1.84CDF 4,152
-3.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.11
$3.25CDF 7,339
-27.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91€1.72
$0.48CDF 1,079
297.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.44€39.03
$18.61CDF 42.0K
133.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.62€5.05
$5.13CDF 11.6K
9.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.54
$1.31CDF 2,954
30.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.64€30.22
$9.88CDF 22.3K
240.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.82
$1.73CDF 3,904
17.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€31.7K
$20.2KCDF 45.7M
74.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K€33.0K
$23.3KCDF 52.6M
57.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€204
$91.5CDF 206.6K
147.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59€10.41
$20.56CDF 46.4K
-43.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38€27.30
$70.4CDF 158.9K
-56.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.8€46.52
$57.0CDF 128.8K
-9.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.70€21.29
$21.55CDF 48.7K
9.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.60€9.53
$15.27CDF 34.5K
-30.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€510
$250CDF 564.4K
127.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€10.4K
$5,105CDF 11.5M
125.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5€81.3
$32.34CDF 73.0K
179.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55€34.64
$38.91CDF 87.9K
-0.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€92.2
$70.3CDF 158.7K
46.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€118
$99.3CDF 224.2K
31.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826€742
$1,574CDF 3.6M
-47.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646€581
$353CDF 798.0K
82.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,400€1,258
$3,547CDF 8.0M
-60.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,054€947
$1,493CDF 3.4M
-29.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,662€3,290
$3,668CDF 8.3M
-0.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,301€2,068
$1,003CDF 2.3M
129.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,886€1,695
$629CDF 1.4M
199.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
13.33
-73.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: October 24, 2026
Last update for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 25, 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
Italy
$646 35.1%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$353 27% ↓ 45.3%$293
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$348 18.9%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$301 23% ↓ 13.6%$47
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$279 15.1%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$246 18.8% ↓ 11.8%$33
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$269 14.6%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$182 13.9% ↓ 32.1%$86
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$163 8.9%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$108 8.3% ↓ 33.6%$55
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$73 4%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$88 6.7% ↑ 20%$15
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.5%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$32 2.5% ↓ 50.7%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1.1K 27.8%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$1.5K 39.2% ↑ 41.6%$438
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$823 21.7%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$688 18.1% ↓ 16.4%$135
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$964 25.5%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$923 24.2% ↓ 4.3%$41
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$280 7.4%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$203 5.3% ↓ 27.5%$77
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$363 9.6%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$241 6.3% ↓ 33.6%$122
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$170 4.5%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$197 5.2% ↑ 15.9%$27
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$134 3.6%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$65 1.7% ↓ 51.4%$69
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $729 in Italy, $1,280 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Capital cities: $1,297 in Rome vs $1,698 in Kinshasa.
💰National salary averages: $1,890 in Italy, $633 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 76% higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⭐Dining out costs 20% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 139% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are about 3 times higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
Italy→Democratic Republic of the Congo5,150 km≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
Italy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
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
Italy vs Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Italy?
At $1,310 per month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and $1,843 in Italy, there’s a 41% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Italy?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: 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.
How do I choose between living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Italy?
It depends on what you’re after: the Democratic Republic of the Congo wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.