Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Iran Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Iran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,717 per month in Italy vs $519 in Iran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,624 per month in Italy vs $829 in Iran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,530 per month in Italy vs $1,139 in Iran, rent included.

Italy costs about 231% more than Iran on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Italy sits 28% above the global median, while Iran is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Italy has a wider regional cost range ($1,170$2,508) than Iran ($404$710), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.44 €15.00
$3.44 $3.44
406.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 €68.4
$18.53 $18.53
328.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 €10.11
$3.99 $3.99
194.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.67 $0.67
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.07 $1.07
-
Cappuccino
$2.00 €1.72
$1.18 $1.18
69.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.58
$0.57 $0.57
426.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.16
$0.86 $0.86
56.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 €5.11
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 €4.61
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Iran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.41
$0.65 $0.65
152.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.07
$0.49 $0.49
391.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.58
$2.15 $2.15
39.07%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.41
$1.12 $1.12
253.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.84 €14.49
$3.74 $3.74
350.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.43 €10.69
$2.93 $2.93
324.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.29 €17.46
$9.42 $9.42
115.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 €2.13
$0.85 $0.85
190.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.40 $1.40
53.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$0.88 $0.88
201.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 €2.92
$0.62 $0.62
448.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$0.54 $0.54
255.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 €1.56
$0.48 $0.48
277.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.33
$0.53 $0.53
192.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.46
$0.24 $0.24
125.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.83 $0.83
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.59 $0.59
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40 $1.40
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.84
$2.03 $2.03
234.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 €6.18
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.55
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.08
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.19 $0.19
952.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.35 €36.43
$9.98 $9.98
324.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 €5.11
$0.51 $0.51
1064.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.30
$0.31 $0.31
387.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.04 €29.28
$2.40 $2.40
1318.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.76
$0.72 $0.72
184.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K €28.2K
$71.9K $71.9K
-54.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K €29.0K
$58.7K $58.7K
-42.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 €194
$15.54 $15.54
1350.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 €11.40
$2.15 $2.15
516.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95 €26.62
$7.51 $7.51
312.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 €47.95
$17.47 $17.47
219.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.15 €21.63
$11.75 $11.75
114.04%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 €8.82
$1.51 $1.51
578.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 €495
$94.8 $94.8
507.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K €8,998
$1,285 $1,285
714.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Iran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8 €79.0
$26.86 $26.86
241.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72 €35.03
$31.61 $31.61
28.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 €84.3
$113 $113
-13.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €112
$67.2 $67.2
94.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 €740
$298 $298
188.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 €573
$215 $215
209.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 €1,269
$656 $656
124.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 €935
$417 $417
160.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,850 €3,312
$996 $996
286.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,359 €2,029
$592 $592
298.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,933 €1,663
$245 $245
689.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
22.87
-80.72%

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

Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026

Last update for Iran: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $743 in Italy vs $293 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,325 in Rome and $489 in Tehran.

Average salary: $1,949 in Italy vs $263 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 154% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 335% more in Italy.

Public transport is 340% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 641% 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 Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Italy?
Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 230% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or Italy?
Housing costs more in Italy, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Italy consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Italy?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Iran, contributing to the overall 230% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Iran and Italy on $800 per month?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Iran, but in Italy it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Italy?
Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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