For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $497 a month against $1,843 in Italy, rent and utilities included – about $16,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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 Iran actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,843 per month in Italy vs $497 in Iran, rent included.
Italy $1,843
Iran $497
A couple spends around $2,816 per month in Italy vs $809 in Iran, rent included.
Italy $2,816
Iran $809
A family of three spends $3,788 per month in Italy vs $1,121 in Iran, rent included.
Italy $3,788
Iran $1,121
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Italy ($1,038–$2,555) than in Iran ($361–$874), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Italy is about 271% higher than in Iran on average.
📊
Italy sits 35% above the global median, while Iran is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.46€18.33
$3.41$3.41
500.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5€71.2
$15.99$15.99
397.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15€9.99
$3.95$3.95
182.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.85$0.85
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.11$1.11
-
Cappuccino
$2.04€1.83
$1.18$1.18
72.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.78
$0.53$0.53
484.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.25
$0.85$0.85
64.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.51€4.94
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74€5.14
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Iran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.41
$0.62$0.62
153.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.13
$0.48$0.48
395.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.60
$2.35$2.35
23.40%
Eggs
$4.07€3.65
$1.11$1.11
266.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.44€15.63
$3.74$3.74
366.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.56€11.25
$3.00$3.00
318.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.17€18.07
$9.85$9.85
104.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.58€2.31
$0.97$0.97
165.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.96
$1.47$1.47
48.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.40
$0.89$0.89
201.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.27€2.93
$0.58$0.58
463.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.70
$0.51$0.51
272.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.63
$0.46$0.46
295.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57€1.41
$0.51$0.51
207.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$0.23$0.23
139.13%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53$0.53
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44$1.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.69€6.00
$2.21$2.21
202.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99€7.16
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.59
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.11
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91€1.71
$0.15$0.15
1173.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.44€38.92
$10.20$10.20
325.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.62€5.03
$0.52$0.52
980.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.54
$0.31$0.31
451.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.64€30.14
$2.43$2.43
1284.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.82
$0.28$0.28
625.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€31.6K
$59.2K$59.2K
-40.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K€32.9K
$52.7K$52.7K
-30.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€203
$13.72$13.72
1551.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59€10.39
$2.30$2.30
403.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38€27.22
$6.70$6.70
353.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.8€46.39
$16.70$16.70
210.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.70€21.24
$12.24$12.24
93.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.60€9.50
$1.54$1.54
588.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€509
$81.3$81.3
597.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€10.3K
$1,146$1,146
905.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Iran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5€81.1
$22.85$22.85
296.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55€34.55
$26.56$26.56
45.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€92.0
$100$100
2.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€117
$62.5$62.5
109.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826€740
$252$252
227.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646€579
$180$180
259.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,400€1,255
$556$556
152.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,054€945
$345$345
205.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,662€3,282
$994$994
268.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,301€2,062
$585$585
293.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,886€1,690
$243$243
677.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
23.39
-84.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: October 24, 2026
Last update for Iran: 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%
Iran
$180 36.1% ↓ 72.2%$466
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$348 18.9%
Iran
$108 21.7% ↓ 69%$240
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$279 15.1%
Iran
$59 11.8% ↓ 78.9%$220
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$269 14.6%
Iran
$23 4.6% ↓ 91.5%$246
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$163 8.9%
Iran
$96 19.2% ↓ 41.5%$68
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$73 4%
Iran
$20 4% ↓ 72.9%$53
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.5%
Iran
$13 2.6% ↓ 80.3%$52
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1.1K 27.8%
Iran
$345 30.7% ↓ 67.3%$710
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$823 21.7%
Iran
$264 23.5% ↓ 67.9%$559
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$964 25.5%
Iran
$198 17.6% ↓ 79.5%$767
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$280 7.4%
Iran
$25 2.2% ↓ 91.1%$255
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$363 9.6%
Iran
$212 18.9% ↓ 41.5%$150
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$170 4.5%
Iran
$52 4.6% ↓ 69.5%$118
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$134 3.6%
Iran
$26 2.3% ↓ 80.6%$108
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $729 in Italy vs $295 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,297 in Rome and $430 in Tehran.
💰Average salary: $1,890 in Italy vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 147% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 356% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 330% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are about 7.1 times higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
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 Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Italy?
Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 73% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Italy?
Housing costs more in Italy: a central one-bedroom averages $729 versus $295 in Iran.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Italy?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iran – part of why living there is about 73% cheaper overall.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Italy?
Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.