Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and LatviaCost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Latvia
Monthly Cost of Living
๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $1,354 in Latvia.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $2,049 in Latvia.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Italy versus $2,743 in Latvia.
๐Living in Italy is roughly 27% more expensive than Latvia on average.
๐Both countries sit above the global median: Italy28% above, Latvia1% above.
๐Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,195 to $2,531, compared to $1,202โ$1,578 in Latvia. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20โฌ14.67
$13.71โฌ11.69
25.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2โฌ69.3
$70.5โฌ60.1
15.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40โฌ9.72
$7.91โฌ6.75
44.12%
Cappuccino
$1.91โฌ1.63
$3.28โฌ2.79
-41.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86โฌ2.44
$1.76โฌ1.50
62.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.13
$1.25โฌ1.06
6.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.89โฌ5.03
$5.32โฌ4.54
10.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12โฌ4.37
$4.56โฌ3.89
12.28%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64โฌ1.40
$1.31โฌ1.12
25.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30โฌ1.96
$1.57โฌ1.34
46.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03โฌ2.59
$3.10โฌ2.64
-2.26%
Eggs
$4.09โฌ3.49
$3.01โฌ2.57
35.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26โฌ13.87
$11.47โฌ9.78
41.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.24โฌ10.44
$7.82โฌ6.67
56.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.45โฌ17.44
$12.04โฌ10.27
69.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$1.54โฌ1.32
65.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.87โฌ1.60
13.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68โฌ2.29
$2.64โฌ2.25
1.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38โฌ2.89
$3.37โฌ2.87
0.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00โฌ1.71
$1.02โฌ0.87
96.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88โฌ1.60
$1.06โฌ0.91
77.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$1.82โฌ1.55
-19.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54โฌ0.46
$0.85โฌ0.73
-36.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75โฌ5.75
$5.96โฌ5.08
13.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.18โฌ6.12
$8.17โฌ6.97
-12.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80โฌ1.54
$1.70โฌ1.45
5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45โฌ2.09
$2.18โฌ1.86
12.39%
๐ Getting Around
Italy
Latvia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02โฌ1.73
$1.72โฌ1.47
17.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.49โฌ35.39
$34.13โฌ29.12
21.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.77โฌ4.92
$2.72โฌ2.32
112.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53โฌ1.30
$0.76โฌ0.65
101.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.33โฌ30.14
$11.74โฌ10.02
200.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.90โฌ1.62
11.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3Kโฌ27.5K
$30.5Kโฌ26.0K
5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4Kโฌ28.5K
$31.1Kโฌ26.5K
7.52%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224โฌ191
$304โฌ259
-26.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.24โฌ11.29
$19.13โฌ16.32
-30.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.96โฌ26.41
$19.94โฌ17.01
55.27%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6โฌ48.30
$47.46โฌ40.48
19.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11โฌ21.42
$28.55โฌ24.35
-12.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.32โฌ8.80
$11.79โฌ10.06
-12.47%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$563โฌ481
$534โฌ456
5.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6Kโฌ9,063
$15.6Kโฌ13.3K
-31.99%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1โฌ76.9
$92.8โฌ79.2
-2.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60โฌ34.63
$46.11โฌ39.33
-11.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100โฌ85.4
$93.2โฌ79.5
7.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133โฌ113
$140โฌ120
-5.57%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Italy
Latvia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864โฌ737
$462โฌ394
87.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668โฌ570
$335โฌ285
99.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,473โฌ1,257
$949โฌ809
55.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,088โฌ928
$609โฌ519
78.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,808โฌ3,248
$2,792โฌ2,382
36.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,454โฌ2,093
$1,767โฌ1,507
38.89%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Italy
Latvia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,935โฌ1,651
$1,359โฌ1,159
42.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
4.33
1.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026
Last update for Latvia: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $353 in Latvia. Capital cities: $1,366 in Rome vs $595 in Riga.
๐ฐNational salary averages: $1,935 in Italy, $1,068 in Latvia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
โญRent is 110% higher in Italy.
โญDining out costs 25% more in Italy.
โญPublic transport is 19% more expensive in Italy.
โญSalaries are 81% 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 Latvia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Latvia?
At $1,863 per month in Italy and $1,390 in Latvia, there's a 34% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Latvia is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats Latvia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Italy or Latvia?
In Latvia, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Latvia?
It depends on what you're after. Latvia wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.