Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Netherlands Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Netherlands

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $2,550 in Netherlands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $3,702 in Netherlands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Italy versus $4,854 in Netherlands.

Living in Italy costs about 33% less than in Netherlands on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 28% above, Netherlands 90% above.

Italy ($1,195$2,531) and Netherlands ($1,820$3,516) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20 €14.69
$23.52 €20.08
-26.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 €69.4
$92.3 €78.8
-12.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 €9.74
$13.79 €11.78
-17.33%
Cappuccino
$1.91 €1.63
$4.21 €3.60
-54.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.44
$3.41 €2.92
-16.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.13
$2.90 €2.47
-54.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 €5.03
$7.10 €6.06
-17.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 €4.37
$5.62 €4.80
-8.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.40
$1.30 €1.11
26.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 €1.96
$2.32 €1.98
-0.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 €2.59
$3.08 €2.63
-1.62%
Eggs
$4.09 €3.49
$4.82 €4.12
-15.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.26 €13.88
$13.79 €11.77
17.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 €10.45
$16.11 €13.76
-24.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.45 €17.46
$17.14 €14.64
19.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 €2.17
$2.39 €2.04
6.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 €1.81
$2.50 €2.14
-15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 €2.29
$1.91 €1.63
40.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.38 €2.89
$3.97 €3.39
-14.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 €1.71
$2.07 €1.77
-3.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 €1.60
$1.98 €1.69
-5.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.25
$1.27 €1.09
15.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.46
$0.92 €0.78
-41.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75 €5.76
$13.92 €11.89
-51.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 €6.13
$7.00 €5.98
2.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.54
$1.48 €1.26
21.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.09
$2.68 €2.29
-8.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 €1.73
$3.89 €3.32
-48.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.49 €35.43
$93.1 €79.5
-55.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 €4.93
$4.26 €3.64
35.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.31
$2.59 €2.21
-40.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.33 €30.18
$35.38 €30.21
-0.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.81
$2.18 €1.86
-2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K €27.6K
$38.2K €32.6K
-15.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K €28.5K
$36.2K €30.9K
-7.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 €191
$257 €220
-13.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.24 €11.30
$25.97 €22.18
-49.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.96 €26.44
$49.32 €42.12
-37.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 €48.36
$41.78 €35.68
35.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11 €21.44
$24.48 €20.91
2.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.32 €8.81
$16.15 €13.80
-36.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$563 €481
$2,182 €1,863
-74.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,073
$9,459 €8,078
12.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1 €77.0
$95.7 €81.7
-5.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60 €34.67
$45.72 €39.04
-11.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 €85.5
$106 €90.4
-5.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 €113
$136 €116
-2.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$864 €738
$1,623 €1,386
-46.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 €571
$1,292 €1,103
-48.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,473 €1,258
$2,569 €2,194
-42.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 €929
$2,133 €1,821
-48.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,808 €3,252
$6,877 €5,873
-44.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,454 €2,096
$5,052 €4,314
-51.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Netherlands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,935 €1,653
$4,002 €3,418
-51.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
4.25
3.76%

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

Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026

Last update for Netherlands: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $1,433 in Netherlands. Capital cities: $1,366 in Rome vs $2,372 in Amsterdam.

National salary averages: $1,935 in Italy, $3,686 in Netherlands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 93% higher in Netherlands.

Dining out costs 16% more in Netherlands.

Public transport is 111% more expensive in Netherlands.

Salaries are 90% higher in Netherlands, giving Netherlands 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 Netherlands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Netherlands?
At $1,863 per month in Italy and $2,668 in Netherlands, there's a 43% 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?
Italy 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 Netherlands beats 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 Italy or Netherlands?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Netherlands, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Netherlands?
It depends on what you're after. Italy wins on affordability; Netherlands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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