🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,717 in Italy versus $1,995 in Republic of the Congo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,624 in Italy versus $2,891 in Republic of the Congo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Italy versus $3,787 in Republic of the Congo.
🙂Living in Italy costs about 14% less than in Republic of the Congo on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Italy28% above, Republic of the Congo49% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $1,995–$1,995 in Republic of the Congo. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.44€15.00
$10.50FCFA 5,920
66.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5€68.4
$37.61FCFA 21.2K
111.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.76€10.11
$4.97FCFA 2,804
136.62%
Cappuccino
$2.00€1.72
$3.90FCFA 2,200
-48.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.58
$1.61FCFA 907
86.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$1.67FCFA 940
-19.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.11
$5.92FCFA 3,337
0.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36€4.61
$2.41FCFA 1,360
122.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.41
$2.10FCFA 1,183
-21.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41€2.07
$4.52FCFA 2,550
-46.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99€2.58
$3.01FCFA 1,695
-0.66%
Eggs
$3.96€3.41
$2.99FCFA 1,684
32.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.84€14.49
$6.84FCFA 3,858
146.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.43€10.69
$4.88FCFA 2,752
154.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.29€17.46
$8.48FCFA 4,781
139.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$2.39FCFA 1,348
3.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.60FCFA 904
34.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$3.62FCFA 2,040
-26.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.92
$2.60FCFA 1,468
30.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.82FCFA 1,024
5.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.24FCFA 697
45.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.33
$1.30FCFA 734
19.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.46
$0.48FCFA 272
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.84
$3.19FCFA 1,800
112.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.18€6.18
$8.22FCFA 4,634
-12.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$0.58FCFA 327
210.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$2.04FCFA 1,152
18.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00€1.72
$0.23FCFA 130
769.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.35€36.43
$23.50FCFA 13.3K
80.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.94€5.11
$2.07FCFA 1,168
186.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$1.09FCFA 616
38.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.04€29.28
$4.68FCFA 2,641
627.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.76
$1.33FCFA 747
54.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K€28.2K
$29.6KFCFA 16.7M
10.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K€29.0K
$20.8KFCFA 11.7M
62.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€194
$802FCFA 452.4K
-71.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25€11.40
$28.07FCFA 15.8K
-52.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95€26.62
$41.44FCFA 23.4K
-25.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7€47.95
$46.49FCFA 26.2K
19.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.15€21.63
$16.82FCFA 9,487
49.52%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25€8.82
$6.50FCFA 3,663
57.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576€495
$67.0FCFA 37.8K
759.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€8,998
$8,745FCFA 4.9M
19.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8€79.0
$56.2FCFA 31.7K
63.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72€35.03
$57.2FCFA 32.2K
-28.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0€84.3
$136FCFA 76.8K
-28.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€112
$113FCFA 63.9K
15.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$860€740
$912FCFA 514.2K
-5.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667€573
$249FCFA 140.4K
167.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,475€1,269
$2,982FCFA 1.7M
-50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,087€935
$1,075FCFA 606.3K
1.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,850€3,312
$3,497FCFA 2.0M
10.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,359€2,029
$2,959FCFA 1.7M
-20.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,933€1,663
$384FCFA 216.5K
403.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
7.77
-43.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026
Last update for Republic of the Congo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $532 in Republic of the Congo. Capital cities: $1,325 in Rome vs $532 in Brazzaville.
💰National salary averages: $1,949 in Italy, $456 in Republic of the Congo. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 40% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 100% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 83% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 327% 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 Republic of the Congo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Republic of the Congo?
At $1,839 per month in Italy and $1,995 in Republic of the Congo, there's a 8% 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 Republic of the Congo 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 Republic of the Congo?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Republic of the Congo, 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 Republic of the Congo?
It depends on what you're after. Italy wins on affordability; Republic of the Congo may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.