Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Republic of the Congo Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Republic of the Congo

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Italy 28% above, Republic of the Congo 49% 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
$10.50 FCFA 5,920
66.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 €68.4
$37.61 FCFA 21.2K
111.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 €10.11
$4.97 FCFA 2,804
136.62%
Cappuccino
$2.00 €1.72
$3.90 FCFA 2,200
-48.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.58
$1.61 FCFA 907
86.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.67 FCFA 940
-19.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 €5.11
$5.92 FCFA 3,337
0.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 €4.61
$2.41 FCFA 1,360
122.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.10 FCFA 1,183
-21.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.07
$4.52 FCFA 2,550
-46.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.58
$3.01 FCFA 1,695
-0.66%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.41
$2.99 FCFA 1,684
32.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.84 €14.49
$6.84 FCFA 3,858
146.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.43 €10.69
$4.88 FCFA 2,752
154.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.29 €17.46
$8.48 FCFA 4,781
139.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 €2.13
$2.39 FCFA 1,348
3.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.60 FCFA 904
34.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$3.62 FCFA 2,040
-26.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 €2.92
$2.60 FCFA 1,468
30.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.82 FCFA 1,024
5.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 €1.56
$1.24 FCFA 697
45.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.30 FCFA 734
19.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.46
$0.48 FCFA 272
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.84
$3.19 FCFA 1,800
112.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 €6.18
$8.22 FCFA 4,634
-12.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.55
$0.58 FCFA 327
210.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.08
$2.04 FCFA 1,152
18.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.23 FCFA 130
769.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.35 €36.43
$23.50 FCFA 13.3K
80.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 €5.11
$2.07 FCFA 1,168
186.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.30
$1.09 FCFA 616
38.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.04 €29.28
$4.68 FCFA 2,641
627.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.33 FCFA 747
54.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K €28.2K
$29.6K FCFA 16.7M
10.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K €29.0K
$20.8K FCFA 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
$802 FCFA 452.4K
-71.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 €11.40
$28.07 FCFA 15.8K
-52.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95 €26.62
$41.44 FCFA 23.4K
-25.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 €47.95
$46.49 FCFA 26.2K
19.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.15 €21.63
$16.82 FCFA 9,487
49.52%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 €8.82
$6.50 FCFA 3,663
57.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 €495
$67.0 FCFA 37.8K
759.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K €8,998
$8,745 FCFA 4.9M
19.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8 €79.0
$56.2 FCFA 31.7K
63.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72 €35.03
$57.2 FCFA 32.2K
-28.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 €84.3
$136 FCFA 76.8K
-28.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €112
$113 FCFA 63.9K
15.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 €740
$912 FCFA 514.2K
-5.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 €573
$249 FCFA 140.4K
167.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 €1,269
$2,982 FCFA 1.7M
-50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 €935
$1,075 FCFA 606.3K
1.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,850 €3,312
$3,497 FCFA 2.0M
10.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,359 €2,029
$2,959 FCFA 1.7M
-20.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,933 €1,663
$384 FCFA 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.

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