🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,796 in Italy versus $1,976 in Republic of the Congo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,739 in Italy versus $3,014 in Republic of the Congo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,682 in Italy versus $4,052 in Republic of the Congo.
🌍Living in Italy costs about 9% less than in Republic of the Congo on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 30% above, Republic of the Congo 43% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,152 to $2,626, compared to $1,976–$1,976 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
$21.24€18.31
$8.67FCFA 4,900
144.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8€69.7
$37.94FCFA 21.4K
113.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41€9.84
$5.06FCFA 2,861
125.49%
Cappuccino
$2.08€1.79
$4.15FCFA 2,347
-49.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.63
$1.66FCFA 941
83.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.37FCFA 774
0.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.79€4.99
$5.76FCFA 3,255
0.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75€4.96
$2.71FCFA 1,529
112.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.46
$2.77FCFA 1,563
-38.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41€2.08
$5.06FCFA 2,857
-52.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01€2.59
$3.25FCFA 1,837
-7.38%
Eggs
$4.32€3.72
$2.55FCFA 1,439
69.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.93€15.45
$16.34FCFA 9,232
9.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.67€10.92
$7.31FCFA 4,129
73.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.57€17.73
$12.76FCFA 7,210
61.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.26
$2.98FCFA 1,684
-12.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.75FCFA 989
22.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80€2.41
$3.51FCFA 1,981
-20.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.32€2.87
$4.01FCFA 2,266
-17.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$3.18FCFA 1,798
-33.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.63
$2.44FCFA 1,378
-22.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.33
$1.30FCFA 736
19.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.93FCFA 527
-39.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16€6.17
$3.74FCFA 2,111
91.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35€6.33
$8.47FCFA 4,787
-13.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$1.04FCFA 585
73.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.07
$1.75FCFA 991
37.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.93€1.66
$0.28FCFA 160
589.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.24€39.00
$23.28FCFA 13.2K
94.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.74€4.95
$1.73FCFA 979
231.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70€1.47
$1.79FCFA 1,011
-5.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.25€30.38
$7.26FCFA 4,102
385.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.76
$1.39FCFA 788
46.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.3K
$30.1KFCFA 17.0M
24.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K€31.9K
$21.5KFCFA 12.2M
72.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231€199
$611FCFA 345.0K
-62.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.34€10.64
$29.70FCFA 16.8K
-58.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.17€26.87
$44.76FCFA 25.3K
-30.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2€47.62
$35.51FCFA 20.1K
55.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.91€21.47
$17.15FCFA 9,688
45.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13€9.59
$6.36FCFA 3,594
75.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€490
$55.0FCFA 31.1K
932.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K€10.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0€80.1
$49.05FCFA 27.7K
89.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82€34.32
$49.65FCFA 28.1K
-19.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.8
$120FCFA 67.8K
-13.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135€116
$120FCFA 67.7K
12.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$852€734
$824FCFA 465.4K
3.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645€556
$259FCFA 146.6K
148.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,449€1,249
$2,716FCFA 1.5M
-46.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,084€935
$1,011FCFA 571.5K
7.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,813€3,287
$3,500FCFA 2.0M
8.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,357€2,032
$2,925FCFA 1.7M
-19.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,933€1,666
$391FCFA 220.7K
394.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.57
9.51
-62.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: September 5, 2026
Last update for Republic of the Congo: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $755 in Italy, $1,206 in Republic of the Congo. Capital cities: $1,247 in Rome vs $1,206 in Brazzaville.
💰National salary averages: $1,964 in Italy, $457 in Republic of the Congo. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 60% higher in Republic of the Congo.
⭐Dining out costs 49% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 79% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 330% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
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 $1,889 per month in Italy and $1,976 in Republic of the Congo, there's a 5% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Italy: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Republic of the Congo?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Republic of the Congo it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or to 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.