😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Italy versus $877 in Saint Helena.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,626 in Italy versus $1,429 in Saint Helena.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,531 in Italy versus $1,981 in Saint Helena.
🌍Living in Italy is roughly 96% more expensive than in Saint Helena on average.
📊Italy (29% above) and Saint Helena (34% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,191 to $2,443, compared to $514–$1,240 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€14.86
$16.47SHP 12.20
4.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4€70.5
$53.8SHP 39.85
51.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60€10.05
$12.10SHP 8.96
-4.13%
Cappuccino
$1.98€1.71
$3.12SHP 2.31
-36.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.60
$1.22SHP 0.90
145.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.12SHP 0.83
21.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.13
$4.68SHP 3.47
26.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25€4.55
$2.59SHP 1.92
102.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.48
$1.92SHP 1.42
-11.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37€2.05
$1.83SHP 1.36
29.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03€2.63
$1.38SHP 1.02
119.57%
Eggs
$3.95€3.42
$4.33SHP 3.21
-8.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.66€14.43
$8.03SHP 5.95
107.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.26€10.61
$10.73SHP 7.95
14.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.06€17.37
$11.09SHP 8.22
80.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.55€2.21
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.91
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.75€2.38
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22€2.79
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.58
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.28
$2.75SHP 2.04
-46.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$2.30SHP 1.71
-78.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.17
$11.42SHP 8.46
-37.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37€6.38
$15.70SHP 11.63
-53.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53€2.19
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.72
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.32€36.65
$40.65SHP 30.11
4.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.91
$2.67SHP 1.98
112.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.31
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.94€30.25
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.81
$2.57SHP 1.91
-18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K€28.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K€28.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€196
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58€11.76
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.57€27.34
$164SHP 122
-80.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.93
$13.65SHP 10.11
322.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.23€21.85
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.59€9.18
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€492
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,126
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7€78.5
$41.16SHP 30.49
120.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.49€35.06
$20.65SHP 15.30
96.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8€86.4
$48.39SHP 35.85
106.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$865€749
$713SHP 528
21.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$672€582
$623SHP 462
7.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,523€1,319
$707SHP 524
115.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€934
$659SHP 488
63.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,767€3,262
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,360€2,044
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Saint Helena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,949€1,688
$784SHP 581
148.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
6.2
-28.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: July 27, 2026
Last update for Saint Helena: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $715 in Saint Helena. Capital cities: $1,334 in Rome vs $673 in Jamestown.
💰National salary averages: $1,912 in Italy, $764 in Saint Helena. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Dining out costs 28% more in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 150% 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 Saint Helena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Saint Helena?
At $1,817 per month in Italy and $877 in Saint Helena, there's a 107% 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 Saint Helena: 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 is consistently higher than in Saint Helena across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in Saint Helena?
In Saint Helena, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Italy 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 Saint Helena?
It depends on what you're after: Saint Helena wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.