๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $790 in San Marino.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $1,209 in San Marino.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Italy versus $1,627 in San Marino.
๐Living in Italy is roughly 117% more expensive than San Marino on average.
๐Italy (28% above) and San Marino (41% below) straddle the global median.
๐Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,195 to $2,531, compared to $356โ$1,224 in San Marino. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20โฌ14.67
$17.50โฌ14.93
-1.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2โฌ69.3
$66.7โฌ56.9
21.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40โฌ9.72
$11.42โฌ9.74
-0.18%
Cappuccino
$1.91โฌ1.63
$1.88โฌ1.61
1.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86โฌ2.44
$3.07โฌ2.62
-6.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.13
$1.58โฌ1.35
-15.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.89โฌ5.03
$4.54โฌ3.87
29.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12โฌ4.37
$6.79โฌ5.79
-24.59%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64โฌ1.40
$1.15โฌ0.98
42.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30โฌ1.96
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03โฌ2.59
-
-
Eggs
$4.09โฌ3.49
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26โฌ13.87
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.24โฌ10.44
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.45โฌ17.44
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$2.34โฌ1.99
8.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.81
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68โฌ2.29
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38โฌ2.89
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.00โฌ1.71
$1.15โฌ0.98
73.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88โฌ1.60
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47โฌ1.25
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54โฌ0.46
$0.61โฌ0.52
-11.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75โฌ5.75
$4.36โฌ3.72
54.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.18โฌ6.12
$4.56โฌ3.89
57.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80โฌ1.54
$1.93โฌ1.64
-6.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45โฌ2.09
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Italy
San Marino
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02โฌ1.73
$1.78โฌ1.52
13.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.49โฌ35.39
$28.85โฌ24.61
43.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.77โฌ4.92
$5.62โฌ4.79
2.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53โฌ1.30
$1.73โฌ1.47
-11.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.33โฌ30.14
$25.43โฌ21.69
38.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$2.08โฌ1.78
1.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3Kโฌ27.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4Kโฌ28.5K
-
-
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224โฌ191
$117โฌ99.7
91.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.24โฌ11.29
$23.19โฌ19.78
-42.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.96โฌ26.41
$35.22โฌ30.04
-12.10%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6โฌ48.30
$76.5โฌ65.3
-26.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11โฌ21.42
$26.42โฌ22.54
-4.96%
Cinema Ticket
$10.32โฌ8.80
$8.03โฌ6.85
28.52%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$563โฌ481
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6Kโฌ9,063
-
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1โฌ76.9
$79.6โฌ67.9
13.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60โฌ34.63
$35.23โฌ30.05
15.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100โฌ85.4
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133โฌ113
$57.0โฌ48.62
132.47%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Italy
San Marino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864โฌ737
$645โฌ550
34.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668โฌ570
$568โฌ485
17.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,473โฌ1,257
$845โฌ721
74.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,088โฌ928
$791โฌ674
37.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,808โฌ3,248
$2,892โฌ2,467
31.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,454โฌ2,093
$2,929โฌ2,498
-16.21%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Italy
San Marino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,935โฌ1,651
$3,770โฌ3,215
-48.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
3.55
24.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026
Last update for San Marino: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $316 in San Marino. Capital cities: $1,366 in Rome vs $632 in San Marino.
๐ฐNational salary averages: $1,935 in Italy, $3,796 in San Marino. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
โญRent is 135% higher in Italy.
โญDining out costs 51% more in Italy.
โญPublic transport is 214% more expensive in Italy.
โญSalaries are 96% higher in San Marino, giving San Marino 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 San Marino: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and San Marino?
At $1,863 per month in Italy and $790 in San Marino, there's a 136% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
San Marino 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 Italy beats San Marino across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Italy or San Marino?
In San Marino, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or San Marino?
It depends on what you're after. San Marino wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.