Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Sierra Leone Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Sierra Leone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,782 in Italy versus $1,724 in Sierra Leone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,722 in Italy versus $1,431 in Sierra Leone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,662 in Italy versus $1,138 in Sierra Leone.

Living in Italy is roughly 3% more expensive than in Sierra Leone on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 30% above, Sierra Leone 26% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,169 to $2,657, compared to $1,724$1,724 in Sierra Leone. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.07 €18.36
$2.05 SLL 46.7K
927.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 €70.7
$39.26 SLL 896.1K
106.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.50 €10.02
$10.78 SLL 246.1K
6.68%
Cappuccino
$2.10 €1.83
$2.43 SLL 55.5K
-13.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 €2.67
$1.29 SLL 29.4K
137.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.25
$0.72 SLL 16.5K
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 €5.11
$1.84 SLL 41.9K
218.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 €4.99
$3.39 SLL 77.5K
68.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 €1.39
$2.43 SLL 55.5K
-34.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.10
$0.64 SLL 14.6K
276.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.61
$1.32 SLL 30.2K
126.52%
Eggs
$4.34 €3.78
$1.82 SLL 41.6K
138.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.62 €15.36
$7.06 SLL 161.1K
149.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.69 €11.06
$9.83 SLL 224.4K
29.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.80 €18.13
$5.13 SLL 117.1K
305.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.28
$3.93 SLL 89.8K
-33.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 €1.87
$2.02 SLL 46.1K
5.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 €2.43
$0.69 SLL 15.8K
304.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.37 €2.94
$5.07 SLL 115.7K
-33.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$2.05 SLL 46.8K
-0.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 €1.71
$1.67 SLL 38.1K
17.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 €1.36
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 €0.46
$1.31 SLL 30.0K
-59.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84 €5.96
$2.96 SLL 67.6K
131.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 €6.72
$7.35 SLL 167.8K
4.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 €1.62
$1.17 SLL 26.8K
58.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$2.01 SLL 45.8K
23.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.91 €1.67
$0.41 SLL 9,421
365.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.16 €38.49
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.87 €5.12
$0.49 SLL 11.1K
1097.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 €1.49
$0.51 SLL 11.7K
233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.16 €30.65
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 €1.84
$1.26 SLL 28.9K
67.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K €32.2K
$11.8K SLL 270.3M
211.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K €31.8K
$24.7K SLL 564.5M
47.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 €200
$59.6 SLL 1.4M
285.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.09 €10.54
$17.34 SLL 395.8K
-30.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.57 €27.52
$49.78 SLL 1.1M
-36.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 €47.18
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.51 €21.37
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.78 €9.40
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$562 €490
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K €10.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.3 €82.2
$9.86 SLL 225.1K
855.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72 €35.50
$7.82 SLL 178.5K
420.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €90.7
$20.28 SLL 462.9K
413.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 €119
$49.15 SLL 1.1M
177.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$832 €725
$937 SLL 21.4M
-11.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 €564
$1,279 SLL 29.2M
-49.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,450 €1,264
$3,455 SLL 78.9M
-58.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 €942
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,816 €3,326
$1,070 SLL 24.4M
256.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,312 €2,015
$1,098 SLL 25.1M
110.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Sierra Leone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,954 €1,703
$1,345 SLL 30.7M
45.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.57
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Italy: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sierra Leone: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $748 in Italy, $917 in Sierra Leone. Capital cities: $1,238 in Rome vs $917 in Freetown.

National salary averages: $1,958 in Italy, $1,311 in Sierra Leone. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 23% higher in Sierra Leone.

Dining out costs 88% more in Italy.

Salaries are 49% 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 Sierra Leone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Sierra Leone?
At $1,913 per month in Italy and $1,724 in Sierra Leone, there's a 11% 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 Sierra Leone: 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone?
In Sierra Leone, $2,500 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 Sierra Leone?
It depends on what you're after: Sierra Leone wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Italy vs other spots: cost of living compared

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