🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $1,755 in Timor-Leste.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,621 in Italy versus $2,648 in Timor-Leste.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,524 in Italy versus $3,540 in Timor-Leste.
🌍Living in Italy costs about 2% less than in Timor-Leste on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 29% above, Timor-Leste 31% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,176 to $2,467, compared to $1,755–$1,755 in Timor-Leste. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.40
$5.02$5.02
250.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5€72.2
$44.32$44.32
86.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.72€10.26
$8.23$8.23
42.41%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.68
$3.82$3.82
-49.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.62
$1.59$1.59
88.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.19
$1.43$1.43
-4.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.04
$2.02$2.02
185.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22€4.57
$4.44$4.44
17.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.48
$2.46$2.46
-31.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33€2.04
$2.47$2.47
-5.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05€2.67
$1.96$1.96
55.61%
Eggs
$3.99€3.49
$2.64$2.64
51.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.68€14.61
$1.95$1.95
755.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.57€11.01
$9.61$9.61
30.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.53€17.98
$15.93$15.93
28.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$3.56$3.56
-28.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.93
$1.86$1.86
18.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.35
$1.96$1.96
36.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.37€2.95
$2.46$2.46
36.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.79
$1.97$1.97
3.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88€1.65
$1.27$1.27
48.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.29
$1.02$1.02
44.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.47
$0.98$0.98
-44.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00€6.13
$2.71$2.71
158.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09€6.21
$12.01$12.01
-40.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.58
$2.22$2.22
-18.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.20
$2.88$2.88
-12.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.72
$0.26$0.26
653.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.58€36.42
$56.6$56.6
-26.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.80€5.08
$3.57$3.57
62.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.40
$3.31$3.31
-51.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.07€30.71
$20.38$20.38
72.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.87
$1.49$1.49
42.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K€28.5K
$21.4K$21.4K
52.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K€29.6K
$19.8K$19.8K
70.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€197
$148$148
52.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14€11.51
$29.53$29.53
-55.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.19€27.31
$50.2$50.2
-37.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€50.1
$49.12$49.12
16.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.85€22.64
$3.05$3.05
747.54%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34€9.05
$5.44$5.44
90.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$564€494
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€9,057
$16.1K$16.1K
-35.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€80.5
$60.6$60.6
51.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54€35.51
$29.67$29.67
36.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2€86.0
$78.5$78.5
25.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€116
$59.4$59.4
122.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€749
$1,081$1,081
-20.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663€581
$935$935
-29.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522€1,333
$3,434$3,434
-55.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,089€954
$1,643$1,643
-33.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,747€3,282
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,299€2,013
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,897€1,661
$4,850$4,850
-60.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
5.37
-17.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: July 11, 2026
Last update for Timor-Leste: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $1,117 in Timor-Leste. Capital cities: $1,328 in Rome vs $1,117 in Dili.
💰National salary averages: $1,912 in Italy, $3,612 in Timor-Leste. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 51% higher in Timor-Leste.
⭐Dining out costs 64% more in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 89% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
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 Timor-Leste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Timor-Leste?
At $1,822 per month in Italy and $1,755 in Timor-Leste, there's a 4% 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 Timor-Leste: 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 Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste?
In Timor-Leste, $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 Timor-Leste?
It depends on what you're after: Timor-Leste wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.