For one person, living is cheaper in Timor-Leste: $1,598 a month against $1,825 in Italy, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. The total is higher in Italy despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Italy and in Timor-Leste actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,825 in Italy versus $1,598 in Timor-Leste.
Italy $1,825
Timor-Leste $1,598
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,790 in Italy versus $2,482 in Timor-Leste.
Italy $2,790
Timor-Leste $2,482
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,756 in Italy versus $3,366 in Timor-Leste.
Italy $3,756
Timor-Leste $3,366
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,044 to $2,560, compared to $1,619–$1,619 in Timor-Leste. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
🌍
Living in Italy is roughly 14% more expensive than in Timor-Leste on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 35% above, Timor-Leste 18% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.90€17.70
$5.11$5.11
289.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1€68.6
$35.38$35.38
117.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41€10.15
$6.57$6.57
73.67%
Cappuccino
$2.01€1.78
$3.95$3.95
-49.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.78
$1.80$1.80
73.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.24
$2.88$2.88
-51.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.12
$2.97$2.97
93.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€5.10
$3.89$3.89
47.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.44
$2.28$2.28
-28.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.12
$2.42$2.42
-1.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.60
$0.97$0.97
201.03%
Eggs
$4.17€3.70
$2.64$2.64
57.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.28€15.37
$1.94$1.94
790.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.73€11.32
$9.62$9.62
32.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.39€18.13
$15.83$15.83
28.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.32
$3.28$3.28
-20.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.88
$1.86$1.86
13.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63€2.34
$2.49$2.49
5.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34€2.97
$2.31$2.31
44.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.79
$1.20$1.20
68.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.69
$1.20$1.20
57.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56€1.39
$0.86$0.86
81.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$1.02$1.02
-46.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€6.08
$3.03$3.03
125.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.64€6.80
$11.86$11.86
-35.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.61
$2.29$2.29
-21.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.14
$2.81$2.81
-14.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.86€1.65
$0.24$0.24
675.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.27€38.49
$42.44$42.44
1.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€5.01
$3.60$3.60
56.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.52
$3.63$3.63
-52.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.04€29.39
$19.61$19.61
68.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.87
$1.42$1.42
48.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K€31.8K
$20.1K$20.1K
77.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K€33.3K
$18.0K$18.0K
108.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230€204
$147$147
55.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60€10.32
$26.97$26.97
-56.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.40€27.04
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9€47.96
$74.1$74.1
-27.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.24€21.56
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.58€9.41
$6.06$6.06
74.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$545€485
$1,527$1,527
-64.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€10.3K
$15.9K$15.9K
-27.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4€78.7
$61.1$61.1
44.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60€35.22
$29.83$29.83
32.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€89.8
$79.4$79.4
27.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€118
$59.1$59.1
125.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$799€711
$830$830
-3.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624€555
$745$745
-16.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,423€1,266
$2,689$2,689
-47.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030€916
$1,533$1,533
-32.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,601€3,203
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,270€2,019
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,893€1,684
$4,866$4,866
-61.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
5.37
-33.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: October 18, 2026
Last update for Timor-Leste: October 18, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$624 34.2%
Timor-Leste
$745 46.6% ↑ 19.3%$121
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$350 19.2%
Timor-Leste
$274 17.2% ↓ 21.5%$75
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$276 15.1%
Timor-Leste
$149 9.3% ↓ 45.9%$127
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$272 14.9%
Timor-Leste
$174 * 10.9% ↓ 35.8%$97
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$163 8.9%
Timor-Leste
$103 6.5% ↓ 36.6%$60
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$75 4.1%
Timor-Leste
$86 5.4% ↑ 14.8%$11
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.6%
Timor-Leste
$65 4.1% ↑ 0.4%$0.3
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1K 27.4%
Timor-Leste
$1.5K 45.5% ↑ 48.9%$503
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$828 22.1%
Timor-Leste
$635 18.9% ↓ 23.3%$193
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$945 25.2%
Timor-Leste
$464 13.8% ↓ 50.9%$481
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$283 7.5%
Timor-Leste
$201 * 6% ↓ 28.9%$82
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$362 9.6%
Timor-Leste
$229 6.8% ↓ 36.6%$133
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$174 4.6%
Timor-Leste
$172 * 5.1% ↓ 1.1%$2
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$134 3.6%
Timor-Leste
$131 3.9% ↓ 2%$2.7
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $724 in Italy, $815 in Timor-Leste. Capital cities: $1,191 in Rome vs $815 in Dili.
💰National salary averages: $1,892 in Italy, $3,531 in Timor-Leste. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 13% higher in Timor-Leste.
⭐Dining out costs 46% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 32% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 87% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $1,825 per month in Italy and $1,598 in Timor-Leste, there's a 14% 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 cheaper in Timor-Leste: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
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.