😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $636 in Western Sahara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,624 in Italy versus $1,010 in Western Sahara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Italy versus $1,384 in Western Sahara.
🌍Living in Italy is roughly 170% more expensive than in Western Sahara on average.
📊Italy (29% above) and Western Sahara (52% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,187 to $2,451, compared to $636–$636 in Western Sahara. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.21€15.02
$3.88MAD 36.10
343.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0€69.8
$29.23MAD 272
173.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80€10.29
$4.74MAD 44.20
148.95%
Cappuccino
$1.90€1.65
$1.66MAD 15.42
14.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.63
$0.52MAD 4.82
480.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$0.31MAD 2.93
329.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.89€5.14
$3.41MAD 31.80
72.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36€4.67
$4.56MAD 42.46
17.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.41
$0.80MAD 7.41
102.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.08
$0.56MAD 5.20
325.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.55
$1.86MAD 17.33
56.99%
Eggs
$4.04€3.52
$1.41MAD 13.10
186.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.85€14.70
$11.80MAD 110
42.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.61€11.00
$3.40MAD 31.70
270.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.66€18.03
$9.09MAD 84.7
127.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.19
$1.54MAD 14.37
62.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.14MAD 10.61
85.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70€2.35
$0.66MAD 6.19
309.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.36€2.93
$0.61MAD 5.66
450.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.77
$0.45MAD 4.18
351.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$0.34MAD 3.17
432.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.90MAD 8.35
65.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.44
$0.56MAD 5.23
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11€6.21
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.34€6.40
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82€1.59
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.14
$3.42MAD 31.89
-28.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00€1.74
$0.60MAD 5.56
233.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.36€36.96
$11.71MAD 109
261.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.84€5.10
$0.75MAD 7.02
678.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58€1.38
$0.65MAD 6.02
143.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.13€30.65
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.86
$1.25MAD 11.62
70.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K€28.4K
$39.3KMAD 366.2K
-17.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K€29.0K
$26.1KMAD 243.1K
27.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223€195
$32.32MAD 301
590.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33€11.63
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.68€27.64
$22.17MAD 207
42.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9€49.64
$23.00MAD 214
147.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.50€22.25
$34.81MAD 324
-26.75%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55€9.21
$3.44MAD 32.06
206.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$584€510
$288MAD 2,679
103.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,214
$3,432MAD 32.0K
207.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5€79.0
$34.70MAD 323
160.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13€35.02
$56.9MAD 530
-29.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.7
$73.8MAD 688
37.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$79.8MAD 743
66.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$858€748
$344MAD 3,207
149.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665€580
$173MAD 1,611
284.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,486€1,297
$699MAD 6,510
112.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,085€946
$292MAD 2,724
270.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,757€3,278
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,396€2,091
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,945€1,697
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: June 14, 2026
Last update for Western Sahara: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $354 in Western Sahara. Capital cities: $1,346 in Rome vs $354 in Laayoune.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 110% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 164% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 267% more expensive 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 Western Sahara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Western Sahara?
At $1,819 per month in Italy and $636 in Western Sahara, there's a 186% 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 Western Sahara: 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 Western Sahara across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Italy or in Western Sahara?
In Western Sahara, $800 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 Western Sahara?
It depends on what you're after: Western Sahara wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.