😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $642 in Western Sahara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $1,014 in Western Sahara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,528 in Italy versus $1,385 in Western Sahara.
😐Living in Italy is roughly 168% more expensive than Western Sahara on average.
📊Italy (28% above) and Western Sahara (52% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,147 to $2,536, compared to $642–$642 in Western Sahara. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.24€14.75
$3.75MAD 34.70
359.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3€68.7
$28.66MAD 265
180.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.44€9.79
$4.51MAD 41.74
153.66%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.64
$1.67MAD 15.47
14.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.55
$0.52MAD 4.79
473.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$0.34MAD 3.15
288.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.83€4.99
$3.52MAD 32.58
65.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16€4.42
$4.68MAD 43.27
10.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.44
$0.82MAD 7.63
106.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41€2.06
$0.56MAD 5.22
330.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00€2.57
$1.87MAD 17.32
60.43%
Eggs
$4.08€3.49
$1.37MAD 12.67
197.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21€13.88
$11.60MAD 107
39.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.65€10.83
$3.42MAD 31.61
269.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.13€17.23
$9.11MAD 84.3
120.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$1.49MAD 13.74
74.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.18MAD 10.95
87.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.23
$0.72MAD 6.63
262.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28€2.81
$0.60MAD 5.53
446.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$0.44MAD 4.12
343.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.37MAD 3.39
394.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.33
$0.98MAD 9.02
58.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$0.57MAD 5.25
-12.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88€5.89
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.86€5.87
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.54
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53€2.16
$3.54MAD 32.74
-28.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94€1.66
$0.56MAD 5.15
246.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.82€35.80
$11.48MAD 106
264.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.71€4.88
$0.73MAD 6.74
682.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53€1.31
$0.70MAD 6.47
118.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.12€30.06
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.73
$1.25MAD 11.52
62.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K€27.3K
$40.1KMAD 370.9K
-20.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€28.5K
$26.8KMAD 247.5K
24.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224€192
$33.35MAD 308
571.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.50€11.56
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92€26.47
$22.51MAD 208
37.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.3€48.19
$23.04MAD 213
144.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.38€21.73
$35.33MAD 327
-28.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.41€8.91
$3.57MAD 33.03
191.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$575€492
$290MAD 2,682
98.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,043
$3,486MAD 32.2K
203.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€76.5
$34.85MAD 322
156.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.72€34.00
$58.6MAD 542
-32.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5€85.2
$75.0MAD 693
32.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€111
$81.7MAD 755
59.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$854€731
$348MAD 3,217
145.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651€558
$172MAD 1,595
277.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,478€1,265
$687MAD 6,354
115.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109€949
$289MAD 2,672
283.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,926€3,361
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,410€2,063
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,932€1,654
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Western Sahara: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $354 in Western Sahara. Capital cities: $1,349 in Rome vs $354 in Laayoune.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 110% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 155% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 300% 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 $1,842 per month in Italy and $642 in Western Sahara, there's a 187% 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?
Western Sahara 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 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 Western Sahara?
In Western Sahara, $800 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or 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.