😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Italy versus $641 in Western Sahara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,626 in Italy versus $1,013 in Western Sahara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,531 in Italy versus $1,384 in Western Sahara.
🌍Living in Italy is roughly 168% 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 $1,191 to $2,443, compared to $641–$641 in Western Sahara. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€14.86
$3.92MAD 36.58
337.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4€70.5
$29.26MAD 273
178.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60€10.05
$4.78MAD 44.58
142.68%
Cappuccino
$1.98€1.71
$1.60MAD 14.89
23.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.60
$0.52MAD 4.89
476.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$0.31MAD 2.93
338.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.13
$3.51MAD 32.76
68.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25€4.55
$4.77MAD 44.46
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.48
$0.79MAD 7.36
115.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37€2.05
$0.60MAD 5.62
295.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03€2.63
$1.80MAD 16.80
68.33%
Eggs
$3.95€3.42
$1.37MAD 12.76
188.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.66€14.43
$11.54MAD 108
44.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.26€10.61
$3.44MAD 32.03
256.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.06€17.37
$9.42MAD 87.8
112.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.55€2.21
$1.52MAD 14.14
67.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.91
$1.14MAD 10.61
92.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.75€2.38
$0.68MAD 6.34
304.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22€2.79
$0.56MAD 5.25
475.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$0.48MAD 4.47
304.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.58
$0.36MAD 3.39
405.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.28
$0.91MAD 8.46
62.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$0.56MAD 5.27
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.17
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37€6.38
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53€2.19
$3.51MAD 32.74
-27.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.72
$0.60MAD 5.58
231.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.32€36.65
$11.75MAD 110
260.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.91
$0.76MAD 7.10
646.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.31
$0.64MAD 5.99
137.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.94€30.25
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.81
$1.28MAD 11.93
63.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K€28.3K
$39.1KMAD 364.4K
-16.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K€28.5K
$26.4KMAD 246.1K
24.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€196
$33.34MAD 311
580.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58€11.76
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.57€27.34
$22.48MAD 210
40.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.93
$22.92MAD 214
151.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.23€21.85
$35.39MAD 330
-28.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.59€9.18
$3.49MAD 32.57
203.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€492
$290MAD 2,702
95.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,126
$3,502MAD 32.7K
200.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7€78.5
$34.23MAD 319
164.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.49€35.06
$58.3MAD 544
-30.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8€86.4
$76.5MAD 713
30.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
$81.6MAD 760
58.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$865€749
$350MAD 3,261
147.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$672€582
$177MAD 1,649
280.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,523€1,319
$702MAD 6,545
117.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€934
$289MAD 2,697
272.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,767€3,262
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,360€2,044
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,949€1,688
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Western Sahara: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $349 in Western Sahara. Capital cities: $1,334 in Rome vs $349 in Laayoune.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 113% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 155% 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 $1,817 per month in Italy and $641 in Western Sahara, there's a 183% 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.