Cost of Living Comparison Between Mali and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Mali and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $249 in Mali versus $1,718 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $415 in Mali versus $2,623 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $580 in Mali versus $3,527 in Italy.

Living in Mali costs about 86% less than in Italy on average.

Mali (81% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,195 to $2,531, compared to $0$910 in Mali. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mali
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.54 F CFA 3,669
$17.20 €14.71
-61.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.26 F CFA 20.9K
$81.2 €69.4
-54.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.37 F CFA 3,577
$11.40 €9.75
-44.12%
Cappuccino
$1.87 F CFA 1,049
$1.91 €1.63
-2.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 F CFA 442
$2.86 €2.45
-72.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 F CFA 312
$1.33 €1.13
-57.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 F CFA 1,320
$5.89 €5.04
-60.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$21.40 F CFA 12.0K
$5.12 €4.38
317.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mali
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 F CFA 1,300
$1.64 €1.40
41.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 F CFA 1,883
$2.30 €1.96
46.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$3.03 €2.59
-
Eggs
$4.63 F CFA 2,596
$4.09 €3.50
13.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.57 F CFA 9,860
$16.26 €13.90
8.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.93 F CFA 9,499
$12.24 €10.47
38.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.51 F CFA 7,582
$20.45 €17.48
-33.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 F CFA 1,789
$2.55 €2.18
25.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 F CFA 794
$2.12 €1.82
-33.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 F CFA 1,627
$2.68 €2.30
8.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 F CFA 1,341
$3.38 €2.89
-29.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 F CFA 926
$2.00 €1.71
-17.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 F CFA 1,028
$1.88 €1.60
-2.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.10 F CFA 54.7
$1.47 €1.26
-93.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 F CFA 1,321
$0.54 €0.46
335.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.94 F CFA 530
$6.75 €5.77
-86.07%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.18 €6.14
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 F CFA 822
$1.80 €1.54
-18.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 F CFA 760
$2.45 €2.09
-44.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mali
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.65 F CFA 2,610
$2.02 €1.73
130.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.49 €35.47
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77 €4.93
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 F CFA 689
$1.53 €1.31
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$35.33 €30.21
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 F CFA 669
$2.12 €1.81
-43.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$32.3K €27.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.4K €28.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mali
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 F CFA 83.9K
$224 €191
-33.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.24 €11.32
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8 F CFA 32.4K
$30.96 €26.47
86.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mali
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 F CFA 37.1K
$56.6 €48.41
16.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.96 F CFA 2,219
$25.11 €21.47
-84.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.58 F CFA 3,132
$10.32 €8.83
-45.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mali
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$77.5 F CFA 43.5K
$563 €482
-86.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.6K €9,084
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mali
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$90.1 €77.1
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.60 €34.71
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$100 €85.6
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$133 €113
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mali
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$177 F CFA 99.2K
$864 €739
-79.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$81.2 F CFA 45.6K
$668 €571
-87.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$414 F CFA 232.1K
$1,473 €1,260
-71.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$306 F CFA 171.5K
$1,088 €930
-71.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,983 F CFA 5.6M
$3,808 €3,256
162.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$853 F CFA 478.6K
$2,454 €2,098
-65.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mali
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$258 F CFA 144.9K
$1,935 €1,655
-86.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.41
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mali: April 20, 2026

Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $44 in Mali, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $176 in Bamako vs $1,366 in Rome.

National salary averages: $266 in Mali, $1,935 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1586% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 722% more in Italy.

Salaries are 627% higher 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
Mali vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Mali?
At $1,863 per month in Italy and $455 in Mali, there's a 309% 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?
Mali 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 Mali across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Italy or Mali?
In Mali, $1,200 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 Mali?
It depends on what you're after. Mali wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Mali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries