😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,995 in Republic of the Congo versus $1,717 in Italy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,891 in Republic of the Congo versus $2,624 in Italy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,787 in Republic of the Congo versus $3,530 in Italy.
😐Living in Republic of the Congo is roughly 16% more expensive than Italy on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Republic of the Congo49% above, Italy28% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Republic of the Congo: monthly costs span $1,995 to $1,995, compared to $1,170–$2,508 in Italy. City choice carries more weight in Republic of the Congo.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.50FCFA 5,920
$17.44€15.00
-39.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.61FCFA 21.2K
$79.5€68.4
-52.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97FCFA 2,804
$11.76€10.11
-57.74%
Cappuccino
$3.90FCFA 2,200
$2.00€1.72
95.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61FCFA 907
$3.00€2.58
-46.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67FCFA 940
$1.35€1.16
23.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92FCFA 3,337
$5.94€5.11
-0.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41FCFA 1,360
$5.36€4.61
-55.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10FCFA 1,183
$1.64€1.41
28.05%
White Bread(500g)
$4.52FCFA 2,550
$2.41€2.07
87.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01FCFA 1,695
$2.99€2.58
0.67%
Eggs
$2.99FCFA 1,684
$3.96€3.41
-24.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.84FCFA 3,858
$16.84€14.49
-59.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.88FCFA 2,752
$12.43€10.69
-60.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48FCFA 4,781
$20.29€17.46
-58.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39FCFA 1,348
$2.47€2.13
-3.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60FCFA 904
$2.15€1.85
-25.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62FCFA 2,040
$2.65€2.28
36.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.60FCFA 1,468
$3.40€2.92
-23.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82FCFA 1,024
$1.92€1.65
-5.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24FCFA 697
$1.81€1.56
-31.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30FCFA 734
$1.55€1.33
-16.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48FCFA 272
$0.54€0.46
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19FCFA 1,800
$6.79€5.84
-53.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22FCFA 4,634
$7.18€6.18
14.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58FCFA 327
$1.80€1.55
-67.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04FCFA 1,152
$2.42€2.08
-15.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23FCFA 130
$2.00€1.72
-88.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.50FCFA 13.3K
$42.35€36.43
-44.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07FCFA 1,168
$5.94€5.11
-65.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09FCFA 616
$1.51€1.30
-27.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.68FCFA 2,641
$34.04€29.28
-86.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33FCFA 747
$2.05€1.76
-35.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6KFCFA 16.7M
$32.8K€28.2K
-9.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KFCFA 11.7M
$33.7K€29.0K
-38.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$802FCFA 452.4K
$225€194
255.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.07FCFA 15.8K
$13.25€11.40
111.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.44FCFA 23.4K
$30.95€26.62
33.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.49FCFA 26.2K
$55.7€47.95
-16.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.82FCFA 9,487
$25.15€21.63
-33.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50FCFA 3,663
$10.25€8.82
-36.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$67.0FCFA 37.8K
$576€495
-88.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,745FCFA 4.9M
$10.5K€8,998
-16.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2FCFA 31.7K
$91.8€79.0
-38.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2FCFA 32.2K
$40.72€35.03
40.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136FCFA 76.8K
$98.0€84.3
39.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113FCFA 63.9K
$131€112
-13.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$912FCFA 514.2K
$860€740
6.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249FCFA 140.4K
$667€573
-62.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,982FCFA 1.7M
$1,475€1,269
102.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,075FCFA 606.3K
$1,087€935
-1.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,497FCFA 2.0M
$3,850€3,312
-9.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,959FCFA 1.7M
$2,359€2,029
25.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Republic of the Congo
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$384FCFA 216.5K
$1,933€1,663
-80.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.77
4.41
76.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Republic of the Congo: June 1, 2026
Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $532 in Republic of the Congo, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $532 in Brazzaville vs $1,325 in Rome.
💰National salary averages: $456 in Republic of the Congo, $1,949 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 40% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 100% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 83% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 327% higher in Italy, giving Italy stronger purchasing power.
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
Republic of the Congo vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Republic of the Congo?
At $1,839 per month in Italy and $1,995 in Republic of the Congo, there's a 8% 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?
Italy 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 Republic of the Congo beats Italy across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or Republic of the Congo?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Republic of the Congo, 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 Republic of the Congo?
It depends on what you're after. Italy wins on affordability; Republic of the Congo may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Republic of the Congo vs other spots: cost of living compared