Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Helena and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Helena and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Saint Helena versus $1,719 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,421 in Saint Helena versus $2,625 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Saint Helena versus $3,531 in Italy.

Living in Saint Helena costs about 48% less than in Italy on average.

Saint Helena (34% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,156 to $2,452, compared to $506$1,273 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 SHP 12.10
$17.02 €14.66
-4.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 SHP 40.01
$82.3 €71.0
-34.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 SHP 9.08
$11.62 €10.01
4.91%
Cappuccino
$3.04 SHP 2.26
$1.91 €1.64
59.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 SHP 0.90
$3.02 €2.60
-60.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 SHP 0.87
$1.31 €1.13
-10.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.73 SHP 3.52
$5.81 €5.01
-18.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 SHP 1.95
$5.12 €4.41
-48.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 SHP 1.37
$1.64 €1.42
12.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 SHP 1.34
$2.42 €2.09
-26.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 SHP 0.99
$2.92 €2.52
-54.45%
Eggs
$4.15 SHP 3.09
$4.12 €3.55
0.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 SHP 6.19
$16.70 €14.39
-50.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.71 SHP 7.98
$12.60 €10.86
-15.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 SHP 8.14
$20.61 €17.76
-46.97%
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.48 €2.14
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.15 €1.85
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.72 €2.35
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$3.25 €2.80
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.94 €1.67
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.81 €1.56
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 SHP 2.03
$1.48 €1.27
84.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 SHP 1.63
$0.54 €0.47
305.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61 SHP 8.65
$6.82 €5.87
70.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 SHP 11.65
$7.33 €6.32
113.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 €1.55
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.54 €2.19
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.01 €1.73
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.56 SHP 30.22
$41.70 €35.93
-2.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 SHP 2.06
$5.90 €5.09
-53.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.52 €1.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$34.23 €29.50
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.51 SHP 1.87
$2.13 €1.83
17.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$32.8K €28.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.5K €28.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$226 €194
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.32 €11.48
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$163 SHP 122
$31.26 €26.94
421.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.52 SHP 10.07
$56.9 €49.02
-76.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.71 €22.15
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.35 €8.92
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$579 €499
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.5K €9,076
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.21 SHP 30.70
$90.2 €77.7
-54.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.44 SHP 15.23
$40.79 €35.15
-49.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.89 SHP 35.67
$98.7 €85.1
-51.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$133 €115
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 SHP 514
$853 €735
-19.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$613 SHP 457
$667 €575
-8.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 SHP 539
$1,517 €1,307
-52.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 SHP 487
$1,083 €933
-39.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,767 €3,245
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,403 €2,071
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helena
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$764 SHP 569
$1,986 €1,711
-61.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.2
4.41
40.59%

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

Last update for Saint Helena: June 9, 2026

Last update for Italy: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $721 in Saint Helena, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $689 in Jamestown vs $1,368 in Rome.

National salary averages: $777 in Saint Helena, $1,931 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 28% more in Italy.

Salaries are 149% 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
Saint Helena vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Saint Helena?
At $1,804 per month in Italy and $890 in Saint Helena, there's a 103% 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?
Saint Helena 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 Saint Helena across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Italy or Saint Helena?
In Saint Helena, $1,500 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 Saint Helena?
It depends on what you're after. Saint Helena wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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