๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $790 in San Marino versus $1,718 in Italy.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,209 in San Marino versus $2,623 in Italy.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,627 in San Marino versus $3,527 in Italy.
๐Living in San Marino costs about 54% less than in Italy on average.
๐San Marino (41% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.
๐Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,195 to $2,531, compared to $356โ$1,224 in San Marino. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50โฌ14.93
$17.20โฌ14.67
1.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.7โฌ56.9
$81.2โฌ69.3
-17.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.42โฌ9.74
$11.40โฌ9.72
0.18%
Cappuccino
$1.88โฌ1.61
$1.91โฌ1.63
-1.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07โฌ2.62
$2.86โฌ2.44
7.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58โฌ1.35
$1.33โฌ1.13
18.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.54โฌ3.87
$5.89โฌ5.03
-22.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79โฌ5.79
$5.12โฌ4.37
32.62%
๐ Groceries & Markets
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15โฌ0.98
$1.64โฌ1.40
-29.88%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.30โฌ1.96
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$3.03โฌ2.59
-
Eggs
-
$4.09โฌ3.49
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.26โฌ13.87
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$12.24โฌ10.44
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$20.45โฌ17.44
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34โฌ1.99
$2.55โฌ2.17
-8.24%
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.12โฌ1.81
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.68โฌ2.29
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$3.38โฌ2.89
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.15โฌ0.98
$2.00โฌ1.71
-42.50%
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.88โฌ1.60
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.47โฌ1.25
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61โฌ0.52
$0.54โฌ0.46
12.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36โฌ3.72
$6.75โฌ5.75
-35.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.56โฌ3.89
$7.18โฌ6.12
-36.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$1.80โฌ1.54
7.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.45โฌ2.09
-
๐ Getting Around
San Marino
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78โฌ1.52
$2.02โฌ1.73
-11.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.85โฌ24.61
$41.49โฌ35.39
-30.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.62โฌ4.79
$5.77โฌ4.92
-2.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73โฌ1.47
$1.53โฌ1.30
13.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.43โฌ21.69
$35.33โฌ30.14
-28.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08โฌ1.78
$2.12โฌ1.81
-1.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$32.3Kโฌ27.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.4Kโฌ28.5K
-
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117โฌ99.7
$224โฌ191
-47.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19โฌ19.78
$13.24โฌ11.29
75.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.22โฌ30.04
$30.96โฌ26.41
13.76%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.5โฌ65.3
$56.6โฌ48.30
35.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.42โฌ22.54
$25.11โฌ21.42
5.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.03โฌ6.85
$10.32โฌ8.80
-22.19%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$563โฌ481
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.6Kโฌ9,063
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6โฌ67.9
$90.1โฌ76.9
-11.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23โฌ30.05
$40.60โฌ34.63
-13.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$100โฌ85.4
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0โฌ48.62
$133โฌ113
-56.98%
๐ Accommodation & Living
San Marino
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645โฌ550
$864โฌ737
-25.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$568โฌ485
$668โฌ570
-14.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845โฌ721
$1,473โฌ1,257
-42.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$791โฌ674
$1,088โฌ928
-27.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,892โฌ2,467
$3,808โฌ3,248
-24.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,929โฌ2,498
$2,454โฌ2,093
19.35%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
San Marino
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,770โฌ3,215
$1,935โฌ1,651
94.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
4.41
-19.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Marino: April 21, 2026
Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ National rent averages: $316 in San Marino, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $632 in San Marino vs $1,366 in Rome.
๐ฐNational salary averages: $3,796 in San Marino, $1,935 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
โญRent is 135% higher in Italy.
โญDining out costs 51% more in Italy.
โญPublic transport is 214% more expensive in Italy.
โญSalaries are 96% higher in San Marino, giving San Marino 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
San Marino vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and San Marino?
At $1,863 per month in Italy and $790 in San Marino, there's a 136% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
San Marino 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 San Marino across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Italy or San Marino?
In San Marino, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or San Marino?
It depends on what you're after. San Marino wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
San Marino vs other spots: cost of living compared