Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,931 in Sierra Leone versus $1,718 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,686 in Sierra Leone versus $2,623 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,441 in Sierra Leone versus $3,528 in Italy.

Living in Sierra Leone is roughly 12% more expensive than Italy on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Sierra Leone 44% above, Italy 28% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Sierra Leone: monthly costs span $1,931 to $1,931, compared to $1,147$2,536 in Italy. City choice carries more weight in Sierra Leone.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 SLL 73.6K
$17.24 €14.72
-82.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 SLL 806.7K
$80.3 €68.6
-59.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 SLL 246.3K
$11.44 €9.77
-13.02%
Cappuccino
$1.74 SLL 43.1K
$1.92 €1.64
-9.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 SLL 23.8K
$2.98 €2.55
-67.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 SLL 20.7K
$1.32 €1.13
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 SLL 36.5K
$5.83 €4.98
-74.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 SLL 72.4K
$5.16 €4.41
-43.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.48 SLL 61.3K
$1.69 €1.44
46.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 SLL 16.9K
$2.41 €2.06
-71.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 SLL 32.4K
$3.00 €2.57
-56.33%
Eggs
$1.99 SLL 49.2K
$4.08 €3.49
-51.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 SLL 176.8K
$16.21 €13.85
-55.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.60 SLL 188.1K
$12.65 €10.80
-39.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.23 SLL 129.4K
$20.13 €17.19
-74.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 SLL 97.5K
$2.60 €2.22
51.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 SLL 48.8K
$2.21 €1.89
-10.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 SLL 18.1K
$2.61 €2.23
-72.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 SLL 124.6K
$3.28 €2.80
53.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 SLL 50.7K
$1.95 €1.66
5.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SLL 41.2K
$1.83 €1.56
-9.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 SLL 25.2K
$1.55 €1.32
-34.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 SLL 34.2K
$0.50 €0.43
176.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 SLL 46.7K
$6.88 €5.87
-72.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.01 SLL 173.6K
$6.86 €5.86
2.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SLL 35.3K
$1.80 €1.54
-21.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 SLL 50.4K
$2.53 €2.16
-19.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 SLL 11.7K
$1.94 €1.65
-75.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.82 €35.71
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 SLL 18.1K
$5.71 €4.87
-87.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 SLL 31.6K
$1.53 €1.31
-16.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 SLL 123.4K
$35.12 €29.99
-85.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 SLL 32.4K
$2.03 €1.73
-35.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.2K SLL 302.3M
$31.8K €27.2K
-61.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K SLL 628.4M
$33.3K €28.4K
-23.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 SLL 3.6M
$224 €191
-34.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 SLL 434.1K
$13.50 €11.53
29.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4 SLL 1.9M
$30.92 €26.41
143.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 SLL 1.2M
$56.3 €48.07
-10.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.38 €21.68
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.41 €8.89
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$575 €491
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.6K €9,022
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.08 SLL 249.4K
$89.4 €76.4
-88.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.01 SLL 198.3K
$39.72 €33.92
-79.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.73 SLL 488.5K
$99.5 €85.0
-80.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.79 SLL 1.2M
$130 €111
-61.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$818 SLL 20.3M
$854 €729
-4.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,258 SLL 31.1M
$651 €556
93.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,089 SLL 51.7M
$1,478 €1,262
41.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$102 SLL 2.5M
$1,109 €947
-90.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,076 SLL 26.6M
$3,926 €3,353
-72.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,080 SLL 26.7M
$2,410 €2,058
-55.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sierra Leone
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,356 SLL 33.6M
$1,932 €1,650
-29.83%
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 Sierra Leone: April 25, 2026

Last update for Italy: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $807 in Sierra Leone, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $807 in Freetown vs $1,349 in Rome.

National salary averages: $1,123 in Sierra Leone, $1,935 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 9% higher in Sierra Leone.

Dining out costs 131% more in Italy.

Salaries are 72% 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
Sierra Leone vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Sierra Leone?
At $1,842 per month in Italy and $1,931 in Sierra Leone, there's a 5% 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone?
It depends on what you're after. Italy wins on affordability; Sierra Leone may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Sierra Leone vs other spots: cost of living compared

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