Cost of Living: Italy vs Australia
Italy is 22% cheaper than Australia overall. Detailed side-by-side rent, groceries, utilities and monthly budget for 2026.
The verdict: Italy wins on affordability
Italy is roughly 22% cheaper than Australia on the combined COL+Rent index. On a moderate urban lifestyle, this translates to a difference of $817 per month, or about $9,804 per year.
Monthly Budget Comparison
Single-person urban lifestyle at three budget levels. All figures in USD.
| Budget level | Italy | Australia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Minimal Suburb rent, no dining out | $1,443 | $2,085 | Italy 31% less |
Sample City rent, ~15 restaurant meals/mo | $2,068 | $2,885 | Italy 28% less |
Comfortable City rent, dining out 25x/mo | $2,337 | $3,228 | Italy 28% less |
Budgets include rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass, and a typical number of restaurant meals per tier.
Line-Item Cost Comparison
Every major monthly expense, side by side.
| Category | Italy | Australia |
|---|---|---|
Rent 1-bed, city centre | $1,240 | $1,850 |
Rent 1-bed, outside centre | $870 | $1,380 |
Groceries (monthly) | $305 | $420 |
Mid-range restaurant meal | $17 | $22 |
Transit pass (monthly) | $38 | $110 |
Basic utilities (85m²) | $230 | $175 |
Index Breakdown (NYC = 100)
Individual sub-indices for each category. Lower = cheaper than New York City.
Salary Equivalents
Purchasing-power-adjusted: if you earn X net in the US, how much do you need in Italy and Australia to maintain the same lifestyle?
| US net salary | Needed in Italy | Needed in Australia |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000/yr | $40,675 | $51,865 |
| $75,000/yr | $61,012 | $77,798 |
| $100,000/yr | $81,350 | $103,730 |
NET (after-tax) purchasing-power equivalents. Gross salary targets depend on each country's tax regime — see the salary comparison page for full tax breakdowns.
Dig Deeper
Combine this cost comparison with tax and salary data for the complete picture.
Cost of Living in Italy
Full monthly budget & line-item costs for Italy only.
Cost of Living in Australia
Full monthly budget & line-item costs for Australia only.
Italy vs Australia Salary
Side-by-side take-home pay at $50K–$200K with 2025 tax brackets.
Salary After Tax in Italy
Net take-home pay calculator for Italy.
Salary After Tax in Australia
Net take-home pay calculator for Australia.
All 40 Countries — Cost of Living
Sortable leaderboard, affordability tiers, and the salary-equivalence calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions: Italy vs Australia
Is Italy cheaper than Australia?
Italy is 22% cheaper than Australia. The combined Cost of Living + Rent index (NYC = 100) is 45.8 for Italy vs 58.4 for Australia. In practical terms, a $2,885/month lifestyle in Australia can be matched for roughly $2,263/month in Italy.
What is the monthly budget difference between Italy and Australia?
A moderate single-person urban budget costs around $2,068 in Italy versus $2,885 in Australia — a difference of $817/month (28%). The gap grows for comfortable lifestyles: $2,337 vs $3,228.
How does rent compare in Italy vs Australia?
A 1-bedroom apartment in a city centre costs $1,240/month in Italy and $1,850/month in Australia. Outside the city centre, rent drops to $870 in Italy and $1,380 in Australia. Rent typically represents 30–50% of a single person's monthly budget in both countries.
How much salary do I need to move from Italy to Australia?
If you currently earn $75,000 net in Italy, you'd need roughly $95,633 net in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. If moving the other way (from Australia to Italy on a $75,000 net salary), you'd need $58,818 net in Italy. These are purchasing-power-adjusted amounts — your gross salary target will differ by tax regime.
Which country has higher groceries prices?
Monthly grocery basket for a single person: $305 in Italy vs $420 in Australia. A mid-range restaurant meal costs $17 in Italy vs $22 in Australia. Grocery prices tend to track closely with overall cost of living.