Italy is 8.7% cheaper — but purchasing power is 37.0% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.
Compared to Germany. Green = cheaper or better in Italy. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 53 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇮🇹 Italy | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 70.4 | 64.3 | -8.7% |
| Rent | 23.5 | 22.4 | -4.7% |
| Groceries | 68.6 | 67.4 | -1.7% |
| Restaurants | 67.5 | 68.2 | +1% |
| Purchasing Power | 129.9 | 81.8 | -37% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Berlin vs Rome.
| Gross | 🇩🇪 Net in Germany | 🇮🇹 Net in Italy | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €26,453 | €27,405 | +€952 |
| €60,000 | €36,938 | €37,479 | +€541 |
| €80,000 | €47,279 | €47,371 | +€92 |
| €100,000 | €57,580 | €57,264 | -€316 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Berlin and Rome (2026). Try the full calculator
Tax Calculators
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayTop Cities in Each Country
National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 73.6 | 34.6 | 111.7 |
| Munich | 79.3 | 40.1 | 129.6 |
| Frankfurt | 73.1 | 34.6 | 137.1 |
| Hamburg | 71.8 | 29.7 | 131.3 |
| Karlsruhe | 75 | 24.3 | 117.4 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | 60.9 | 30.8 | 78 |
| Milan | 76.6 | 41.6 | 67 |
| Florence | 72 | 33.6 | 69.9 |
| Turin | 63.6 | 19 | 86 |
| Pisa | 71.6 | 23.2 | 65.7 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and Italy.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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