57 cities compared · 2026

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany vs ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy

Italy is 8.4% cheaper, but purchasing power is 36.9% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.

-8.4%
Cost of Living
-2.7%
Rent
-0.6%
Groceries
+0.7%
Restaurants
-36.9%
Purchasing Power

Compared to Germany. Green = cheaper or better in Italy. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 57 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Diff
Cost of Living 45.2 41.4 -8.4%
Rent 22.1 21.5 -2.7%
Groceries 65 64.6 -0.6%
Restaurants 69.6 70.1 +0.7%
Purchasing Power 139.2 87.8 -36.9%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Berlin vs Rome.

Gross ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Diff
โ‚ฌ40,000 โ‚ฌ26,893 โ‚ฌ27,487 +โ‚ฌ594
โ‚ฌ60,000 โ‚ฌ37,561 โ‚ฌ36,772 -โ‚ฌ789
โ‚ฌ80,000 โ‚ฌ48,049 โ‚ฌ46,251 -โ‚ฌ1,798
โ‚ฌ100,000 โ‚ฌ58,030 โ‚ฌ55,729 -โ‚ฌ2,301

Single person, no children. Tax rates for Berlin and Rome (2026). Try the full calculator

Tax Calculators

See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Germany and Italy.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
Germany Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น
Italy Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

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Top Cities in Each Country

National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช

Germany

City CoL Rent PP
Berlin 51.6 34.4 124.7
Munich 56.8 38.2 136.8
Frankfurt 52.1 32.8 148.8
Hamburg 51.4 28.7 140.3
Mainz 50.8 23.1 128.6
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

Italy

City CoL Rent PP
Rome 47.1 29.5 81.8
Milan 54.3 38.9 72.1
Florence 42.8 33.5 72.8
Turin 39.7 18.4 93.3
Brescia 45.6 23 80.1

City-to-City Comparisons

See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and Italy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Italy more expensive than Germany?
Italy is 8.4% cheaper than Germany overall. Rent is 2.7% lower, and groceries are 0.6% cheaper. These figures are averages across 23 cities in Italy and 34 cities in Germany.
Which country has better purchasing power, Germany or Italy?
Germany has an average purchasing power index of 139.2 while Italy has 87.8 (NYC = 100). Germany offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Germany or Italy?
Average rent in Germany has an index of 22.1 vs 21.5 in Italy (NYC = 100). Rent in Italy is 2.7% lower than in Germany.
How many cities are compared between Germany and Italy?
Our comparison covers 34 cities in Germany and 23 cities in Italy, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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