Spain offers both lower prices and stronger purchasing power than Italy. Your salary stretches further on nearly every expense.
Compared to Italy. Green = cheaper or better in Spain. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 35 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇪🇸 Spain | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 64.3 | 55.1 | -14.3% |
| Rent | 22.4 | 25.6 | +14.3% |
| Groceries | 67.4 | 56.5 | -16.2% |
| Restaurants | 68.2 | 58.4 | -14.4% |
| Purchasing Power | 81.8 | 92.5 | +13.1% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Rome vs Madrid.
| Gross | 🇮🇹 Net in Italy | 🇪🇸 Net in Spain | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €27,405 | €29,655 | +€2,250 |
| €60,000 | €37,479 | €41,436 | +€3,957 |
| €80,000 | €47,371 | €52,865 | +€5,494 |
| €100,000 | €57,264 | €63,865 | +€6,601 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Rome and Madrid (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 60.1 | 36.1 | 94.2 |
| Barcelona | 60.8 | 35.7 | 89 |
| Valencia | 52.9 | 30.1 | 85.1 |
| Seville | 49.4 | 20 | 93 |
| Valladolid | 61.6 | 14.9 | 106 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Italy and Spain.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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