38 cities compared · 2026

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy vs ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain

Spain offers both lower prices and stronger purchasing power than Italy. Your salary stretches further on nearly every expense.

-5.6%
Cost of Living
+13%
Rent
-16.3%
Groceries
-12.1%
Restaurants
+10.9%
Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 38 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Diff
Cost of Living 41.4 39.1 -5.6%
Rent 21.5 24.3 +13%
Groceries 64.6 54.1 -16.3%
Restaurants 70.1 61.6 -12.1%
Purchasing Power 87.8 97.4 +10.9%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

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

Gross ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Diff
โ‚ฌ40,000 โ‚ฌ27,487 โ‚ฌ30,196 +โ‚ฌ2,709
โ‚ฌ60,000 โ‚ฌ36,772 โ‚ฌ42,184 +โ‚ฌ5,412
โ‚ฌ80,000 โ‚ฌ46,251 โ‚ฌ53,853 +โ‚ฌ7,602
โ‚ฌ100,000 โ‚ฌ55,729 โ‚ฌ65,227 +โ‚ฌ9,498

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

Tax Calculators

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

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น
Italy Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
Spain Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

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Top Cities in Each Country

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

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
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ

Spain

City CoL Rent PP
Madrid 46.9 33.8 101.7
Barcelona 47.6 34.8 93
Valencia 40.7 30.2 85.5
Seville 34.4 19.5 97.9
Palma de Mallorca 45 31.1 86.3

City-to-City Comparisons

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spain more expensive than Italy?
Spain is 5.6% cheaper than Italy overall. Rent is 13.0% higher, and groceries are 16.3% cheaper. These figures are averages across 15 cities in Spain and 23 cities in Italy.
Which country has better purchasing power, Italy or Spain?
Italy has an average purchasing power index of 87.8 while Spain has 97.4 (NYC = 100). Spain offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Italy or Spain?
Average rent in Italy has an index of 21.5 vs 24.3 in Spain (NYC = 100). Rent in Spain is 13.0% higher than in Italy.
How many cities are compared between Italy and Spain?
Our comparison covers 23 cities in Italy and 15 cities in Spain, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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