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Germany vs Italy

Italy is {pct} {word} than Germany. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in Italy to match Germany.

Germany vs Italy at a glance — Italy is 10% cheaper than Germany overall. Average net salary: $1,900/mo vs $2,900/mo. Top income tax: 43% vs 45%.

GermanyItaly
Cost of living
Cost of living index111100
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%43%
VAT / sales tax19%22%
Social security (employee)20%—
Corporate tax30%24%
Capital gains26.4%26%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,900/mo$1,900/mo
Minimum wage$2,716/mo✓—
GDP per capita$60,496✓$43,309✓
Inflation (annual)2.2%✓1.5%✓
Life expectancy81 yr✓84 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighModerate
Digital-nomad visaNoYes

✓ = official statistics (Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Germany cheaper than Italy?

Italy is about 10% cheaper than Germany overall — its cost-of-living index is 100 versus 111 for Germany.

How much do you need to earn in Italy to live like in Germany?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Germany is worth about $67,254 in Italy. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Germany or Italy?

Italy has the lower top income-tax rate — 43% versus 45% in Germany.