CostTrek

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Italy vs Japan

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

Italy vs Japan at a glance — Japan is 5% cheaper than Italy overall. Average net salary: $2,600/mo vs $1,900/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 43%.

ItalyJapan
Cost of living
Cost of living index10095
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)43%45%
VAT / sales tax22%10%
Corporate tax24%30%
Capital gains26%20.3%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,900/mo$2,600/mo
Minimum wage—$1,300/mo
GDP per capita$43,309✓$35,951✓
Inflation (annual)1.5%✓3.2%✓
Life expectancy84 yr✓84 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateModerate
Digital-nomad visaYesYes

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

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Italy cheaper than Japan?

Japan is about 5% cheaper than Italy overall — its cost-of-living index is 95 versus 100 for Italy.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Italy is worth about $71,482 in Japan. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Italy or Japan?

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