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Italy vs United States

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

Italy vs United States at a glance — United States is 5% more expensive than Italy overall. Average net salary: $4,300/mo vs $1,900/mo. Top income tax: 37% vs 43%.

ItalyUnited States
Cost of living
Cost of living index100105
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)43%37%
VAT / sales tax22%0%
Social security (employee)—7.7%
Corporate tax24%21%
Capital gains26%20%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,900/mo$4,300/mo
Minimum wage—$1,257/mo✓
GDP per capita$43,309✓$90,027✓
Inflation (annual)1.5%✓—
Life expectancy84 yr✓79 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateHigh
Digital-nomad visaYesNo

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), 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 United States?

United States is about 5% more expensive than Italy overall — its cost-of-living index is 105 versus 100 for Italy.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Italy is worth about $78,495 in United States. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Italy or United States?

United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 43% in Italy.