United States vs Italy
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Italy is approximately 13% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Italy a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Italy has a FIRE Score of 55/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 52.6, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Italy is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
Side by side
Best in rowWashington, D.C.
United States
Rome
Italy
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
About Italy
Retirees with steady income fare better here than remote workers chasing savings. Rent outside the center runs $660.88/mo, cheap by European standards, but income tax climbing to 43% erodes any freelance upside fast. The Elective Residence Visa requires $2,895/mo in passive income, and citizenship stays complex even after years of residency.
Italy costs roughly 13% less than United States, though United States has significantly faster internet infrastructure, making it one of the more financially compelling destinations for United States expats. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Italy is approximately 13% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Italy a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Italy has a FIRE Score of 55/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 52.6, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Italy is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
United States
Washington, D.C.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$155/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Italy
Retirees with steady income fare better here than remote workers chasing savings. Rent outside the center runs $660.88/mo, cheap by European standards, but income tax climbing to 43% erodes any freelance upside fast. The Elective Residence Visa requires $2,895/mo in passive income, and citizenship stays complex even after years of residency.
$1,138/mo
Not sure which Italy visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | United States | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | N/A | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 184.7 +28.5 | 156.2 |
| Healthcare Index | 66.9 +2.1 | 64.8 |
| Safety Index | 50.8 | 52.6 +1.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 69.7 | 61.5 +8.2 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $1,176 | $1,017.2 +158.8 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $4,239 | $3,632.9 +606.1 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,668.61 | $845.17 +823.44 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,355.41 | $660.88 +694.53 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2,688.4 | $1,474.53 +1,213.87 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2,228.12 | $1,091.27 +1,136.85 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 314.35 Mbps +201.3 | 113.07 Mbps |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
United States
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Italy
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for United States and Italy, side by side.
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