EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-16
Greece vs Italy: taxes, salary and cost of living
Greece and Italy present two different cost profiles: the first question is whether the salary gap compensates for housing and daily expenses.
Greece vs Italy at a glance
| Indicator | Greece | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 24% | 22% |
| Income tax | 9-44% | 23-43% |
| Social contributions | ~38% | ~42% |
| Tax burden | 39.3% | 47.1% |
| Average monthly salary | €1,500 | €3,312 |
| Studio rent | €500 | €726 |
| Monthly food estimate | €300 | €320 |
| Gasoline | 1.8 €/L | 1.74 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.22 €/kWh | 0.3 €/kWh |
Salary advantage and purchasing power
Italy records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €1,812, approximately 54.7% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Greece ranks 22 of 27 for salary and Italy ranks 12 of 27. Currency conversion and salary methodology can materially change a relocation budget.
Housing pressure and everyday spending
Greece has the lower listed studio rent by €226, a 31.1% difference relative to the higher rent. Greece sits 10 of 37 and Italy 19 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Greece also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €700 in Greece and €2,266 in Italy. This leaves €1,566 more in Italy, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
VAT and personal tax context
Greece has the lower listed tax burden by 7.8 percentage points. Standard VAT is 24% in Greece versus 22% in Italy. Neither measure is a substitute for an individual payroll simulation.
Driving and mobility costs
Italy has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.06 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €3 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
Choosing by relocation scenario
For Greece and Italy, short stays are influenced heavily by rent and restaurant prices; permanent relocation adds payroll, healthcare and administrative costs. These figures work best as a shortlist, not a final decision model.
Where the comparison lands
Italy produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Greece leads on listed rent. Your income source determines which advantage matters more.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Greece comparisons · Explore Italy comparisons