EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-16
Hungary vs Italy: taxes, salary and cost of living
A move between Hungary and Italy is not simply a choice between a cheap and an expensive country; income, rent and taxation pull the result in different directions.
Hungary vs Italy at a glance
| Indicator | Hungary | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 27% | 22% |
| Income tax | 15% | 23-43% |
| Social contributions | 31.5% | ~42% |
| Tax burden | 41.2% | 47.1% |
| Average monthly salary | €2,100 | €3,312 |
| Studio rent | €500 | €726 |
| Monthly food estimate | €250 | €320 |
| Gasoline | 1.49 €/L | 1.74 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.18 €/kWh | 0.3 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Italy records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €1,212, approximately 36.6% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Hungary ranks 17 of 27 for salary and Italy ranks 12 of 27. That ranking is useful context, but gross and net labels must be checked in the source record.
What recurring living costs reveal
Hungary has the lower listed studio rent by €226, a 31.1% difference relative to the higher rent. Hungary sits 11 of 37 and Italy 19 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Hungary 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 €1,350 in Hungary and €2,266 in Italy. This leaves €916 more in Italy, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Hungary has the lower listed tax burden by 5.9 percentage points. Standard VAT is 27% in Hungary versus 22% in Italy. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Hungary has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.25 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €12.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For a remote worker paid from abroad, housing and daily costs may matter more than the local salary ranking; on that narrow view, Hungary deserves closer attention. A locally employed professional should instead begin with salary and payroll definitions.
Final view: Hungary or Italy?
Italy produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Hungary leads on listed rent. That split explains why there is no universal winner.
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 Hungary comparisons · Explore Italy comparisons