EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Ireland vs Italy: taxes, salary and cost of living
Ireland and Italy present two different cost profiles: the first question is whether the salary gap compensates for housing and daily expenses.
Ireland vs Italy at a glance
| Indicator | Ireland | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 23% | 22% |
| Income tax | 20-40% | 23-43% |
| Social contributions | 19.05% | ~42% |
| Tax burden | 27.5% | 47.1% |
| Average monthly salary | €5,180 | €3,312 |
| Studio rent | €1,500 | €726 |
| Monthly food estimate | €400 | €320 |
| Gasoline | 1.72 €/L | 1.74 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.35 €/kWh | 0.3 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Ireland records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €1,868, approximately 56.4% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Ireland ranks 6 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
Italy has the lower listed studio rent by €774, a 106.6% difference relative to the higher rent. Ireland sits 35 of 37 and Italy 19 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Italy 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 €3,280 in Ireland and €2,266 in Italy. This leaves €1,014 more in Ireland, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Ireland has the lower listed tax burden by 19.6 percentage points. Standard VAT is 23% in Ireland versus 22% in Italy. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Ireland has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.02 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €1 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For Ireland 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.
Final view: Ireland or Italy?
Ireland produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Italy 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 Ireland comparisons · Explore Italy comparisons