South Korea vs Italy — Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Updated March 2026
South Korea has a cost of living index of 64.0 with average 1BR rent around $920/mo, while Italy sits at 68.0 with rent near $780/mo. Below is the full side-by-side breakdown for digital nomads, expats and remote workers weighing a move.
| Metric | South Korea | Italy | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage Interest Rate | 4.50% | 4.00% | Italy |
| Savings Account Interest Rate | 3.40% | 2.80% | South Korea |
| Credit Card Interest Rate (APR) | 14.0% | 13.9% | Italy |
| Average Rent (1BR City Centre) | US$920/mo | US$780/mo | Italy |
| Real Estate Price (per m²) | US$11,500/m² | US$3,100/m² | Italy |
Summary
South Korea has a higher mortgage rate than Italy at 4.50% vs 4.00%. Rental costs in South Korea average $920/month compared to $780 in Italy, while the cost of living index sits at 64.0 versus 68.0. Overall, Italy looks more favourable across the headline numbers.
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How we calculate this
Cost of living, rent, mortgage, savings and tax figures combine official sources (World Bank, central banks, national statistics offices) with crowdsourced price data, refreshed regularly. Full breakdown: read our methodology.
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