Compare countries · Greece vs Italy
Greece vs Italy
Across 13 comparable indicators: Greece leads on 5, Italy on 7, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Greece cheaper than Italy?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Greece at 54.0 and Italy at 61.4. Greece is about 12% cheaper overall.
Is Greece or Italy safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Greece scores 1.83 and Italy scores 1.71. Italy ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Greece or Italy?
On the UN Human Development Index, Greece scores 0.908 and Italy scores 0.915. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Greece compared to Italy?
GNI per capita runs $25,360 in Greece against $42,080 in Italy; people live 81.8 years on average against 84.0; Numbeo users rate healthcare 59 against 65. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Greece
54.0
Worse than 75% of countries
Italy
61.4
Worse than 82% of countries
Greece: 12% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Greece
13.7
Around the global middle
Italy
20.5
Worse than 70% of countries
Greece: 33% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Greece
1.83
Better than 68% of countries
Italy
1.71
Better than 79% of countries
Italy: more peaceful (1.71 vs 1.83).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Greece
53.8
Around the global middle
Italy
52.7
Worse than 57% of countries
Greece: higher perceived safety (53.8 vs 52.7).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Greece
0.908
Better than 83% of countries
Italy
0.915
Better than 84% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Greece
$45,264
Better than 72% of countries
Italy
$62,803
Better than 84% of countries
Italy: 39% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Greece
81.8 yrs
Better than 82% of countries
Italy
84.0 yrs
Better than 95% of countries
Italy: 2.2 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Greece
58.9
Worse than 64% of countries
Italy
64.9
Around the global middle
Italy: better-rated healthcare (64.9 vs 58.9).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Greece
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Italy
114 Mbps
Better than 62% of countries
Italy: 22% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Greece
55/100
Around the global middle
Italy
65/100
Better than 68% of countries
Italy: freer press (65 vs 55 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Greece
5.70
Worse than 58% of countries
Italy
6.57
Better than 74% of countries
Italy: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.57 vs 5.70).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Greece
592
Better than 79% of countries
Italy
513
Around the global middle
Greece: stronger English proficiency (592 vs 513).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Greece
93.0
Better than 84% of countries
Italy
89.8
Better than 74% of countries
Greece: more pleasant climate rating (93.0 vs 89.8).
Deciding between Greece and Italy for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Italy profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.