Swedenvs
ItalySweden vs Italy: salary, tax & cost of living
Average wage, take-home after tax and cost of living, side by side — on real OECD wage data, PPP-adjusted. The headline salary and the net paycheck don't always point the same way.
Head to head
Sweden vs Italy
| Metric | Sweden | Italy | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average wage (PPP) | $60,415 | $51,019 | Sweden |
| Payroll deduction | 35% | 35% | Italy |
| Net take-home (avg wage) | $39,270 | $33,417 | Sweden |
| Cost index (NY=100) | 97 | 75 | Italy |
Average wage: OECD (PPP). Tax is an effective single-filer rate at the average wage; cost index is each country's anchor city (Stockholm / Rome).
Data signals
What actually separates them
Who keeps more
On the average wage, Sweden leaves the bigger net paycheck — about $5,852 more per year ($39,270 in Sweden vs $33,417 in Italy, PPP).
Payroll deduction
Italy takes less off the top: ~35% vs ~35% combined income tax + social security.
Cost of living
Italy is the cheaper base: cost index 75 vs 97 (Stockholm / Rome, New York = 100). Higher net pay doesn't help if rent eats it.
Banking & transfers for either move
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FAQ
- Is the average salary higher in Sweden or Italy?
- Sweden has the higher OECD average wage: $60,415 in Sweden vs $51,019 in Italy (PPP-adjusted). But after tax, Sweden keeps more net.
- Where do you take home more after tax?
- Sweden — about $5,852 more net per year on the average wage, once income tax and social security are applied.
- Which is cheaper to live in?
- Italy, by cost index (Stockholm 97 vs Rome 75, NY = 100). Weigh net pay against cost together, not separately.