Italyvs
TurkeyItaly vs Turkey: 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
Italy vs Turkey
| Metric | Italy | Turkey | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average wage (PPP) | $51,019 | $47,253 | Italy |
| Payroll deduction | 35% | 29% | Turkey |
| Net take-home (avg wage) | $33,417 | $33,550 | Turkey |
| Cost index (NY=100) | 75 | 38 | Turkey |
Average wage: OECD (PPP). Tax is an effective single-filer rate at the average wage; cost index is each country's anchor city (Rome / Istanbul).
Data signals
What actually separates them
Who keeps more
On the average wage, Turkey leaves the bigger net paycheck — about $132 more per year ($33,417 in Italy vs $33,550 in Turkey, PPP).
Payroll deduction
Turkey takes less off the top: ~29% vs ~35% combined income tax + social security.
Cost of living
Turkey is the cheaper base: cost index 38 vs 75 (Rome / Istanbul, 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 Italy or Turkey?
- Italy has the higher OECD average wage: $51,019 in Italy vs $47,253 in Turkey (PPP-adjusted). But after tax, Turkey keeps more net.
- Where do you take home more after tax?
- Turkey — about $132 more net per year on the average wage, once income tax and social security are applied.
- Which is cheaper to live in?
- Turkey, by cost index (Rome 75 vs Istanbul 38, NY = 100). Weigh net pay against cost together, not separately.