United States vs Italy Food Prices
Median supermarket prices in New York, United States (USD) vs Rome, Italy (EUR). 52 products with data in both countries.
Overall, Italy is cheaper for groceries. The official monthly food basket costs $122.84 vs $125.34 in United States (2% lower). Italy has lower prices on 28 of 52 comparable products.
United States
$125.34
Official basket / month
$4.12 Daily basket cost
Italy
$122.84
Official basket / month
$4.04 Daily basket cost
24 / 28
Products cheaper
United States / Italy
+65%
Avg. price gap
USD equiv.
Official food basket
Government reference basket filled with median supermarket prices in each country.
Biggest price differences
| Product | United States | Italy | Gap | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Pepper (1 kg) | $1.67 | $18.92 | +1033% | Cheaper in United States |
| Potatoes (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.82 | $11.35 | +527% | Cheaper in United States |
| Bananas (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.59 | $7.57 | +482% | Cheaper in United States |
| Onions (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.19 | $15.15 | +478% | Cheaper in United States |
| Cabbage (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.14 | $11.35 | +352% | Cheaper in United States |
| Broccoli (1 kg) | $4.69 | $16.09 | +243% | Cheaper in United States |
| Black Pepper (50 g) | $2.03 | $6.39 | +215% | Cheaper in United States |
| Sour Cream (300 g) | $1.84 | $5.68 | +209% | Cheaper in United States |
Comparison by category
| Category | United States cheaper | Italy cheaper | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Produce | 10 | 5 | +217% |
| Other | 3 | 7 | +4% |
| Dairy & Eggs | 6 | 4 | +40% |
| Grains | 1 | 7 | -31% |
| Meat | 3 | 3 | +6% |
| Bakery | 1 | 2 | -45% |
All products compared
| Product | United States | Italy | USD equiv. | Gap | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Pepper (1 kg) | $1.67 | $18.92 | $1.67 / $18.92 | +1033% | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.82 | $11.35 | $1.81 / $11.35 | +527% | |
| Bananas (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.59 | $7.57 | $1.30 / $7.57 | +482% | |
| Onions (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.19 | $15.15 | $2.62 / $15.14 | +478% | |
| Cabbage (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.14 | $11.35 | $2.51 / $11.35 | +352% | |
| Broccoli (1 kg) | $4.69 | $16.09 | $4.69 / $16.09 | +243% | |
| Black Pepper (50 g) | $2.03 | $6.39 | $2.03 / $6.39 | +215% | |
| Sour Cream (300 g) | $1.84 | $5.68 | $1.84 / $5.68 | +209% | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $2.74 | $15.62 | $6.04 / $15.62 | +159% | |
| Lentils (1 kg) | $5.93 | $14.45 | $5.93 / $14.45 | +144% | |
| Butter (8 oz) (≈227 g) | $8.47 | $5.68 | $2.34 / $5.68 | +143% | |
| Pork Loin (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $2.99 | $14.34 | $6.59 / $14.34 | +118% | |
| Ketchup (500 g) | $2.39 | $5.16 | $2.39 / $5.16 | +116% | |
| Mozzarella (200 g) | $2.64 | $5.12 | $2.64 / $5.11 | +94% | |
| Mineral Water (1.5 L) | $4.52 | $0.33 | $4.52 / $0.33 | -93% | |
| Buckwheat (1 kg) | $22.02 | $2.68 | $22.02 / $2.68 | -88% | |
| Pasta (1 lb box) (≈454 g) | $4.84 | $0.65 | $5.34 / $0.65 | -88% | |
| Zucchini (1 kg) | $4.61 | $8.45 | $4.61 / $8.45 | +83% | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb loaf) (≈500 g) | $3.98 | $1.22 | $4.39 / $1.22 | -72% | |
| Plain Yogurt (17.6 oz) (≈500 g) | $2.75 | $4.66 | $2.75 / $4.65 | +69% | |
| Wholegrain Bread (500 g) | $4.34 | $1.56 | $4.34 / $1.56 | -64% | |
| Corn Flakes (500 g) | $5.38 | $2.29 | $5.38 / $2.29 | -57% | |
| Lemons (1 kg) | $6.60 | $2.95 | $6.60 / $2.95 | -55% | |
| Sugar (2 lb bag) (≈907 g) | $2.39 | $1.20 | $2.64 / $1.20 | -55% | |
| Milk (Lactose Free, 1 Liter) | $0.96 | $1.48 | $0.96 / $1.48 | +54% | |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $10.99 | $11.35 | $24.23 / $11.35 | -53% | |
| Oranges (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.12 | $3.78 | $2.48 / $3.78 | +52% | |
| Eggs (1 dozen, Large) (12 eggs) | $6.99 | $3.33 | $6.99 / $3.33 | -52% | |
| Kefir (1 Liter) | $5.49 | $2.63 | $5.49 / $2.63 | -52% | |
| Flour (2 lb bag) (≈907 g) | $1.40 | $0.75 | $1.54 / $0.75 | -51% | |
| White Rice (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.71 | $1.93 | $3.76 / $1.93 | -49% | |
| Cucumbers (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.52 | $1.72 | $3.35 / $1.72 | -49% | |
| Sausages (1 kg) | $9.68 | $5.16 | $9.68 / $5.16 | -47% | |
| Dry Peas (1 kg) | $3.62 | $2.00 | $3.62 / $2.00 | -45% | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $11.65 | $14.88 | $25.69 / $14.88 | -42% | |
| Ground Coffee (12 oz) (≈340 g) | $12.99 | $5.68 | $9.55 / $5.68 | -41% | |
| Cottage Cheese (500 g) | $3.80 | $2.27 | $3.80 / $2.27 | -40% | |
| Cookies (400 g) | $11.27 | $6.88 | $11.27 / $6.88 | -39% | |
| Fish Fillet (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $9.99 | $14.34 | $22.04 / $14.34 | -35% | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $2.29 | $1.49 | $2.29 / $1.49 | -35% | |
| Fruit Jam (300 g) | $1.76 | $1.24 | $1.76 / $1.24 | -30% | |
| Dark Chocolate (100 g) | $4.47 | $5.68 | $4.47 / $5.68 | +27% | |
| Vegetable Oil (1 qt) (≈946 ml) | $2.74 | $2.17 | $2.89 / $2.17 | -25% | |
| Sliced Ham (200 g) | $3.23 | $3.98 | $3.23 / $3.98 | +23% | |
| Milk (1 gallon) (≈3.79 L) | $3.18 | $1.02 | $0.84 / $1.02 | +21% | |
| Minced Beef (1 kg) | $44.09 | $35.70 | $44.09 / $35.70 | -19% | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $4.11 | $10.61 | $9.07 / $10.61 | +17% | |
| Grapes (1 kg) | $6.15 | $5.21 | $6.15 / $5.21 | -15% | |
| Oat Flakes (1 kg) | $8.69 | $7.49 | $8.69 / $7.49 | -14% | |
| Carrots (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.69 | $3.43 | $3.73 / $3.42 | -8% | |
| Apples (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.33 | $3.12 | $2.93 / $3.13 | +7% | |
| Baguette (250 g) | $1.37 | $1.38 | $1.37 / $1.38 | +1% | |
| Beetroot (1 kg) | $6.59 | — | — | — | — |
| Whole Chicken (1 kg) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Garlic (250 g) | — | $2.22 | — | — | — |
| Mayonnaise (400 g) | — | $2.49 | — | — | — |
| Oats (1 kg) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pears (1 kg) | $6.81 | — | — | — | — |
| Salmon Fillet (1 kg) | $24.49 | — | — | — | — |
| Salt (1 kg) | $2.43 | — | — | — | — |
| Shrimp (1 kg) | — | $20.82 | — | — | — |
| Black Tea (100 g) | $3.69 | — | — | — | — |
| Turkey Fillet (1 kg) | $16.15 | — | — | — | — |
| Bottled Water (1 L) | — | — | — | — | — |
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Frequently asked questions
- Which country has a cheaper food basket, United States or Italy?
- Based on official government basket quantities and median supermarket prices, the monthly cost is about $125.34 in United States vs $122.84 in Italy.
- Where do these prices come from?
- We collect public online catalog prices from major supermarket chains in each country, normalize them to standard pack sizes, and compare medians. Reference cities: New York (United States) and Rome (Italy).
- What staples differ most between United States and Italy?
- The largest gaps are in Bell Pepper (1 kg), Potatoes (1 lb), Bananas (1 lb). Prices can diverge due to local supply, taxes, and retail competition.