Italy vs Spain

Italy
Europe
Capital Rome · 60M people · Euro
Spain
Europe
Capital Madrid · 47M people · Euro
Cost of living
Spain
$34/mo
Safety
Spain
0.5/5
Getting around
Spain
0.2/5
Culture
Spain
0.1/5
Passport reach
Spain
not scored
Airports
Spain
90M passengers/yr
Climate
Depends on you
not scored
Overall
Spain edges it, 5–0.
Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.

Cost of living

monthly median · solo budget

Spain is cheaper
$1,918/mo
Minimalist $1,459 · Comfort $2,797
ranks #71 of 95 worldwide
$1,884/mo
Minimalist $1,420 · Comfort $2,926
ranks #69 of 95 worldwide

Cost in the three biggest cities

Rome$2,213$2,244Madrid
Milan$2,607$2,436Barcelona
Naples$1,638$1,754Valencia

Spain is cheaper: $1,884/mo against Italy's $1,918/mo.

Italy is pricier than 25 of 41 European countries; Spain is pricier than 23 of 41 European countries.

Safety

safety index

Spain is safer

Italy

2.3/5
Use caution

Spain

2.8/5
Mixed picture
IT flagItalySpainES flagGap
Street safety3.0/53.4/5+0.4
Property safety2.0/52.3/5+0.3
Road safety2.2/53.1/5+0.9
Earthquake safety2.5/53.5/5+1.0
Wildfire safety2.6/52.1/5+0.5
Flood safety2.5/53.1/5+0.6

Spain is safer: 2.8/5 against Italy's 2.3/5.

Italy is less safe than 32 of 41 European countries; Spain is less safe than 24 of 41 European countries.

Getting around

transit & transport systems

Spain scores higher

Italy

2.9/5
City-dependent

Spain

3.1/5
City-dependent
IT flagItalySpainES flagGap
Walkability4.1/54.5/5+0.4
Transit3.3/53.5/5+0.2
Cycling1.8/52.9/5+1.1
Airport access3.3/53.6/5+0.3

Spain scores higher on mobility: 3.1/5 against Italy's 2.9/5.

Italy is harder to get around than 20 of 41 European countries; Spain is easier to get around than 25 of 41 European countries.

Culture

cultural depth

Spain scores higher

Italy

3.9/5
Strong scene

Spain

4.0/5
Strong scene

World Heritage sites

Italy

Photos via Wikimedia Commons · data UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Spain scores higher on culture: 4.0/5 against Italy's 3.9/5.

Italy is richer in culture than 30 of 41 European countries; Spain is richer in culture than 32 of 41 European countries.

Passport reach

what the passport opens

Spain reaches more
IT flagItalySpainES flagGap
Visa-free destinations101105+4
GDP reach92%92%Even
Heritage sites reachable11331133Even

Italy's passport reaches 101 destinations visa-free to Spain's 105 — Spain opens more doors without a visa.

Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.

Airports

international connectivity

Spain is better connected

Flight connectivity in the biggest cities

IT flagItalySpainES flagGap
Major airports2524+1
Annual passengers225M315M+90M

Spain is better connected: 315M passengers/yr against Italy's 225M passengers/yr.

Italy is busier than 79 of 87 countries worldwide; Spain is busier than 83 of 87 countries worldwide. Italy sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year; Spain sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

Climate

where most people live · °C

Depends on you
Italy-5°C to 36°C

Extremes — coldest Bolzano -17°C

Spain-5°C to 35°C
-25°-10°10°30°45°

Italy runs -5°C to 36°C for most people; Spain runs -5°C to 35°C for most people.

Bolzano runs colder, at -17°C. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.

Italy vs Spain: frequently asked

▶Should I move to Italy or Spain?
Spain edges it, 5–0. Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.
▶Is Italy or Spain cheaper?
Spain is cheaper: $1,884/mo against Italy's $1,918/mo. Italy is pricier than 25 of 41 European countries; Spain is pricier than 23 of 41 European countries.
▶Is Italy or Spain safer?
Spain is safer: 2.8/5 against Italy's 2.3/5. Italy is less safe than 32 of 41 European countries; Spain is less safe than 24 of 41 European countries.
▶Is it easier to get around in Italy or Spain?
Spain scores higher on mobility: 3.1/5 against Italy's 2.9/5. Italy is harder to get around than 20 of 41 European countries; Spain is easier to get around than 25 of 41 European countries.
▶Does Italy or Spain have a richer culture?
Spain scores higher on culture: 4.0/5 against Italy's 3.9/5. Italy is richer in culture than 30 of 41 European countries; Spain is richer in culture than 32 of 41 European countries.
▶Which has better flight connections, Italy or Spain?
Spain is better connected: 315M passengers/yr against Italy's 225M passengers/yr. Italy is busier than 79 of 87 countries worldwide; Spain is busier than 83 of 87 countries worldwide. Italy sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year; Spain sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.
▶Which passport is stronger, Italy or Spain?
Italy's passport reaches 101 destinations visa-free to Spain's 105 — Spain opens more doors without a visa. Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.
▶What is the climate like in Italy versus Spain?
Italy runs -5°C to 36°C for most people; Spain runs -5°C to 35°C for most people. Bolzano runs colder, at -17°C. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.