Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Italy
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,090
Salary/mo
$1,962
Indonesia
38
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$450
For Working Professionals
Moving to Indonesia or Italy for work? Compare average salaries, tech job market, minimum wage, work permit process, and real purchasing power after living expenses — 2026 benchmarks.
AI insights unavailable
Working Professionals GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Salary & Work Comparison
Avg net salary / month
Tech / IT salary / month
Graduate salary / month
Minimum wage / month
Work permit fee
Rent 1-bed (city centre) / mo
Purchasing power index
Avg net salary / month
Graduate salary / month
Tech / IT salary / month
Part-time (student) / hr
Minimum wage / month
1-bed apartment (city centre) / mo
1-bed apartment (outside centre) / mo
Utilities / mo
Internet / mo
Affordability index (higher = cheaper)
Purchasing power index
Quick Verdict for Working Professionals — 2026
Italy wins for career-focused professionals with a work GoScore of 51 vs 38 for Indonesia. Average monthly net salary is $450 (Indonesia) vs $1,962 (Italy) — but after rent and basic expenses, professionals in Italy retain $251/month, which is $341/month more than in Indonesia.
Tech salaries: $800/month in Indonesia vs $3,815/month in Italy. Purchasing power is 25 in Indonesia and 75 in Italy — Italy's higher purchasing power means salaries go further in real terms.
Headline salary comparisons are misleading without cost context. In Indonesia, after rent ($350/mo), groceries ($130/mo), transport ($20/mo), and utilities ($40/mo), a professional on the average net salary of $450 retains $0/month. In Italy, the same calculation leaves $251/month from $1,962. Compounded over 5 years, the disposable income gap totals $20,460 — a significant difference for wealth building and remittances to family in India.
For Indian professionals in IT, software, and engineering — the dominant employment sectors for Indian immigrants — monthly tech salaries are $800 in Indonesia and $3,815 in Italy. Graduate entry-level roles pay $400/mo (Indonesia) and $1,744/mo (Italy). The minimum wage floors are $230/mo and $1,196/mo respectively — relevant for early-career transitions where you may not immediately land a senior role.
A salary figure only has meaning relative to what it buys. Purchasing power index in Indonesia is 25 and in Italy is 75(100 = New York City; higher = more purchasing power). The cost of living index is 27 vs 55 (lower = cheaper). Italy's stronger purchasing power means professionals enjoy a higher real standard of living despite comparable or even lower nominal salaries.
Work permit government fees: $100 in Indonesia and $142 in Italy. For professionals planning to stay long-term, the PR pathway is the critical variable: Indonesia takes ~5 years; Italy takes ~5 years. Italy offers a 0-year faster route to settlement — which significantly affects total visa costs and planning horizon.
| Metric | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇮🇹 Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Avg net salary / month | $450 | $1,962 |
| Tech / IT salary / month | $800 | $3,815 |
| Graduate salary / month | $400 | $1,744 |
| Minimum wage / month | $230 | $1,196 |
| Work permit fee | $100 | $142 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $350/mo | $1,199/mo |
| Purchasing power index | 25 | 75 |
| Cost of living index | 27 | 55 |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 49 / 100 | 55 / 100 |
The average monthly net salary in Indonesia is $450 after tax. In Italy, it is $1,962. But gross salary only tells part of the story. After rent ($350/mo in Indonesia vs $1,199/mo in Italy), groceries ($130 vs $305), and transport ($20 vs $65), the real disposable income gap often differs substantially from the headline salary comparison. For tech roles specifically: Indonesia pays $800/month in IT/software, vs $3,815/month in Italy — a segment that employs a large share of Indian professionals abroad.
Securing a work permit in Indonesia costs approximately $100 in government fees. In Italy, the fee is $142. Indonesia's lower work permit cost reduces the upfront barrier — particularly relevant for employer-sponsored hires where the employee bears some fees.The minimum wage provides the salary floor: $230/month in Indonesia and $1,196/month in Italy. Graduate-level roles start at $400/month (Indonesia) and $1,744/month (Italy).
Purchasing power index — a measure of what your take-home salary can actually buy — is 25 in Indonesia and 75 in Italy(100 = New York City baseline; higher means more purchasing power). Italy's stronger purchasing power means professionals can afford a higher quality of life on the same nominal salary.The overall cost of living index is 27 for Indonesia vs 55 for Italy(higher = more expensive relative to New York City).
For professionals planning to stay long-term: Indonesia's PR pathway runs approximately 5 years, while Italy's takes 5 years. Italy offers a 0-year faster route to PR — significant for professionals who want to put down roots rather than cycle between visas.English proficiency in the general population is rated moderate in Indonesia; medium in Italy — affecting both professional networking ease and long-term integration.
Indonesia scores 49/100 on safety, 5.40/10 on the UN Happiness Index, and 121 on the Numbeo quality of life index.Italy scores 55/100, 6.27/10 (happiness), and 174 (quality of life). Healthcare access — critical for professionals with families — rates Indonesia at 54 and Italy at 69. For Indian professionals, the size of the established Indian community also matters for social integration: Indonesia has a small community;Italy has a small one.
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
This country has a growing international professional community with increasing support infrastructure for newcomers.
The local economy is experiencing above-average demand for skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.
English-medium professional environments are increasingly available, particularly in major cities and tech sectors.
🇮🇹 Italy
Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites (58) than any country in the world — uniquely valuable for students in architecture, art history, and design.
Source: UNESCO 2024
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the world's oldest continuously operating university.
Italy's fashion, luxury, and automotive industries (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Gucci, Prada, Armani) collectively employ over 1.5 million people, creating unique career paths unavailable elsewhere.
Italy introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in 2024, targeting remote workers earning €28,000+/year with a straightforward application process.
Source: Italian Ministry of Interior 2024
Italian public universities charge €0–4,000/year for non-EU students — with some of the world's cheapest engineering and medical degrees.
Source: MIUR Italy 2024
Popular Comparisons
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Data Sources
Editorial
Compiled by mockDe Editorial Team
Verified by IELTS-certified advisors with study-abroad counselling experience.
Freshness
Data reflects 2026 benchmarks.
Last reviewed June 2026.
AI verdict cached permanently; regenerated on data change.
All figures in USD. AI insights by Gemini Pro. Values are indicative — verify official sources before making relocation decisions.