Cost of Living: Florence vs Split (2026)

Italy vs Croatia — relocation comparison

TL;DRSplit is 18% cheaper on rent ($1077/mo vs $1316/mo). Florence scores 7.7 vs 6.5 on democracy. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
68
Livability Score
🇮🇹 Florence
Italy
Full profile
68
Livability Score
🇭🇷 Split
Croatia
Full profile
Florence and Split are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
💰
Cost of Living
Split
$239/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Florence
7.7/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Split
higher proficiency score
Florence
Metric
Split
$1316/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1077/mo
$712/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$670/mo
$7,759
🧳
Cost to land
$5,244
0.5 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
42 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
30°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
3°C
❄️
Winter low
4°C
46 Mbps
Internet speed
7.7 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
6.5 / 10
High (62/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (84/100)
$62k
💼
GDP per capita
$50k
1.0%
📈
Inflation
3.0%
68 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100
89/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
87/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

477
PISA
country avg
474
1
Intl schools
4
Yes (Italian)
Public school
Free pediatric care for all resident children under 14
Pediatric care
4–12 weeks public
Specialist wait
$789/mo
Childcare
full-day
$650/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
fashion-leathertourismfood-winefintech
Industries
nascent
Startup ecosystem
89/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Easy
UA visa
Your partner can also work
Spouse works

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 18% cheaper in Split ($1077/mo vs $1316/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Florence (30°C vs 30°C).
  • Florence scores higher on democracy (7.7 vs 6.5 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Split (84/100 vs 62/100 English proficiency).

Florence vs Split — Common Questions

Is Florence cheaper than Split?

Split is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1077/month in Split vs $1316/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Florence or Split?

Florence is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Florence has a rate of 0.55 per 100,000 and Split has 0.77 per 100,000.

Should I move to Florence or Split?

Florence and Split are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Florence or Split?

Florence: Italy Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable)). Split: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Florence or Split without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Split (EF EPI score: 84/100) than in Florence (62/100). In Split, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Florence, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

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