Cost of living in the Italian countryside

The other day I filled up my car. I was horrified, not because the pump just stopped before the tank was full, but because it took 78 big old euros to get that far ... and it still wasn't finished - the pump was somehow set automatically at that amount, and so it didn't even fill up the tank. €78??? That translates to about $114, or R893 (South African rands).

Such is the price of living in the Eurozone. It prompted me to thinking that those of you in the netherlands (USA, South Africa, the UK, and other places) might find it interesting to know what it costs to live here. So I put together a list of day-to-day items. (In truth, I didn't just do this for the blog - I have a couple of assignments that were looking for this info.) The grocery items come from a local co-operative and include in-season fruit and vegetables, which are either more expensive or simply not available out of season.

Shopping basket	Euro	South African Rand	US $
Loaf of rustic bread	2.03/kg	23.24/kg	1.36/pound
Milk	1.25/liter	14.31/liter	6.95/gal
6-pack of coke	2.64	30.23	3.88
Bottle of table wine	3-5	34-57	4.50-7.35
6-pack of beer	3.76	43	5.53
Mineral water	0.45/1.5 liter	5.15/1.5 liter	0.66/1.5 liter
Sugar	0.90/kg	10.31/kg	0.60/pound
Coffee	2.05/205g	23.50/250g	5.47/pound
Free-range chicken	4.30/kg	49.25/kg	2.87/pound
Ground beef	6.00/kg	68.70/kg	4.00/pound
Pork chops	4.90/kg	56.11/kg	3.27/pound
Norwegian salmon	7.90/kg	90.50/kg	5.28/pound
Prosciutto	19.80/kg	226.70/kg	13.23/pound
Bananas	1.69/kg	19.35/kg	1.13/pound
Peaches	1.89/kg	21.65/kg	1.26/pound
Onions	1.28-2.45/kg	14.66-28.05/kg	0.86-1.64/pound
Potatoes	0.86-1.14/kg	9.85-13.05/kg	0.57-0.76/pound
Zucchini	0.89-1.49/kg	10.20-17.05/kg	0.59-1.00/pound
Carrots	0.89/kg	10.19/kg	0.59/pound
Tomatoes	1.48-1.98/kg	16.95-22.67/kg	0.99-1.32/pound
Quality Pecorino (sheep's milk) cheese	14.50/kg	166/kg	9.69/pound
Italian butter	1.66/250g	19/250g	4.43/pound
Eggs per 1/2 dozen	1.32	15.10	1.94
Spaghetti	0.86/500g	9.85/500g	1.15/pound
Olive oil	5.05-9.59/liter	57.80-109.80/liter	7.42-14.10/liter
Monthly costs for running a 2000 sq ft (200 sq m) farmhouse	Euro	South African Rand	US $
Water & electricity	60	687	88
Gas (for cooking, hot water and heating) – winter	375	4294	551
Gas (for cooking and hot water) – summer	100	1145	147
Fixed phone(moderate-significant international calling)	50	572	74
Cell phone	30	343	44
Hi-speed internet	25	286	37
Satellite TV	45	515	66
Going out	Euro	South African Rand	US $
Movie tickets for 2 w/popcorn & 2 sodas	18	206	26.50
Dinner for 2: 3-course + wine	50	575	74
Espresso	0.80	9.15	1.18
Local beer	2.50	28.65	3.70
Car expenses	Euro	South African Rand	US $
Gasoline	1.47/liter	16.83/liter	8.18/gal
Diesel	1.44/liter	16.50/liter	8.01/gal
Car insurance per year (bare bones for 10-year-old car)	1200	13740	1764