Italy is the perfect place to live for those people who enjoy art, music, history, glorious and varied scenery and, of course, pasta and pizza. Home of the renaissance, cities like Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence draw millions of visitors every year. The countryside is stunning, from the Alps in the north, through Tuscany down to Sicily. Mountains, valleys and sea make Italy a fascinating country to explore.
If you are considering moving to Italy, the following guide will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving to this charming country that has so much to offer.
Quick Italian Facts:
- Population: 60,262,150 (2022 estimate)
- Official Language: Italian is the official language of Italy. Over 50% of the population speak dialects which are often unintelligible to people from other areas, but they are yet to be recognised as separate languages.
- GDP Per Capita: USD31,676.39
- Pizza: Pizza was born in Naples. The Margherita pizza was invented by Chef Esposito in 1889 for Queen Margherita of Savoy. It was in the flag’s colours – tomato sauce (red), basil (green) and mozzarella (white).
- Currency: Euro (€). As of October 2022, £1 = €1,12, $1 US$ = €1,03 , $1 AUD = €0.67
1.Moving and Shipping Costs to Italy
Here are some sample container shipping rates to Italy from various other countries around the world.
Also see 35 Best International Moving Companies in Italy
2. Italian Housing Costs
The price of property in Italy varies considerably from north to south. Properties are generally much more expensive in the north of the country and in the larger cities, such as Rome, Florence and Milan. Many Italians are beginning to move south to take advantage of the cheaper housing costs but that is obviously causing prices to rise. There’s a wide variety of properties for rent and purchase, from flats to stunning villas. There are also properties which can be bought cheaply and renovated but have a reliable surveyor look them over first.
Monthly Rental Prices in Italy
- 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: €450 – €1,242
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: €350 – €828
- 3 bedroom apartment in City Centre: €800 – €2,572
- 3 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: €600 – €1,670
- Price per square metre to buy in City Centre: €1,980 – €8,735
- Price per square metre to buy outside City: €1,300 – €4,523
Italian Housing Cost Comparison
This is how rent in Italy compare with other countries around the globe.
United Kingdom is 48.4% more expensive
United States is 132.81% more expensive
Australia is 73.45% more expensive
Canada is 69.01% more expensive
France is 23.50% more expensive
UAE is 70.56% more expensive
Spain is 4.98% more expensive
Dubai is 70.56% more expensive
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share an apartment or house. Sharing a house, apartment or even a room is a good way to save money. Have a look at sites such as iRoommates, RoomLaLa, Rentola and Find All Rentals.
- Different areas – different prices. Housing costs get cheaper as you head south. Milan is the most expensive city to live in but if you choose to live in the countryside, the cost can be between 30% and 70% cheaper, especially if you steer clear of tourist spots. If you prefer to live in a city, then head for Naples which is considered the cheapest large city to live in.
3. Italian Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
- Inexpensive Restaurant: €10 – €25
- Takeout Coffee: €1 – €2.50
- Bottle of Coke: €1.47 – €3
- 1L of milk: €0.79 – €1.69
- Loaf of Bread: €0.80 – €3
- 12 Eggs: €1.36 – €4.32
- 1kg Chicken: €4.50 – €12.19
- 1kg Beef: €8 – €22.05
- 1kg Apples: €1 – €3
- 1kg White Rice: €1 – €3
This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major countries in the world.
- UK restaurants are 50.14% more expensive and groceries are 8.31% cheaper than in Italy.
- United States restaurants are 19.96% more expensive and groceries are 40.72% more expensive than in Italy.
- Australian restaurants are 4.46% more expensive and groceries are 39.12% more expensive than in Italy.
- Canadian restaurants are 68.07% and groceries are 28.20% more expensive than in Italy.
- French restaurants are 8.15% more expensive and groceries are 23.24% more expensive than in Italy.
- German restaurants are 4.77% cheaper and groceries are 0.39% more expensive than in Italy.
- Spanish restaurants are 16.10% cheaper and groceries are 21.24% cheaper than in Italy.
- South African restaurants are 40.70% cheaper and groceries are 41.73% cheaper.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: Italy has a good selection of supermarkets, mini markets, markets, speciality food shops and health food shops to choose from when it comes to shopping for food. The three medium priced major supermarket chains in Italy are Conad, Selex and Coop. Lidl and Eurospin are the cheapest supermarkets but you can never sure what’s in stock. Spar supermarkets in Italy have a reputation for being expensive.
- Find Cheap Eats: If you are happy to eat early in the evening, there are always restaurants offering reduced priced meals, or two for one specials. Have a look at the following websites for inspiration on where to go for affordable meals: Traveller, Trip Advisor, Romewise, The Curious Appetite and Worldgoo.
4. Italian Alcohol Costs
Italians are social drinkers. There is nothing they like more than having a long lunch or dinner with family and friends, enjoying an aperitif before a meal, wine during the meal and another aperitif after the meal. Wine is usually the drink of choice with a meal, with the exception of pizza, where beer is often the chosen drink. Italian wines play an important role in the country’s culture, history and economy.
- Bottle of beer at a restaurant/pub: €3 – €5.50
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $3.00 – $6.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €0.89 – €2.27
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €0.89 – €2.27
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €1 – €3
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €3 – €10
How to drink for less in Italy
- Buying your alcohol at the supermarket saves money, this is especially true for wine, where you can often buy a good bottle for a couple of euros.
- There are many bars and restaurants that offer happy hours early in the evening. You can get some great tips on how to drink for less from these websites – Rough Guides, Four Square, Time Out and Insidr.
5. Italian Transportation Fares
On the whole public transportation in urban areas and between cities is pretty efficient in Italy. The country uses buses, trams, trains, and ferries. Having a car is not a must if you live in a city but it is essential in many parts of the country, particularly Sicily and Sardinia, as public transport is sparse.
Here are some example ticket costs.
- One-way ticket (Local transport) – €1.20 – €2
- Monthly Pass, (Regular Price) – €29.17 -€ 50
- Taxi start (normal tariff) – €3.20 – €10
- Taxi 1km (normal tariff) – €1 – €2
How to save money on public transport
- Buy monthly/yearly passes for the city that you live in. This is a particularly good way to save money if you use public transport on a daily basis. Etias Italy and Trip Savvy have some great information on how to get round Italy on a budget.
- Walk to your destination – the centre of Italian cities are very walkable, and you can often get from one end to the other in just thirty minutes. Cycling another option, although you have to be fearless in the larger cities such as Rome, as the Italians’ reputation for fast driving is deserved.
6. Cost of Internet in Italy
Internet and phone plans in Italy are generally very affordable. Here are some sample prices from October 2022 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract.
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
Italy sees a wide variety of temperatures and weather throughout the year. Temperatures regularly reach 45C in the south during the summer and drop to around -15C in the Alps during the winter months. The annual rainfall is around 945mm, with autumn being the wettest season. To counteract the rain, Italy enjoys over 2000 hours of sunshine per year.
Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or similar): €30 – €110
- Summer Dress: €16 – €50
- Running Shoes-Nike (Mid-range): €50 – €120
- Business Shoes: €60 – €185
- Short Doctor’s visit (15 mins): €95
- Deodorant: €4.20
- Shampoo: €5.74
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €3.22
- Gym membership: €20 – €75 per month
- Movie (cinema) ticket: €12 – €15
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Italy
Italians love to drive. Almost 80% of Italians use their car daily – they’re not just weekend drivers. A word of warning, ensure you drive at a good speed as nothing irritates Italians more than slow drivers. Italians generally drive exceptionally well and have no time for drivers who hesitate.
You can drive with a foreign licence for up to six months after arriving in Italy, and then you will need to acquire an Italian licence. Migrant Digest is an excellent source of information on the legal requirements of driving in Italy and owning a car.
Foreigners can buy a car in Italy, but you need to be a permanent resident and citizen. Expatrist gives you all the information you need once your have your residency and decide to buy a car.
Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Italy:
- Volkswagen Golf:€21,000 – €26,000
- 1 litre of Gasoline: €1.77 – €2.19
- Other fees (if any):The average cost of owning and running a car in is €2,263 per annum
Source: Numbeo
Ways to save money driving in Italy
- Car sharing is a good way to save money, you could do this through a company or even with some friends or co-workers if you live close to each other and have a similar destination. Auting is the first official car sharing company to arrive in Italy, hopefully more will follow soon.
- Avoid motorways if you can as the high tolls mount up very quickly.
9. Taxes in Italy
In Italy, you are subject to national and regional income tax. Tax rates are progressive and range from 23% to 43%. A major factor that determines your tax liability is your residency status; if you are a resident in the country, you are taxed on your worldwide income but if you’re not you are only taxed on your Italian income.
VAT in Italy is 22% and the price you see is the price you pay. International Living is an excellent website which gives you in depth information on all the various taxes payable when living in Italy.
10. Flight Costs from Italy
If you do decide to take that leap of faith and move to Italy, here’s how much it will approximately cost you to fly to some of the world’s biggest cities from Rome based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of late 2022:
- London: €37
- Paris: €40
- New York: €387
- Los Angeles: €564
- Dubai: €261
- Sydney: € 875
- Toronto: €664
- Cape Town: €640
- Hong Kong: €575
Other Italian Relocation Tips
The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Italy but information below may help your move go more smoothly.
11. Relocating to Italy Alone
Moving is never easy but it is an especially daunting task if you do it alone. Italy is a very welcoming country so even if you don’t know anybody living there, you will be just fine. Here are a few tips on settling in Italy.
- Meetups:Italy has a lot of Meetup groups that range from chess to dancing and they can be a great way to meet new people.
- Attend local events: Many of the local events throughout Italy are free to attend and they’re the perfect way to immerse yourself in the culture and make friends along the way. Have a look at the following sites to see which events would suit you best – Italy by Events, Frommers, Trip Advisor and 10 Times.
12. Moving to Italy with a Family
Italy is a family-friendly country with plenty of activities for children of all ages.
- New parents (or parents to be):Check out websites such as MOM, Internations and Baby Sensory. MumAbroad is an excellent website which covers all the major cities in Italy and provides a wealth of information.
- Live in a family friendly area:Every part of Italy welcomes families, but obviously urban areas are more suitable for schools and meeting other children. Many of the rural areas have an elderly population which means the facilities are geared to people of a certain age. Milan, Florence, Rome, the Alps, Tuscany, Florence and Emilia-Romagna are all cities/areas which are attracting expats.
- Find things to do with the kids: There’s a lot to keep children occupied in and around the various cities and in the rural areas and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Mama Loves Italy, Rossi Writes, Trip Advisor and Family Travel all give great suggestions on keeping the kiddies occupied and interested, and many of the activities are free.
13. Moving to Italy for Work
Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move. Job opportunities in Italy are many but the majority of successful applicants work in the hospitality and tourism industry, IT, marketing, engineering and factories.
Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary:Salaries in Italy vary a lot depending on where in the country you are living. The highest wages are found in the north and the lowest ones in the south and on the islands. There is no legal minimum wage in Italy.
Glassdoor and Salary Explorer give you an excellent breakdown of what salary to expect depending on your profession
- How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before moving to Italy but aren’t sure where to start, have a look at the following website: – Italian Pod 101, Internations, Indeed and Monster.
14. Moving to Italy from Australia
There are around 15,000 Aussies living in Italy with over two-thirds of them living in Rome. If you want to join them and experience Italy’s unique culture then you will probably find the following important elements to consider.
- Size comparison:Italy fits approximately 26 times into Australia but Australia’s population is not even half of Italy’
- Join expat groups:You can meet up with other Australians in Italy by looking through the following sites – Meetup and Internations
15. Moving to Italy from Canada
There are around 10,000 Canadians living in Italy, most of whom live in the north of the country. If you’re thinking about joining them, then here are a few things to consider.
- Size:Canada is 33 times the size of Italy but it has 24.6 million less people living there.
- Join expat groups:Getting to know some of your fellow Canadians can help ease you into the country as they already know the ropes. Sites such Internations and Meetup are good places to find groups of like souls.
16. Moving to Italy from the United Kingdom
It is estimated that there are around 30,000 Brits living in Italy and contrary to popular belief, they are not all retirees, a lot of them actually work there. If you are considering joining them, here are a couple of things to think about.
- Size: Italy is only around 50,000 square kilometres bigger than the UK and the two countries also have a similar size population.
- Expat groups:Meeting other expats is easy if you work for international company but for those of you who don’t, you can easily get together with others from the UK by looking at Internations or Meetup.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Italy you can start by comparing moving quotes here.
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