Italy is a country with a high quality of life and a rich culture. Friendly population, developed transport infrastructure and high level of health care attract more and more expats here. Is it expensive to live in Italy? Find out the prices of accommodation, food, entertainment and more in Italy in 2024

Italy's economy is one of the three strongest economies in Europe, and expats make up 9% of the country's population. The Italian labor market attracts foreigners from different parts of the world - Uganda, Dominican Republic, Philippines, USA, Canada, Germany, etc. Some choose for themselves the restrained way of life of small villages, others - the cultural opportunities and mobility of large cities. Regardless of your taste, the cost of living in Italy is not as high as many expect. Tourists often have the impression that Italy is expensive. Of course, a cup of coffee in a tourist center will cost you a fortune, but outside of the tourist spots, you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a comfortable stay.

Read on to find out what the average cost of living in Italy is in 2024.

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The procedure for employment in Italy for expats in 2024 in this article.

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Is it expensive to live in Italy?

The average monthly budget for a married couple in Italy is €1,700. The cost of living in Milan, Rome, Bologna, Florence, Verona and other large and touristic cities is higher. If you plan to move to one of these cities, we advise you to add about 400€ to your budget. The cheapest places to live in Italy are small towns in the south of the country.

The cost of housing in Italy

As in any other country in the world, renting housing will be a significant expense for expats. Real estate prices in Italy will depend on where you live: in big cities, the cost is much higher. By choosing a small village, you will significantly save on real estate, which will become your main expense item. But this does not mean that you will have to sacrifice the quality of life, because even in provincial cities there are cultural events, historical monuments and you can feel the real Italian flavor of life.

Properties in big cities such as Rome, Milan or Bologna are the most expensive to rent, while in Turin, Naples and cities in the southern regions you can find more budget places.

For an average furnished apartment of 85 square meters in the city, you will pay around 1,900 euros per month in a posh area and 1,200 euros outside the center. Be prepared to pay 950 euros for a studio apartment in Rome, 1,200 euros in Milan, and 720 euros in Turin.

Features of renting housing in Italy

Renting an apartment in Italy is a rather complicated bureaucratic procedure. Most government agencies ask for a minimum two-year contract. You will also have to pay about 70€ for signing the lease agreement.

If you are planning to rent a new home, keep in mind that most of these apartments in Italy are completely unfurnished. Sometimes there may even be missing faucets and shower heads. In this case, you will have to invest a lot of money in the purchase of furniture and basic infrastructure.

Prices for utility services in Italy

In addition to rent, it is worth adding utility bills for water, electricity, gas and the like to the cost of housing. Gas and especially electricity are quite expensive here, but water costs less than in many other European countries.

A family of two living in an 85 square meter apartment should expect to pay around €200 a month for utilities, while a single person living in a studio should expect to pay around €130 a month.

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We talked about the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Italy in 2024, as well as the available visa categories in this article.

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Food prices in Italy

The food in Italy is of very high quality, you can easily eat well and you don't have to spend a lot of money on it.

There are thousands of chain stores in Italy, the largest of which are Conad (over 3,000 stores), Crai and Coop (around 2,000 stores each). Among the large international budget chains are Lidl, Carrefour, and Aldi. If you are on a tight budget, there are discount chains such as DPiù, Tuodi or MD that will help you control the cost of living in Italy.

Also, the majority of the population buys products at local markets, here they are of higher quality, but may cost a little more than in a supermarket.

The average budget of a couple who plans to cook at home is up to €300 per month.

Prices in supermarkets in Italy: milk (1 l) - €1.5, water (1.5 l) - €0.5, wine (bottle) - €5, white bread (0.5 kg) - €2, eggs (12 pcs) – 3.5€, cheese (1 kg) – 13.5€.

The cost of eating out in Italy

Lunch for one person in an average price category restaurant costs about €15-20, and for a three-course dinner for two, be prepared to pay from €45 to €100. A glass of beer costs around €5, while imported beer is cheaper than local beer.

The famous Italian cappuccino costs from 1.5 to 2€.

The cost of travel in Italian transport

Italy's excellent public transport system is gaining popularity, especially due to rising fuel prices, which are driving up the average cost of living in Italy.

In cities, one trip on public transport costs 1-2€, depending on the city, and a day pass costs about 7-8€. Monthly pass – 50€.

A starting taxi ride is between €3 and €6, and the total fare depends on the distance and/or time, with an average price per 1 km of €1.50.

The price of renting a car will vary depending on the region and season. However, expect to pay around €30 per day for an economy class car.

To live in a small town in Italy, it will be enough to buy a bicycle. It can be found for around €80, but if you buy from street markets, make sure they are not stolen bikes.

Gasoline, insurance and maintenance of one car - 250€ per month. The price of 1 liter of fuel ranges from €1.7 to €1.9. The cost of parking on city streets averages €1.5 per hour. And only the period from 8 am to 8 pm is subject to payment. Parking is free at night.

Health care prices in Italy

Public health care in Italy is separate from the social security system and financed by taxes. All residents can access the SSN after registration and have free access to basic health services such as visits to the general practitioner and some specialists, emergency and inpatient treatment, vaccinations, etc.

Private healthcare is also popular in Italy. Without insurance cover, you can expect to pay around €50-120 for a GP consultation

Many expats in Italy choose private insurance to include additional medical services in private clinics.

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You will need health insurance to safely move and find employment in a new country. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

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Childcare prices in Italy

Children between the ages of 3 months and 3 years can attend municipal and private kindergartens, the cost of which depends on the location, age of the child, types of services provided, etc. Municipal centers are cheaper, but difficult to get into due to high demand.

Children between the ages of 3 and 6 usually attend kindergartens. Public kindergartens are free, but private kindergartens cost 100-500 euros per month.

Secondary education also includes public and private schools. The former offer free education and are open to children of any nationality legally resident in Italy. At the same time, private school fees can exceed €20,000 per year plus various administrative fees.

There is no free higher education in Italy. Italian students have to pay between 900 and 20,000 euros per year for their studies in both public and private institutions. Fees for international students are higher.

Additional costs in Italy

In addition to basic expenses, you should also consider additional ones, for example, expect to spend from 50 to 100€ per month on entertainment, depending on your hobbies and interests: a subscription to a fitness club in Italy costs approximately 40€ per month for one adult, renting a tennis court - 11€ per hour, two tickets to the cinema will cost 16€, and to the theater - 52€.

Personal services such as a haircut or massage can cost between €30 and €100.

The cost of living in Italy varies significantly depending on the region of residence and family size. However, Italy is still much cheaper than most countries in Western Europe.

We will remind you! Argentina is not only a fantastic country to visit, but also a great place to live. It offers expats a unique combination of European and Latin American values, diverse landscapes and rich culture. Argentina also stands out for its affordable prices. We previously talked about the cost of living in Argentina in 2024.

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Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

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