Cost of Living in Italy

Updated:

NovoExpat

If you've ever considered moving to Italy, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Italy?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Italy and whether the reported $1962 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $1394.88.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries

Italy

restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

14.33 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

57.3 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

7.64 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

4.78 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

3.82 $

Cappuccino (regular)

1.4 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

2.12 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

1.02 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.13 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.55 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.89 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

2.72 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

11.94 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

8.44 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

14.32 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.8 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.58 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.77 $

Tomato (1 lb)

2.27 $

Potato (1 lb)

1.22 $

Onion (1 lb)

1.26 $

Lettuce (1 head)

1.02 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.4 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

5.25 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.33 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.86 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

5.54 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1.43 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

33.43 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

4.78 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

1.22 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

25.79 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.99 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

22444.25 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

24094.96 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

165.5 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.16 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

27.07 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

44.08 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

18.27 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

8.6 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

431.37 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

9060.33 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

72.03 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

30.29 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

78.88 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

102.88 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

635.97 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

492.23 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

1235.68 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

875.35 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

3809.64 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

2091.3 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

1394.88 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

1.74 %

Cost of Living in Italy Overview

Welcome! Here’s a guide to understanding the typical costs of living in Italy, from dining out and groceries to housing and utilities. Use this overview to help plan your budget and make informed decisions about living expenses.

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 14.33 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 57.3 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.13 USD, a loaf of bread 1.55 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 2.72 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 1.43 USD and a monthly pass around 33.43 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 165.5 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 44.08 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 18.27 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 431.37 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 9060.33 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 72.03 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 78.88 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 635.97 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 492.23 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 3809.64 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 2091.3 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 1394.88 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 1.74% annually.

Italy

How Safe Is Italy for Travel?

Warnings & Dangers in Italy

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Italy is ranked 34th on the list of world's safest countries, and since it's filled with tourists all the time, you should feel safe traveling here.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Public transportation and taxis are normally safe in Italy, so there is no need to avoid them.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Since Italy is a very attractive and popular tourist destination, there is, naturally, a high risk of pickpocketing. You should keep your valuables in a safe place, make sure nothing of value is in your back pockets, and never keep all your money in the same place.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Some of the worst natural disasters that could strike Italy are avalanches, though it is somewhat improbable they will.White Friday is the name given to the day when one of the worst avalanches in Italian history happened, during World War I, killing 270 people.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Italy is relatively safe when it comes to mugging and kidnapping, and such cases rarely happen, even more so to tourists, but do pay attention to your surroundings.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

It is best to stay alert and aware of your surroundings in Italy, since its neighbors, France and Belgium, have been victims of terrorist attacks. However, Italy hasn't suffered from such occurrences.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

When a country is a top tourist destination, you should expect people trying to take advantage of it. This rule applies to Italy too, where scammers will likely try to take advantage of tourists and rip them off whenever they can, mostly in large, popular cities and landmark areas. Be on the lookout for anyone trying to distract you, help you with your luggage or groups of people acting strange.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Italy, like other popular European destinations, is very safe for women travelers.

Useful Information & Tips

credit_card

Visas

Visa is not required for any stays shorter than 90 days, and members of the EU (Schengen) can stay in Italy for as long as they like. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months from your planned date of return to the country you're visiting. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

Currency in Italy is the euro, like in most popular European destinations. Although it is cheaper than other European countries, sightseeing and visiting all the remarkable landmarks can add up to a high budget. Take into account that you'll need about 70€ per day, including accommodation.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

The weather in Italy is warm and dry; it is absolutely gorgeous in the summer, with a Mediterranean climate calling to tourists all June through September, which is the time when it is best to visit Italy, although you can visit the big cities all year long, and still be amazed.

flight_takeoff

Airports

The busiest airports are in Italy's capital Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport), Milan (Malpensa International Airport, Linate Airport, and Bergamo Orio Al Serio), Naples (Naples International Airport), Bologna (Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport), Pisa (Pisa International Airport) and Venice (Venice Marco Polo Airport).

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Italy, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Italy with other countries

Cost of living in countries