The cost of living in Italy

With top-notch cuisine, world-famous art and architecture, and a stunning coastline, there are many reasons to fall in love with Italy. But before you make the big move abroad, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with local living costs.

From groceries and healthcare to housing and utilities, here’s what you need to know:

What is the state of Italy’s economy?

Italy is the third-largest economy in the European Union (EU), trailing behind only Germany and France. Its gross domestic product (GDP) is €2.09 billion, which works out to €35,300 per capita (2023).

Despite this incredible feat, the Italian economy is experiencing stunted growth. The European Commission (EC) predicts the GDP will grow by 0.9% in 2024 and 1.1% in 2025. Having said that, this is above the EU average of 1.0% in 2024 and 1.6% in 2025.

Italy’s status as the third-richest country in the EU seems a bit paradoxical. The equivalised disposable income (i.e., the total net income of all household members divided by the weighted number of household members) is €19,819 per person. This is slightly below the EU average of €20,350 per person (2023).

More importantly, 19.2% of Italians are at risk of poverty, and 8.4% of people can’t afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every second day (2023). These percentages are comparable to Croatia and Czechia, where 18.8% and 21.7% of the population (respectively) are at risk of poverty.

Italy’s National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nazionale di Statistica – Istat) paints an even grimmer picture, reporting that 18.9% are at risk of poverty and 22.8% may experience social exclusion. You can read more about average salaries and incomes in our article on minimum wage in Italy.

In terms of purchasing power, the average headline inflation for 2024 is projected to be 1.6%, well below the European Union’s average of 2.7%. This figure is likely to decline to 1.9% in 2025, again below the EU average of 2.2%.

The cost of living in Italy in 2024

According to Istat, the average household expenses in Italy in 2023 accumulated to around €32,736 per year (or €2,728 per month (in Italian)). This cost of living is the highest it’s been in at least a decade.

The average cost of living spending per region in Italy was:

	Annually	Monthly
North (Nord)	€35,580	€2,965
Center (Centro)	€35,436	€2,953
South (Mezzogiorno)	€26,808	€2,234

Breaking down the costs:

Alcohol and tobacco	€44	Transportation	€289
Food and drink	€525	Culture, sports, and recreation	€101
Housing and utilities	€982	Restaurants and hotels	€155
Healthcare	€117	Education	€16
Internet and telecom	€74	Other	€323
Clothing and footwear	€102
Total			€2,728

Considering the 2024 inflation rate of 1.6%, it’s recommended that your monthly budget have at least €2,772 per household.

If you are looking for ways to manage your money in Italy effectively, the following banks and financial services can help you out:

• Atlantic Money – an international money transfer service
• Hype – an app for online accounts and money management
• N26 – a global online bank
• Tinaba IT – an app for online accounts and money management
• XE Money Transfer – a global currency converter and money transfer platform

Keep reading for an overview of the cost of living expenses you might come across in your daily life.

The price of groceries

Beer, wine, and liquor

To state the obvious, Italy offers some great alcoholic beverage choices. You can get anything from Birra Peroni to Black Rooster Chianti (with liver with some fava beans) and everything in between. In 2023, the country was the second-largest wine exporter in the EU after France. Italian drinkers consume around 6.6 liters of pure alcohol per year (2020), with most people preferring wine.

In 2023, households spent an average of €44 per month on alcohol and tobacco products. More specifically, €47 in the North, €48 in the Center, and €39 in the South.

A local beer in a bar or restaurant costs between €3.00–4.50, which goes up to €5–8 for craft brews. A bottle of wine, on the other hand, will set you back around €5.00–8.00.

Alcohol is – naturally – cheaper in supermarkets. You can expect to find a domestic beer for as little as €0.59–1.33, depending on the make and size. A decent wine will set you back €3–15 per bottle. The price of most liquor (e.g., limoncello, grappa, or vodka) starts from €5.20, depending on your drink of choice.

Food and drink

Groceries are the second-largest expense after housing costs. In 2023, Italians spent an average of €525 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks (North: €510, Center: €527, South: €547).

The average price ranges* of basic supermarket items include:

Product	Price range	Product	Price range
Apples (1 kilo)	€1.40–3.99	Potatoes (1 kilo)	€1.78–3.48
Bread (1 loaf)	€1.45–3.65	Regular milk (1 liter)	€0.95–2.18
Cheese (1 kilo)	€3.10–44.80	Rice (1 kilo)	€1.89–6.48
Coffee (1 kilo)	€7.50–31.60	Tea (per bag)	€0.03–0.22
Eggs (12)	€2.98–6.78	Tomatoes (1 kilo)	€1.98–4.75
Orange juice (1 liter)	€1.39–5.98	Water (1 liter)	€0.11–1.46

Hygienic and household products

Hygienic and household products include everything from toothpaste and shampoo to dish soap (or washing-up liquid) and toilet bleach. The average price ranges* of these necessities include:

Product	Price range	Product	Price range
All-purpose cleaner (1 liter)	€1.85–5.65	Shampoo (1 liter)	€1.25–27.96
Deodorant (150 ml)	€1.89–12.87	Soap (1 bar)	€2.35–3.79
Dish soap (1 liter)	€0.99–4.77	Tampons (per tampon)	€0.18–0.24
Garbage bags (per bag)	€0.08–0.50	Toilet paper (per roll)	€0.40–0.59
Laundry detergent (1 liter)	€1.23–24.30	Toothpaste (75 ml)	€1.19–6.49

Housing costs

In 2023, the average housing costs were roughly €982 per household (North: €1,076, Center: €1,107, South: €763). This included rent and mortgage payments, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and renovation costs.

Rent and property prices

Property prices differ tremendously throughout Italy. Houses in Florence (Firenze), Milan (Milano), Rome (Roma), and other popular cities are comparatively more expensive than rural areas and less well-known cities.

As of July 2024, the average rent for a home in Italy is €14.20 per square meter. With the average home being 81 square meters, that would mean a monthly rent of roughly €1,150. Potential homeowners will pay an average of €1,863 per square meter.

Depending on the location, you’ll pay the following average housing prices:

	Average monthly rent*	Average rent per square meter	Average property price per square meter
Bologna	€1,418	€17.50	€3,460
Naples (Napoli)	€1,231	€15.20	€2,869
Rome	€1,312	€16.20	€3,040
Torino	€940	€11.60	€1,876
Verona	€1,013	€12.50	€2,408

The most expensive places are Alassio, Forte dei Marmi, Milan, and Pietrasanta. However, if you’re looking to live in Italy on a budget, the cheapest cities to move to are (as of July 2024):

To rent:	Average rent per square meter	Average monthly rent*	To buy:	Average property price per square meter
Caltanissetta	€381	€4.70	Caltanissetta	€712
Reggio Calabria	€437	€5.40	Ragusa	€731
Cosenza	€462	€5.70	Biella	€755
Taranto	€510	€6.30	Reggio Calabria	€838
Ragusa	€510	€6.30	Agrigento	€866
Trapani	€510	€6.30	Trapani	€867

Learn more about the real estate market and property prices by reading our articles on buying property and renting in Italy. Our country article on where to live highlights popular residential areas for expats.

Utility bills: water, gas, electricity

Italy has one of the highest utility costs in the EU. Depending on your use and property price, you can expect to pay around €225–300 per month on utilities in 2024.

Of course, the price of water, gas, and electricity differs per region (and especially climate). For example, annual water bills in 2022 were as little as €181 in Molise and as high as €770 in Tuscany. Similarly, Italy is divided into six payment zones for gas use. As such, residents in Palermo spend less than one-third on gas than households in Milan.

According to the Italian consumer group Cittadinanzattiva (Rapporto Acqua, 2024), the average price of water in Italy is €2.62/cubic meter (North: €2.35/m3, Center: €3.57/m3, South: €2.38).

The EC reports that, during the second half of 2023, Italian households paid €0.1151 kilowatt/hour for gas (EU average: €0.0891) and €0.2565 kilowatt/hour (EU average: €0.2226) for electricity.

You can find out more about payment zones and providers in our article on utilities in Italy.

Healthcare

Everyone living and working in Italy must register for healthcare. The country’s public system has (almost) universal medical coverage, though some payments are required for medication and certain procedures.

Many local and expat residents choose to take out supplemental private health insurance. This provides them with shorter waiting times and a wider choice of doctors and specialists, plus extra coverage for other healthcare, such as dentistry or vision care.

Basic insurance packages start at €50 a month. The more comprehensive the plan, the higher the premium will be. Older adults and those with pre-existing conditions may also pay more with private insurance.

In 2023, households spent a monthly average of €117 on healthcare (North: €122, Center: €135, South: €99). Some top health insurance companies that cater to expats include:

• Allianz Care
• APRIL International
• Cigna Global

Internet and telecom

While relatively inexpensive, the cost of internet and other telecommunication services in Italy varies per location and the type of connection or service. You can often get a discount when you get a telecom package that includes TV, internet, and home phone.

You can install fiber broadband for as low as €21.99 a month (excluding installation), though your internet speed might not be great. Of course, the price rises if you want to increase the speed or add (more) TV channels.

Mobile phone data plans are also cheap. For example, Ho.Mobile offers 5G plans from as little as €5.99. In 2023, average monthly communication costs in Italy amounted to around €74 per household (North: €79, Center: €81, South: €60).

Clothing and footwear

The price of clothes and shoes in Italy is in line with other EU countries. In 2023, Italians spent €102 (North: €99, Center: €106, South: €103) per month on their wardrobe.

The cost of clothing and footwear varies greatly, depending on the type and brand. For example, underwear costs around €3–10. Dresses and jeans, on the other hand, cost between €30–120. Business shoes for men and women range from €40–175.

Designer clothing can sell for hundreds or even thousands of euros. However, many luxury brands do tend to be cheaper in Italy than elsewhere in the world because the clothing is often designed and made there.

Transportation

In 2023, the average cost of transportation was €289 per month (North: €333, Center: €306, South: €213).

Public transport

Italy has a decent public transportation network of bicycles, buses, metros, and trains at affordable prices. These are run locally, so fares and availability differ on where you are. For example, public bicycle services are currently only available in cities such as:

• Como – subscription-based; first half hour is free, after that €0.50 per 30 minutes
• Milan – subscription-based; first half hour is free, €0.50 per 30 minutes for the first two hours, €2 for each hour after that
• Pisa – subscription-based; first half hour is free, €0.90 for the second, €1.50 for the third, €2 for the fourth half-hour
• Trento – subscription-based; first half hour is free, after that €1 per hour
• Trieste – subscription-based; cost depends on the plan

Bus and metro fares also vary by city. According to Numbeo’s cost of living in Italy, a single fare costs €1.70 in Florence, €2.20 in Milan, and €1.50 in Rome.

If you are planning to commute to work, it’s recommended you get a monthly or yearly plan to travel at a discounted cost.

Driving and vehicle costs

Compared to public transport, having your own car in Italy is relatively expensive. According to the 2022 Car Cost Index, the average annual cost for car owners is around €1,062.

Beyond the initial costs of lessons, a driving license, and the actual purchase of the vehicle, you’ll need to budget for:

• Car insurance – the mandatory Third Party Liability insurance costs €380–650 a year
• Annual Road Tax – the amount depends on the region, as well as the power of the vehicle (kW/t) and the environmental class
• Fuel costs – as of August 2024, gasoline costs €1.83 per liter, and diesel costs €1.71 per liter
• Maintenance – vehicle inspection every two years costs between €45 and €80

Our article on driving in Italy covers more about costs, mandatory insurance, and driving regulations.

Leisure activities

In 2023, the average person spent €101 per month on culture, sports, and recreation (North: €123, Center: €118, South: €59). Italians also spent €155 per month on hotels and restaurants (North: €199, Center: €162, South: €84).

Movie theaters and cinemas

A standard weekday movie ticket in Italy costs around €5–8, which is much cheaper than, for example, the Netherlands and France. On Friday evenings and during the weekend, ticket prices go up to €9–11.

Restaurants

Depending on your taste and date night, dining out can be relatively cheap. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around €15–20. On the other hand, a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant can set you back €60–80.

Of course, these estimates will vary on your location. Restaurants are more expensive in heavily touristed areas, especially when you don’t speak Italian.

Sports

If you are planning to join a gym, you can expect to pay about €30–80 a month, depending on your location and membership. For example, Milan is more expensive than other cities.

It’s worth noting that you’ll typically need a medical certificate before you can sign up for a gym plan.

Education and childcare

On average, people will roughly spend €16 per month on education (North: €20, Center: €17, South: €9). This cost of living expense does not include childcare in Italy.

Childcare

Mandatory education for children starts at age six, so working parents with young children may need to arrange childcare from time to time. In Italy, options include nurseries, preschools or kindergartens, and independent childminders.

Babies and toddlers (ages 0–3) can attend public nurseries, which usually charge according to the family’s income. From the ages 3–5, children can go to public preschools, which also charge a fee depending on your income. There are no free after-school childcare options available for older children.

Because public nurseries and preschools operate primarily in Italian, many expat residents choose to hire a nanny or au pair instead. A nanny in Italy will charge around €12 an hour, while an au pair will cost about €250–300 a month. Note that for this option, you also need to provide food and lodging.

Children’s education

Public schools in Italy are funded by resident taxpayers. There are no tuition fees, and parents only need to pay for books and materials. Lessons are held in Italian, and some parents prefer to send their children to a bilingual or private school. These obviously have tuition fees that vary widely depending on the school’s curriculum, location, and reputation.

For example, the cost of an international primary school ranges from €5,000–10,000 per year. This can go up to €25,000/year for high school students. Parents will also need to take into account the costs of transport, uniforms, extracurricular activities, and materials.

Discover more about global school curriculums and fees in our article on international schools in Italy.

University tuition fees

Although not completely free, Italy has one of the lowest college tuition rates in the world. The average cost of a degree from a public university ranges from €500–3,000 per year. Tuition fees at private universities are substantially higher and can reach up to €25,000 per year.

Read our article on studying in Italy to find out more about degree programs and costs.

How does Italy compare to the rest of the world?

Italy scores rather poorly on the OECD Better Life Index, which measures standards of living. The country outperforms the average in health, work-life balance, and civic engagement. However, it ranks low on income, employment, education, environmental quality, social connections, and life satisfaction.

The Human Development Index, on the other hand, ranks Italy as the 30^th best in the world.

The highest Italian city on the 2023 Mercer’s quality of living index is Milan (44^th), which is below Amsterdam (14^th) and Paris (32^nd), but above London (45^th) and Rome (60^th).

The cost of living in Rome

The cost of living in Rome is cheaper than many other capital cities. The metropolis ranks 60^th on the 2023 Mercer’s cost of living index, meaning it is considerably cheaper to live in than Dublin (Ireland), Stockholm (Sweden), and Vienna (Austria).

Compared to other capital cities, Rome’s cost of living is (as of August 2024):

• 57.5% cheaper than New York (the US)
• 44.3% cheaper than London (the UK)
• 31.9% cheaper than Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
• 40.8% more expensive than Tirana (Albania)
• 51.6% more expensive than Bucharest (Romania)
• 89.7% more expensive than Rabat (Morocco)
• 163.0% more expensive than Delhi (India)

The cost of living in Milan

As Italy’s fashion capital, it’s not surprising that life in Milan is more expensive than in Rome. The 2023 Mercer’s cost of living index ranks 48^th, a good 12 places above Italy’s capital city.

Compared to other cities around the world, the cost of living in Milan is (as of August 2024):

• 46.8% cheaper than New York (the US)
• 30.3% cheaper than London (the UK)
• 14.8% cheaper than Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
• 76.3% more expensive than Tirana (Albania)
• 89.7% more expensive than Bucharest (Romania)
• 137.4% more expensive than Rabat (Morocco)
• 229.0% more expensive than Delhi (India)

The cost of living in Florence

Filled to the brim with both art and architectural masterpieces, Florance is often considered one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. It’s home to Michelangelo’s David and the Uffizi Gallery, and is a popular destination among tourists and internationals moving to Italy.

The cost of living in Florence is typically higher than in Rome or Naples (as of August 2024), as well as:

• 55.6% cheaper than New York (the US)
• 41.9% cheaper than London (the UK)
• 28.9% cheaper than Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
• 47.1% more expensive than Tirana (Albania)
• 58.3% more expensive than Bucharest (Romania)
• 98.1% more expensive than Rabat (Morocco)
• 174.6% more expensive than Delhi (India)

Financial aid for the cost of living in Italy

Italian residents are entitled to financial aid and social security benefits, depending on their living situation. For example, certain low-income households can apply for Citizenship Guaranteed Minimum Income (Reddito di Cittadinanza), which is up to €780 per month. You must have lived in Italy for at least 10 years to qualify.

Other benefits that can help you with the cost of living in Italy:

• Benefits in case of accidents at work or occupational diseases – available to people who are at risk of accidents in the workplace or occupational diseases
• Civil incapacity and long-term care benefits – for workers suffering from chronic physical and/or are living with a mental incapacity
• Incapacity and disability benefits – for people who are unable to work (permanently or at the same rate as before)
• Family benefits – to help with the cost of raising a child
• Social Allowance – available to people over 67
• Unemployment benefits – for workers who are in between jobs

If you are unable to pay for food and groceries, you can contact the municipality’s social services. Their workers will assess your situation and may register you with the local food bank (Banco Alimentare).

Useful resources

• The Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) – official government website of the agency responsible for consumer protection and combating unfair commercial practices
• The Italian Food Bank Network (Rete Banco Alimentare) – website with information on food banks in Italy