Italy

Living in Italy: the short version

Italy offers extraordinary culture, food and scenery, with living costs in the south and in small towns well below the EU’s big capitals. Salaries are modest and bureaucracy is slow, so it suits people bringing their own income more than local job seekers.

Best for: Retirees, remote workers and people with passive income who value lifestyle over salary.

How to move to Italy: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Digital nomad / remote worker visa

For highly qualified remote workers with income above a set threshold.

Elective residence visa

For people with substantial passive income who will not work in Italy.

EU Blue Card and work visas

Employer-sponsored routes; many work visas are subject to annual quotas.

Healthcare for newcomers

Residents can register with the national health service (SSN); some visa holders pay an annual voluntary contribution or need private cover.

How Italy compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

22nd most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$1,355/mo

Family of four, core costs

$2,639/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$38,417/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 24% of the average local salary in Italy, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $1,355, or 46% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $38,417 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 36%), the 51st highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $22,157 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Cyprus, South Korea, Malta.
• Cheaper options in Europe: Spain, Greece, Czech Republic.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.