Living the GOOD LIFE for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!
THE COST OF
LIVING IN ITALY !
It is not surprising to note that living in Northern Italy can be quite expensive, while in Sicily and Puglia, on the Adriatic Coast, it is inexpensive. It’s called supply and demand!
Luxuries are expensive. Like fast cars. Fashionable clothing. Cigarettes. What’s inexpensive? Wine! That kind of sets the parameters, doesn’t it!
Food, when purchased in a grocery store, is expensive. When shopped for at a weekly freshmarket, it’s incredibly inexpensive.
Gasoline for your car is expensive. So is your car. Plus there is the tax the government charges when you purchase these items. It is considered the highest in Europe.
It’s wise to know what to shop for, and where. Clothing is best purchased in the U.S. So are cameras and computer equipment, cosmetics, and any electrical appliance that can run on a transformer.
Rental property in Italy is generally furnished. And the longer your term of rent, the more the apartment will contain as far as utility items.
The following is a rough estimate of living expenses for two in Italy – not Northern Italy, but the South, and for Sicily:
Rent: $1,000US
Food: $500US
Utilities: (including electricity, gas, water, telephone, satellite TV and heat): $120US
Transportation: (includes what it costs to operate a family car, plus insurance, annual taxes, gas, and maintenance. $150US
Health Insurance: $150US
Social Life: $300US
While owning a car is suggested if you live outside a major city, don’t use it to drive into those cities. Take public transportation and your wallet will thank you, as will your sanity!
Since electricity is expensive, do not expect a dishwasher or a clothes dryer. These are found in the more upscale apartments and homes, however. The same holds true for air conditioning. Most Italian homes are not wired property to accommodate the huge wattage that air conditioning demands.
If you are moving to Italy from the U.S., Canada and even Britain, your thinking about the comforts of life will have to change. You will get to know a clothes pin as you hang your wash out in the sun to dry. You will learn to wash your dishes and then dry them. Bathrooms, showers, baths and personal hygiene, while excellent in Italy, are all done differently in Italian homes. Many times the bathing area is separate from the toilet. All of these changes in how you live your daily life must be taken into account before you consider a move. After all, when in Rome….