The cost of living in Italy in 2024

The cost of living in Italy might surprise you. Pleasantly! Living here, whether for work, retirement or just long holidays, is about the quality of life, sunshine, culture, great food and great people. And if you can get some of that a little cheaper, that’s just a bonus. So how does the Italian cost of living compare to the UK?

Towards the end of each year, we conduct the Cost of Living Overseas Index across 13 countries. It compares the prices of a basic supermarket shop and other everyday living costs, especially geared to expatriates. You might think that la dolce vita comes at a steep price, but, as our findings show, living in Italy is almost 27% cheaper than back in the UK – and that’s even before you account for the property prices!

Groceries

Italy ranked 4th most affordable in our supermarket research. This included everyday staples like bread and milk as well as occasional indulgences like dark chocolate and gin.

Highlights:

Milk was the most expensive in Italy, although bbar in mind that supermarkets stock more UHT milk than fresh, as it keeps longer in our sunny climate (65c a carton)
A bottle of Gordon’s gin (or equivalent) is just £12.89 in Italy (vs. £25* in the UK!) due to the lower alcohol tax
English breakfast tea bags can be hard to find in large packaging, instead you’ll have to buy more of the smaller boxes
Pork is the cheapest meat in Italy
Fresh produce in Italy is relatively cheap, when in season

We asked our writer, Julia, who lives in Puglia for her insight on supermarket shopping in Italy…

“In general Italians don’t buy large bottles of fresh milk, they get the long-life cartons instead. However, when it comes to bread, they are more likely to buy fresh rolls from the bakers, rather than a prepacked sliced sandwich loaf.

Olive oil is used more than butter, especially in areas where many people have their olive trees. However, when it comes to fruit and vegetables most people try and buy fresh and locally grown.”

Living in Italy is almost 27% cheaper than back in the UK

You will find that a full basket of grocery shopping will cost you less in Italy than for the same items in the UK.

Travel

A train from above, in Italy

The travel category looked at three things, the prices for:

– 50 litres of unleaded petrol
– Car hire (small car, 1 week, mon-fri, no insurance or extras)
– Return train fare (1-hour journey, off-peak, adult, booked on the day)

Italy ranked #1 for affordable travel, coming in at just £109.91 for the above, cheaper than Greece (£112.40) and Spain (£141.31).

What do expats think?

“Public transport is well-priced in Italy” said Julia, “The most popular train routes are those connecting northern towns and down to Rome and Naples. Some of these are served by modern high-speed trains. Ticket prices depend on the speed of service, but a one-hour journey on a normal train usually costs under €10, and there are often special promotions.”

Home

A freshly-painted wall in Italy

The goods researched in this category included the price of a domestic cleaner for 2 hours, a 2.5-litre pot of paint, an Ikea bookcase, and (new for 2024) a Ninja air fryer among other items.

Italy ranked 2nd for this category, coming in at £829* compared to £1,146 in the UK and £978 in the US.

Highlights:

In Italy, an air fryer costs a whopping £70 less than in the UK
The average monthly phone contract is just £21 in Italy
Electricity prices in Italy are mid-range

Leisure

British citizens will have their rights protected in Italy following Brexit. Gladiator home for sale in Italy.

Gorgeous café in Lucca

Not only does Italy have the sunny, warm weather to enjoy life, but it’s also generally cheaper to do so! From your morning cappuccino in a local café to a three-course meal, you can expect to pay a good bit less than in the UK.

This category included a coffee in your local independent café, a McDonald’s Big Mac, a half pint of beer, a cinema ticket, a paperback book and more.

Taking slot #2, Italy ranked the second-most affordable country for leisure.

Highlights:

A cappuccino is typically 3.5x cheaper in Italy than in the USA!
A three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant costs £29* (on average)
A paperback book is typically 50% cheaper in Italy than in Cyprus

Top tip from Julia:

For a good-value meal in a restaurant, you can’t beat a pizzeria.

“A Margherita pizza costs on average €7. A three-course meal in a restaurant costs around €25, but prices vary a lot depending on location. Always ask to see a price menu, and enquire if there is a seating charge.”

Healthcare

Italian healthcare is considered among the best in the world.

The healthcare category included the price of a basic check-up at the dentist, a 30-pack of nappies, a 16-pack of paracetamol and a regular box of 18-20 tampons (branded).

Italy ranked 13th for healthcare, coming in as the most expensive out of the 13 countries in the index.

This was largely down to the price of a dentist check-up, which cost £43* compared with just £17 in Germany and £26 in the UK.

Expat insight:

“Basic over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol are fairly expensive. However, more urgent medication can work out cheaper than a UK prescription charge. If you run out while visiting Italy, speak to the pharmacist before seeking a doctor, they can be very helpful.

While the price of a dental check-up can be expensive, they are usually very thorough and often they waver the check-up charge if it leads to other treatment. If repeat visits are needed for treatment, you can usually arrange to pay in instalments.”

For more information on healthcare in Italy or to be connected with an expert in health insurance, email us at [email protected] and cite the ‘Cost of Living.’

Other

A hotel room in Matera, within a cave, and part of an Albergo Diffuso

For this category, we looked at a few things you might splurge on now and again, such as a pair of jeans at a high-street store, a night in a mid-range city hotel, and a men’s haircut.

Italy proved to be fairly priced for these miscellaneous items, coming 8th out of 13^,ranked most affordable to least.

Highlights:

The average male haircut in Italy is largely similar to that in Cyprus, the USA and Ireland
You can find clothes to suit every budget in Italy

“A trip to the city need not be expensive either. By train or coach, you could go for the day, to save money. You won’t find a Premier Inn, but it is possible to find a good 3-star hotel in Rome (Midweek in December) for as little as €66 a night.”

*rounded to the nearest pound

For more information, head to our Cost of Living Overseas homepage

Out of the 13 countries surveyed, Italy frequently proved cheaper than other countries in the categories researched.