How Much Does Comfortable Living in Italy Really Cost?

Name: A Comfortable Monthly Budget in Italy (What It Really Costs)
Uploaded: 2026-01-23T14:39:42.808309+00:00
Channel: A New Life in Italy
Description: Summary and key takeaways on How Much Does Comfortable Living in Italy Really Cost?, covering Introduction Living in Italy doesn’t have to mean paying

A New Life in Italy

Jan 23, 2026

•

2 min read

YouTube video ID: PPTwKOeL4RE

Source: YouTube video by A New Life in Italy — Watch original video

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Introduction

Living in Italy doesn’t have to mean paying Tuscan‑level prices, but a mis‑calculated budget can silently drain your savings. This article breaks down the real‑world expenses of a comfortable, not luxurious, lifestyle outside the major tourist hubs.

What "Comfortable" Means

Decent rental (not a palace, but a proper apartment)
Heating in winter and air‑conditioning in summer
Eating well, occasional dining out
No daily anxiety over the bank balance

Housing

Small town (non‑touristy): €500‑€700 per month for a comfortable rental
Mid‑size town: €700‑€900 per month
Owning a property reduces monthly rent but adds maintenance costs.

Utilities & Bills

Electricity & gas: €120‑€200 (higher in winter)
Water & trash: €30‑€60
Internet & phone: €30‑€40
Note: Italy’s energy is efficient but not cheap.

Food

Groceries (per person): €250‑€350 – cooking like locals keeps costs low.
Eating out (≈ once a week): €100‑€150 per month.
Daily restaurant meals quickly push the budget beyond comfort.

Healthcare

Public system: affordable and accessible.
Private doctor visit: €50‑€100.
Optional private health insurance: €50‑€150 per month, offering extra peace of mind.

Transportation

Car (necessary outside big cities): fuel, insurance, maintenance €150‑€250.
Public transport (if available): €30‑€50.
Miscellaneous daily expenses: up to €150.

Total Monthly Budget

Household	Monthly Cost
Single person (outside major cities)	€1,900‑€2,300
Couple (outside major cities)	€2,600‑€3,200
These figures represent a realistic, comfortable lifestyle—not a luxury one.

Financing the Lifestyle

Most expatriates and retirees combine savings, pensions, remote‑work income, or other online earnings.
Relying solely on an Italian salary is uncommon; diversified income streams make the budget feasible.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the true cost of living helps you decide whether Italy is a realistic option for you. Comfort is personal—define what it means for you and match it with a honest budget.

A comfortable life in Italy outside the big cities costs roughly €1,900‑€2,300 per month for a single person and €2,600‑€3,200 for a couple, meaning the country can be affordable if you combine savings, pensions, or remote income and keep expectations realistic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is A New Life in Italy on YouTube?

A New Life in Italy is a YouTube channel that publishes videos on a range of topics. Browse more summaries from this channel below.

Does this page include the full transcript of the video?

Yes, the full transcript for this video is available on this page. Click 'Show transcript' in the sidebar to read it.

What "Comfortable" Means

* Decent rental (not a palace, but a proper apartment) * Heating in winter and air‑conditioning in summer * Eating well, occasional dining out * No daily anxiety over the bank balance

Helpful resources related to this video

If you want to practice or explore the concepts discussed in the video, these commonly used tools may help.

Italian Cooking Cookbook Recommended

Provides authentic recipes and cooking tips to keep grocery costs low while enjoying local cuisine, essential for budgeting food expenses in Italy

Amazon →

Universal Travel Adapter Set

Ensures you can plug in all your devices safely in Italian sockets, avoiding extra costs for incompatible chargers

Amazon →

Portable Wifi Router For Europe

Offers reliable internet connectivity for remote work and daily needs, crucial for maintaining income streams while living abroad

Amazon →

Italian Language Learning Book

Helps you communicate effectively with locals, negotiate better prices, and integrate smoothly, reducing hidden expenses

Amazon →

Compact Electric Kettle For Travel

Allows you to make hot drinks at home cheaply, saving money on cafés and supporting a comfortable daily routine

Amazon →

Links may be affiliate links. We only include resources that are genuinely relevant to the topic.

Summarize another video

Full Transcript YouTube

Living in Italy doesn't have to mean
Tuscan prices, but if you get your
budget wrong, it will quietly drain
[snorts] you. When people talk about
cost of living in Italy, they usually
start with numbers. €1,500, €1,800,
sometimes less. But numbers don't tell
you how it actually feels to live
somewhere. This video is not about
surviving in Italy. It's about living
comfortably. not luxury, but not a
struggle. Just a normal calm life
without constantly worrying about money.
And by the end of this video, you will
know if Italy is actually realistic for
you or it's just an idea.
I'm planning this move myself, and I've
gone through these numbers carefully.
I'm not here to sell you a dream, and
I'm not here to scare you. I just want
to show you what comfortably costs in
Italy based on real life and not social
media. Before we talk money, we have to
be clear one thing. Comfortable doesn't
mean luxury. It means a decent place to
live, heating when it's cold, air
conditioning when it's warm, [music]
eating well, going out sometimes, and
not checking your bank balance every
day. And I believe this is what most
people are actually looking for.
Housing is the biggest variable and it
is where most expectations break. I'm
not using Milan or Rome or Venice here
because that distorts reality. In a
small town, in a non-ouristy area, a
comfortable rental usually looks like
this. 5 to 700 in a small town and 7
to900 in a midsize town. You can go
cheaper, but comfortable usually starts
here. If you own your home, cost will go
down monthly, but maintenance is still
real and people tend to forget that.
Utilities and bills is where people
usually get surprised, especially in
winter. Typical monthly costs will be
electricity and gas about 120 to€200.
Water and trash 30 to€60.
Internet and phone communication will be
30 to40 per month. Italy is efficient,
but energy is not cheap.
Food is where Italy actually helps you.
And this is one of Italy's biggest
advantages if you live like Italians.
Groceries will be between€ 250 to€350
per person. eating out occasionally,
maybe once a week will be between 100
and €150 per month. If you cook, Italy
is affordable. If you eat out every day,
it's not.
Healthcare is one of the reasons people
feel safe living in Italy. The public
system is affordable and accessible.
Most people also pay privately once in a
while. A private doctor visit would cost
about 50 to€100.
Some add private health insurance and
that would be between €50 to €150 per
month and that combination will give you
real peace of mind.
Outside big cities, the car is usually
necessary. Fuel insurance and
maintenance will cost you between €150
and €250.
Public transport, if available or used,
will be between 30 to€50. And everyday
expenses between€und 150. And this is
actually where life happens and it adds
up quietly.
So, let's put it together. For one
person living comfortably in Italy
outside major cities, you're
realistically looking at between €1,900
and €2,300 per month. For a couple,
between 2,600 to€3,200
a month. And that's not luxury. That's
just reality. And this one's important.
Most people coming to retire or live in
Italy are not relying on Italian
salaries only. They combine savings,
pensions, remote work, and online
income. Now, that's not cheating. That's
how people actually make this work. So,
Italy can be affordable, but only if
you're honest about what comfortable
means to you. This video isn't here to
convince you. It's actually here to help
you decide. So, let me ask you
something. What does comfortable mean to
you? Please let me know in the comments.