Preparing to move
How much money you need to live in Italy on a salary
Preparing to move · · 2 min read
By Lorenzo Schiavone · calculator developer
A single person in Italy spends €2,070 a month on average (ISTAT, 2025). A salary of €30,000 gross a year gives about €1,950 net a month over twelve months: before accepting an offer, compare the net with the costs of the city you will live in, starting with rent.
What households spend
In 2025 average household spending is €2,782 a month (half spend less than €2,338). It varies a lot by area: €3,087 in the North-East, €3,052 in the Centre, €2,974 in the North-West, €2,338 in the Islands and €2,215 in the South. Households made up only of foreigners spend €1,772 on average.
These are averages across all households, owners and tenants: use them as an order of magnitude, not as a personal budget.
Rent, the item that decides
According to the property market observatory (OMI), a rented home cost €79 per square metre a year on average in 2025. In Milan the average is €206; in Rome, Florence and Bologna between €156 and €167. For 50 square metres that is about €860 a month in Milan, €650–700 in the other three cities and about €330 on the national average.
Tenants pay €438 a month on average according to ISTAT: the average includes old contracts and small towns.
Monthly net compared
Estimated annual net for Milan divided by twelve months, so it can be set against monthly costs. Another municipality changes the surtaxes.
| Annual gross (RAL) | Annual net | Net a month (÷ 12) |
|---|---|---|
| €20,000 | €17,433 | €1,453 |
| €30,000 | €23,426 | €1,952 |
| €40,000 | €27,960 | €2,330 |
How to do the sums before you leave
Start from rent in the area, add utilities, transport and food, then compare the total with net pay over twelve months. Remember that the 13th and 14th payments arrive in specific months: in ordinary months the payslip is lower than the annual average.
The calculator can show the net in your own currency, at the day’s official rate.
Frequently asked questions
Can you live in Italy on €1,500 net a month? ▾
It depends mostly on the city and the rent. A single person spends €2,070 a month on average; costs in the South and in small towns are lower than in Milan or Rome.
Is pay higher where living costs more? ▾
National contract minimums are the same across Italy. Actual pay tends to be higher in the North, but not in proportion to rents.
Is the calculator’s net what I receive each month? ▾
It is an annual average. A single month changes with year-end adjustments and the 13th and 14th payments.
Sources and method
- ISTAT · household consumption expenditure, 2025
- Agenzia delle Entrate · OMI residential property report 2026
- QuantoNetto.Com · method, sources and limits of the estimates
Each guide states the period it covers and the assumptions behind its examples. Net pay estimates flag any prior-year municipal rates. The actual monthly payslip may differ from the annual average.