Cost of Living in Italy for New Italian Citizens

Traveling abroad and spending time in Italy is a great idea when you want to see all the great cities and sights while taking in the rich culture and history. Some American citizens are eligible for dual citizenship status, which allows them to become an Italian citizen.

Before packing your bags or applying for your visa or your Italian passport, you need to know about the cost of living in Italy to ensure you have plenty of money set aside. If you are traveling, unless you have a work visa, you cannot work a job, so you need to make sure you have plenty of money to enjoy your time in Italy.

For those who have obtained dual citizenship status, you can work, so you need enough money set aside for at least a few months of expenses to allow yourself time to enjoy the country and find a job.

Tourist Areas Give a False Reflection of the Cost of Living in Italy

Another thing to keep in mind is that tourist areas give the impression it is rather expensive to live in Italy. This is simply not the case. Once you get away from the tourist areas and discover the places where the locals shop, dine, and relax, you will notice prices are much less.

From farmer markets to little neighborhood cafés, there are plenty of places away from tourists for locals to find great bargains and reasonable prices.

Prices in Italy for Housing

When calculating the cost of living in Italy, you need to account for the largest portion of your costs—housing expenses. Rent will vary based on what city you want to live in, just like it does here in the U.S.

For instance, if you are looking at living in Rome, Tuscany, or Milan, then rental prices are like those you would pay to live in New York City, Miami, or Los Angeles. Yet, if you get farther away from the larger Italian cities, then rental prices start to drop.

Smaller towns and villages in the countryside could offer rent on a nice apartment for about $700 or less. If you want to enjoy city life but avoid the big cities, then you are looking at rental costs in the low $1,000s.

Prices in Italy for Food

The cost of food in Italy will vary based on city and location. Typically, you can expect to pay between $15 and $20 for lunch at a nice restaurant and $30+ for dinner—although there are local eateries that offer flavorful meals for much less.

Italy also has many farmer’s markets where you can shop and find decent prices on fresh produce, meats, fish, and other groceries.

Transportation Costs in Italy

The cost of gas in Italy is higher than in the U.S. However, most vehicles in Italy are very fuel-efficient. Italy also has a decent public transit system available. Many people also ride bikes or use scooters to get around.

Cost of Personal Care Items and Clothing

The costs of these things are not much different than it is in the U.S. You can find outlets and other discount retail centers. Yet, if you want designer clothing, Italy is the perfect place to find the latest fashion trends.

Italy offers many different exciting places to visit, see, and live. Where you want to live in Italy will determine the cost of living in Italy. Living in major cities will cost more than small towns and mid-sized cities.

To find out if you qualify for dual citizenship status or for assistance with document translation services needed for your visa, please feel free to contact the Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program at (305) 812-5512 today!