Italy🇮🇹
At a Glance
How Italy compares across key indices
Cost of Living
68 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
85/100
Healthcare
78/100
Quality of Life
161/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Italy
Cost of Living
68
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
51
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
68
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
71
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in Italy - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
85/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Italy
Italy has 656 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,402 in Siracusa to $1,791 in Rome. Bari leads on safety, scoring 85/100. Perugia ranks highest for quality of life at 162/200.
Siracusa
$1,402/mo
Bari
85/100
Perugia
162/200
Rome
91/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | $1,791 | 79/100 | 158/200 | 91/100 | 39 |
| Milan | $1,575 | 82/100 | 160/200 | 85/100 | 34 |
| Naples | $1,547 | 83/100 | 160/200 | 83/100 | 33 |
| Turin | $1,541 | 83/100 | 161/200 | 83/100 | 32 |
| Palermo | $1,521 | 83/100 | 161/200 | 82/100 | 31 |
| Genoa | $1,514 | 84/100 | 161/200 | 82/100 | 31 |
| Bologna | $1,487 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 81/100 | 29 |
| Florence | $1,481 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 80/100 | 29 |
| Bari | $1,471 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 80/100 | 29 |
| Catania | $1,469 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 80/100 | 29 |
| Verona | $1,456 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 79/100 | 28 |
| Messina | $1,445 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 79/100 | 27 |
| Trieste | $1,440 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 79/100 | 27 |
| Padua | $1,440 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 79/100 | 27 |
| Brescia | $1,438 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 27 |
| Taranto | $1,438 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 27 |
| Parma | $1,438 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 27 |
| Prato | $1,437 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 27 |
| Modena | $1,432 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Reggio Calabria | $1,432 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Quarto Oggiaro | $1,432 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Reggio nell'Emilia | $1,428 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Livorno | $1,422 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Cagliari | $1,417 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Rimini | $1,417 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 78/100 | 26 |
| Mestre | $1,417 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 26 |
| Circoiscrizione II | $1,414 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Foggia | $1,411 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Circoiscrizione VIII | $1,410 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Ferrara | $1,408 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Circoiscrizione III | $1,408 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Acilia-Castel Fusano-Ostia Antica | $1,407 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Circoiscrizione V | $1,405 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Salerno | $1,405 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Monza | $1,405 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Siracusa | $1,402 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Bergamo | $1,402 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Trento | $1,402 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Perugia | $1,402 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
| Pescara | $1,402 | 85/100 | 162/200 | 77/100 | 25 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Italy
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Environment
CleanAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Italy
Pollution Index
29/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
14.7ug/m3
Good
Environmental Quality
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Italy, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Italy?
Italy has a cost of living index of 68 relative to New York City (100). It is comparable in cost to most US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,389 in Arezzo and reach $1,791 in Rome.
What is the cheapest city in Italy for expats?
Arezzo is the most affordable city in Italy in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,389 for a single person including rent. Udine is the next most affordable at $1,389/mo.
Is Italy safe for expats?
Italy has a safety index of 85/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Bari scores highest on safety at 85/100.
What is the best city in Italy for expats and digital nomads?
Perugia ranks highest for quality of life in Italy, scoring 162/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,402/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Arezzo offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,389/mo.
How good is healthcare in Italy?
Italy scores 78/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is Italy cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Italy's cost of living is roughly 32% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 49% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in Italy?
Italy has a pollution index of 29/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
Before You Go
Your pre-departure checklist for Italy
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
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Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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Cost of living, safety, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates modeled from open public sources. Data sources
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