If you wish to live in Italy, there are a number of things to be considered - among these and near the top of the list would be things like schooling for the kids, work for you and your partner (unless self-working from home on the Internet or something similar), speaking the language, and coping with the climate. These are but a few things, but obviously a key to success. Get any one of them wrong and it could mean the difference between success and failure. Failure being if you decide to live back to the country where you came from within a short space of time.
However, before even making the decision to live in Italy there is one thing above all others that has to be considered - is it affordable?
With this in mind let us look at some general prices that you would expect to be paying if you decide to live in Italy. The prices are in Euros due to currency fluctuations making it otherwise inaccurate to detail
In this case we will base our prices on Tuscany, which is definitely at the more expensive end!
If you have 2 small kids then for day care you would expect to pay around 350 Euros a month for 5 days a week where you provide lunches and various other snacks. If you prefer to use private pre-schooling then this comes in around 120 Euros a month for a 6 day week - the child can remain at school until 4pm if required. Again lunch and snacks are your responsibility. A babysitter and we are talking around 7 Euros per hour.
How about medical care? There are 2 systems - private and public. If you decide to use public you could be waiting for months for treatment depending on your medical needs. Everyone does actually have the right to see the public doctor regardless of where you are originally from. The visits to the dottore della mutua (public doctor) are free, or you can make a small contribution if you wish to.
For a private doctor then per appointment we will be looking at around 70 euros. For a blood test for example this will set you back some 70 to 150 euros. If you have to go to and remain in hospital this is free.
How about gasoline/petrol? Everywhere in Europe is expensive for fuel and Italy is not the worst. Currently prices per liter are around 1.30 euros. For most Americans this will come as a shock but its commonplace in Europe as I mentioned. Prices fluctuate a lot but the chances of them dropping below 1 euro per liter are very small indeed.
Gas, which is commonly used for winter heating and for cooking will be around 850 euros for 2 months during winter - this is for a family of 4 with 2 young children so for many others the cost will be less. It does get cool here from about late October to late February but certainly not so cool as to make things very uncomfortable.
What about food? Well for an average family of 4 and you will be looking at about 100 euros per week, depending upon your dietary requirements of course. You could reduce this substantially and still enjoy healthy living.
Electricity costs us - for a family of 4 - about 150 euros for every couple of months and the water bills (water is on a meter) its around 75 euros for every 2 months.
However, before even making the decision to live in Italy there is one thing above all others that has to be considered - is it affordable?
With this in mind let us look at some general prices that you would expect to be paying if you decide to live in Italy. The prices are in Euros due to currency fluctuations making it otherwise inaccurate to detail
In this case we will base our prices on Tuscany, which is definitely at the more expensive end!
If you have 2 small kids then for day care you would expect to pay around 350 Euros a month for 5 days a week where you provide lunches and various other snacks. If you prefer to use private pre-schooling then this comes in around 120 Euros a month for a 6 day week - the child can remain at school until 4pm if required. Again lunch and snacks are your responsibility. A babysitter and we are talking around 7 Euros per hour.
How about medical care? There are 2 systems - private and public. If you decide to use public you could be waiting for months for treatment depending on your medical needs. Everyone does actually have the right to see the public doctor regardless of where you are originally from. The visits to the dottore della mutua (public doctor) are free, or you can make a small contribution if you wish to.
For a private doctor then per appointment we will be looking at around 70 euros. For a blood test for example this will set you back some 70 to 150 euros. If you have to go to and remain in hospital this is free.
How about gasoline/petrol? Everywhere in Europe is expensive for fuel and Italy is not the worst. Currently prices per liter are around 1.30 euros. For most Americans this will come as a shock but its commonplace in Europe as I mentioned. Prices fluctuate a lot but the chances of them dropping below 1 euro per liter are very small indeed.
Gas, which is commonly used for winter heating and for cooking will be around 850 euros for 2 months during winter - this is for a family of 4 with 2 young children so for many others the cost will be less. It does get cool here from about late October to late February but certainly not so cool as to make things very uncomfortable.
What about food? Well for an average family of 4 and you will be looking at about 100 euros per week, depending upon your dietary requirements of course. You could reduce this substantially and still enjoy healthy living.
Electricity costs us - for a family of 4 - about 150 euros for every couple of months and the water bills (water is on a meter) its around 75 euros for every 2 months.
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