In this video, I’m sharing an updated cost of living in Italy for 2026, because prices have changed over the last year and I wanted to give a realistic, current breakdown.
My partner and I live in rural Abruzzo, in a three-bedroom house with a one-bedroom annexe, and we live a comfortable lifestyle — not ultra-thrifty, but not luxury either. This video reflects real everyday costs, not tourist prices and not big-city Italy.
I break down what we actually spend on:
Housing & household bills
Food & groceries
Transport (car, fuel, trains, buses)
Healthcare (public & private)
Entertainment & leisure
Taxes & bureaucracy
Seasonal and hidden costs people often forget
This video is especially useful if you’re thinking about moving to Italy, retiring in Italy, or are curious whether Italy is still affordable in 2026, particularly outside cities like Milan or Rome.
16 Comments
Thank you for this information..:} i just send it out.to all of my friends and Family..i really appreciate this content..thank you.i ll be moving there this year
Stupendo prezzo ancora accessibili 🤯🤯
Thank you so much for sharing all this information in the video! My husband and I are thinking about moving to Italy in the future, he’s Italian, but we’ve been living in the UK for a while. We’ve been doing some research on cost of living and jobs, and it’s really helpful to hear your perspective.
In your experience, what would you say is a comfortable combined annual salary for a couple to live in Italy without struggling financially?
Thank you! 😊
We are moving to Italy in the Spring time. Can’t wait. Are there any comparison websites for insurance, gas electricity etc. Thank you for sharing your YouTube videos I look forward to them every week 😊
This is a great round up. Thank you. Helps with future planning for sure. Would love to know how you managed to find your commercialista. My situation is also complex having lived in different countries and collecting state pensions from them will stress me out big time.
A really useful and comprehensive video – Thankyou!
Thanks Bella, this is super information. I’m hoping to move to Italy early summer, and it’s great to see a proper breakdown of monthly costs.
40 Eur for a pet sitter a day is enormous 😮
This was interesting, thank you. We noted a bundle of stuff and will do a compare Tuscany next time we’re over. The only costs missing, disappointingly, are for ski suits and doggy de-fluffing! 😜
That was a really good and comprehensive breakdown of the cost of living in Italy. Very good too that you have updated your original video to show how prices have increased. It's really important to know about the cost of living when moving to another country and you have included everything one could think of. Another great and informative video!
Would you mind sharing your house insurer you can send us a private message please?
We purchased a 3 bedrooms home in Fara San Martino.
Thanks
Food has gone up a lot in Italy in the past 3-4 years. They say around 30%
Thank you for sharing the costs… prices all over have gone up!!! our everyday bills are so expensive that we are working just to live… here in Toronto a family of 4 to go out to eat a plate of pasta each with 2 glasses of wine and two cokes costs approx 160 dollars minimum… so being able to go out and enjoy a meal out is a rare event for us…. so that’s why the idea of living in Italy and slowing down and enjoying life a bit more is what I need.. ❤🎉
Very comprehensive cost of living breakdown. There is no cost problem in Italy compared to most of the west. Italy comes with very major cost benefits in housing – especially compared to Australia – that is the big financial bonus. But the fact Italy is part of the EU there is this worldwide taxation that is not easy to shield from view via a Foundation or other similar kind of financial product. Meaning worldwide income will end up taxed at 43% for me in Italy or anywhere else in the Eurozone when I choose to relocate. That is a very major deterrent. You either have to live with it or seek to go out of the Eurozone, vast majority of the western world, which significantly reduces options of where to live to minimise tax. Living with those tax demands does not rule out the major lifestyle, cultural and environmental benefits on offer in Abruzzo or elsewhere.
Good job. Covers all types of expenses, especially luxury consumption.
I have only 20-30% of her money but hope it will fit for a normal life without starving or making banca rotta.
Encantadora belleza roban todas las miradas ☺️😊