My Monthly Living Expenses in Southern Italy
I know, I know, moving to Italy sounds like a far-fetched dream. But it may not be as unattainable as you think. Sure, there are the endless bureaucratic struggles, the anxiety of the “what ifs,” and, of course, the reality of finances. But with proper planning and a little determination, you can make it happen if you want to!
We moved with the full intent to get jobs and work during this year, but being in a smaller town and still learning Italian, we realized it might not be the easiest thing to do. So we sat down, looked at our savings and realized that if we were smart, we could enjoy this year as a kind of “early retirement” of sorts — without putting ourselves in debt or sacrificing on experiences.
Even with keeping ourselves to a budget, we managed to see and do so much!
If you’re curious about the cost, let me break it down for you. I’ve tallied up 30 days of expenses — dinners out with friends and a two-night trip to Sicily included — to give you a realistic idea of how much it costs to live on the Amalfi Coast.
Monthly Expenses Breakdown:
All costs are per-person unless otherwise noted and reflect winter (off-season) prices. Everything is rounded to the nearest €0.25.
Our Monthly Fixed Costs: €564.25
€400 rent - €800 total, fully furnished 1+den with balcony, washing machine and A/C.
€35 electricity - charged bi-monthly, our last bill was €139.75 for 2 months
€0 water - the bill is only a couple of euros, and our landlord covers it
€8.50 garbage
€20.50 wifi
€10 phone plan
€72 health insurance - mandatory to get a visa
€13.25 streaming services
€5 Canadian phone suspension - keeping our numbers active back home
Food & Drink: €189
€103.25 groceries
€85.75 dining out - drinks/apps included
2 breakfasts at cafes
4 lunch time sandwich runs
3 dinners out
1 gelato run - yes, even in winter
Additional Spending: €219.50
€10 public transportation - we’re happy walking most places, which keeps it low
€14.50 cough syrup - flu season hit hard
€195 travel - 2 nights in Palermo, Sicily, incl flights, accommodations, and so much food
Total Monthly Expenses: €972.75
($1571.25 CAD at current conversion rate)
Considering rent in Toronto cost me $2175 — not even factoring in the other costs of living — I really can’t complain!
Remember, some months will cost more and some will cost less, but you can use this as a baseline for what you might expect if you’re considering living here. If you want more insight into what life on the Amalfi Coast has been like, check out my monthly updates below!
