Hi, I hope this is the right place for this question... I tried to look for answers at the forum, but I couldn't find any.

What kind of expenses can I expect from a small Italian apartment?

How much can I expect to pay for water, electricity, gas, heating, telephone, internet, home insurance and other "basic" costs in addition to my rent/mortgage?

If I buy an apartment, do I have to pay any annual taxes or fees to the government? Would I have to pay a monthly fee for the maintenance of the building, and what would be included in the payment?


I know it's a lot of questions, but I hope somebody can help me out a little here... Thanks in advance!

A very difficult question to answer. Here is as wild guess. In the Teramo area small two bedroom appt could be rented for about 800-1000 euro/month; avg 250 month euro utilities; internet approx 30 euro/month; phone 25 euro/month. If you buy then price is about 1400 euro/sq meter; plus condo fee (?100 euro/month) plus above utilities. Again, highly variable but you could probably do this for about 1300-1600 euro/month total in/around Teramo...

Niente Bidet

What about other cities- towns..?

I'm too interested to expenses in Italy for moving.

The best thing to do is to start with how much your monthy income will be. Depending on where you are, at least 50% of your monthly income can go on rent.

I remember reading an article in Libero back in May which stated that Italian citizen earns an average of 17.500 (gross) euro per year. This seems to stack up because I recently looked at employment contracts for one of my clients. Based on the category of the employee involved, the minimum annual salary was 16.043. After deductions this gave him just over 900 euro take home.

I also came across this information recently...it certainly is an eye opener:

"Chi sta pensando di andare a vivere in Italia, specialmente i pensionati, dovrebbe fare attenzione di non sottovalutare il costo della vita che è notevolmente aumentato nell’ultimo decennio. L’Italia è un paese relativamente costoso rispetto agli standard americani ed è uno dei paesi più cari dell’Unione Europea. Tuttavia, esiste un’enorme disparità tra il costo e lo standard di vita nelle regioni prosperose del Nord e del Centro d’Italia ed il Sud"

"Una lista delle spese principali del minimo approssimativo mensile per una singola persona, per una coppia e per una famiglia con due bambini viene riportata nella tabella che segue. Se lavorate in Italia, dovete prendere in considerazione i contributi assicurativi e delle tasse d’imposta. I numeri in parentesi si riferiscono alle note che seguono la tabella".

Voce Costi mensili (€)
di bilancio

1 persona/2 persone/ Fam di 4

Alloggio (1) 410/ 650/ 820
Cibo (2) 180/325/410
Servizi (3) 55/80/110
Tempo libero (4) 110/160/180
Trasporto (5) 110/110/135
Assicurazione (6) 55/110/120
Abbigliamento 55/110/220

Totale 975/ 1,545/ 1,995

So a family of 4 will spend around 1995 euro per month

NOTE:

(1). I pagamenti per l’affitto o per il mutuo per un appartamento o villetta moderna o ristrutturata in una periferia media, escludendo le città principali ed altre zone ad alto costo. Le residenze considerate sono un monolocale od un appartamento con una camera da letto per una persona singola, una residenza con due camere da letto per una coppia ed una residenza con tre camere da letto per una coppia con due bambini.

(2). Non include cibo prelibato od alcoolici.

(3). Include elettricità, gas, acqua, telefono, payTV (satellitare) e i costi di riscaldamento.

(4). Include tutte le spese di intrattenimento, ristoranti, sports e vacanze oltre a giornali e riviste.

(5). Comprende i costi di mantenimento per la macchina di una famiglia media oltre all’assicurazione contro terzi, le tasse annuali, carburante, riparazioni e controlli, ma esclude la svalutazione o i costi di acquisto di credito.

(6). Include un’assicurazione volontaria come l’assicurazione sanitaria privata, assicurazione per la casa, assicurazione contro terzi, assicurazione di viaggi, assicurazione ACI e assicurazione sulla vita.

__________________
CJ
Magical Marche &
Luchetti & Partners Studio Legale Tributario

I am a bit worried about the monthly income you stated, because I read in one of the topics here earlier that the average NET salaries in 2004 were:

With these salaries of 1200 euros I could continue in my current occupation (engineer), and afford to live in a small city... With 900 euros per month I couldn't.

I am very happy to hear these figures, as they are the same sums as are spent on average in Finland, and I have never needed that much money for hobbies, transportation or clothes.

Thank you for your help so far!

Tero - me neither! I think the figures quoted are for people from the USA / UK living the lifestyle they are used to, but in Italy. My Mother-in-Law, Wife and I probably only spend the amount quoted for a single person on food, and the three of us eat very healthily and well.

Public Transport here is very cheap by UK standards, but the figures quoted must be for cars, as 1 person, and 2 persons are the same. (Whilst they kiss instead of shaking hands here, I don't think they sit on each others laps on the buses, and even if they do, it's still two tickets!).

If you are careful, it is possible to live fairly cheaply in Italy. However, and it is a big however, utility prices (gas, electric, water etc.), are much higher if you are not a registered resident, as is the ICI (local or council tax) if you have to pay for them.

So, is this mean; my 3000 euro incoming is enoughly for living(with mortgage) a campagna in umbria with my family(me, my wife and two childrens)?

Tero, don't forget that the cost of living has gone up since 2004, whilst salaries have remained te same.

I remember seeing a report on TV in October 2006 where members of the public were being interviewed about their income and expenses. I recall one married couple with a small child. Their joint net monthly income was 2500 euro. The couple said that at the end of each month they had nothing left to set aside.

I think that it very much depends on your lifestyle and also whether you own a property or not. Public transport is OK in certain areas, but in some of the more rural and isolated parts of Italy you will definitely need a car.

__________________
CJ
Magical Marche &
Luchetti & Partners Studio Legale Tributario

Does anyone know if I would I be able to rent a small house outside Bologna (say 15 minutes) near a train station for 1,500 euros per month including rent, utilities and internet?

I do not have exact figures but usually large towns are more expensive - Outside Bologna it should not be a problem finding a place for 1500 Euro a month all included