Thinking about moving to Italy? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Italy stands out for quality healthcare, strong public transport and an easier housing market, while it is worth weighing needing the local language for everyday life, heavier bureaucracy and a less remote-ready setup.
Italy at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living62/100
Cost of living here sits around to a little above the EU average. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €1600 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €850 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English45/100
English works in tourist and business settings, but daily life, services and paperwork usually need the local language.
Safety75/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 75/100 means safe: everyday crime is low and the main cities feel comfortable, including at night, with normal precautions.
Healthcare78/100
Scored 78/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). Solid public healthcare. Many newcomers add affordable private cover for shorter waits and more choice.
ClimateWarm
Hot, dry summers and mild winters, with a lot of sunshine. Typical daytime highs: winter around 12°C, spring 19°C, summer 30°C, autumn 20°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~10 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 10 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Italy's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes23-43%
Personal income tax: Progressive 23-43% (+ regional and municipal ~1.5-3%). As a freelancer: Regime forfettario: 15% flat, and just 5% for the first 5 years, on coefficient-reduced turnover up to €85k. Company owners: IRES 24% + IRAP ~3.9%, dividends 26%. Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Italy stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Italy scores best for:
- Quality healthcare.
- Strong public transport.
- An easier housing market.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Italy, keep an eye on:
- Needing the local language for everyday life.
- Heavier bureaucracy.
- A less remote-ready setup.
Is Italy right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Italy actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Italy lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.