Moving to Italy from the US
Moving to Italy from the US? If so, you’ve made an excellent choice!
You’ll love living in this beautiful, culturally fascinating country and its incredible food, fashion, history, and art.
Whether you’re moving to Italy alone, or moving to Italy with a family, we’ve got you covered – right through from healthcare to where you should live.
If you’re wondering how much does it cost to move to Italy, then this guide has you covered. We’ve gone over everything you need to know before moving to Italy, including what you might spend and information on visa requirements, healthcare, average salaries in Italy, and more.
We can also offer you free quotes for shipping your possessions. If you fill in this form, you can see how much moving to Italy could cost.
Select the size of your move to get free quotes
Sicily's Ancient Taormina Theatre and pretty mountains will blow you away
Cost of shipping to Italy from the US
Before opening the sunning yourself on the balcony of your new Italian home, you’ll first need to ship your belongings!
We’ve calculated the average cost for shipping your household goods either via sea or air freight, splitting the cost breakdowns into two sections below:
Cost of sea freight to Italy from the US
The sea freight costs below are just estimates based on the latest shipping costs data. If you’d like a more accurate idea of how much shipping to Italy will cost you, just pop your details into this form, and our suppliers will get back to you.
| Route | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York to Napoli | $1,645 | 13.4 days |
| Houston to Civitavecchia (near Rome) | $2,120 | 18 days |
| Los Angeles to La Spezia | $2,445 | 26.3 days |
Please note: these container shipping costs exclude typical add-ons such as door-to-door delivery, professional packing/unpacking, and basic insurance cover. Our shipping suppliers normally incorporate these services into their prices, so expect some discrepancy between the rates given here and the quotes you receive. These estimates should be used as an indication only.
The rates are sourced from Freightos, and are based on the port-to-port transportation of a 20ft container of furniture – the typical value of the contents of a three-bedroom house.
The durations are sourced from Searates.com.
This information was last updated in November 2024.
Cost of flying goods to Italy from the US
While air freight is faster than ocean freight, it’s also 10-15 times more expensive. In fact, comparing both tables you can see how much better value it is to ship a 20ft container filled with household goods via ocean freight than it is one 100 kg box via air freight.
| Route | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York to Rome | $1,500 | 8 hours |
| Houston to Milan | $1,170 | 10 hours |
| Los Angeles to Rome | $1,475 | 12 hours |
These rates are sourced from Shipa Freight.
They’re based on the airport-to-airport transportation of 100 kg of household goods. When you consider that a standard 20ft shipping container has around 24,000 kg weight capacity (in theory), you can get a picture for just how expensive air freight is in comparison.
The durations are sourced from Searates.com.
This information was last updated in November 2024.
This beautiful bay is in Portofino, in the north-west region of Liguria
7 quick facts about Italy
- Italy only unified as a country in 1871, making it technically younger than the US
- There are more UNESCO World Heritage sites here than in any other country
- It surrounds the smallest nation on Earth, the Vatican City, which is 0.19 square miles
- The average Italian eats 23.5 kg of pasta per year – 2.6 times more than Americans
- The Gregorian calendar, used in most of the world, was created in Italy
- Italians drink two to three cups of coffee per day, on average
- Italian musician Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano
Healthcare in Italy
Before moving to Italy, it’s important to consider what kind of medical cover you may need – or what kind you and your family may need if they’re moving too.
The country’s universal healthcare system, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), is available to all Italian citizens and is consistently ranked in the top 20 healthcare systems worldwide.
While European expats have instant access to the SSN, at no extra costs, non-European expats have a slightly more complicated route to take. US and other non-European citizens will need to apply for “tessera sanitaria” or an Italian insurance card.
To be able to apply for an Italian insurance card, you’ll need to have your residency status finalized and an Italian identity card. You’ll need to go to a local health authority (azienda sanitaria locale, or ASL) and bring both proof of residency and your identity card, but also your tax number and proof of employment.
You can access services like medical tests, surgeries, medications, visits to the family doctor, and specialist treatments, though you’ll need private insurance to cover areas like dentistry and psychology.
It may be worth taking out a private policy anyway, since out-of-pocket payments make up twice as much of healthcare costs, at 21.89%, as they do in the US, where 10.7% of your costs will be out of pocket.
If you want to learn more about the system, check out our guide to Healthcare in Italy.
Cost of living in Italy
If you’re considering moving to Italy from the US, you’ll want to know the cost of living. Use the table below to get a rough idea of what you’ll spend on everyday items and essential services.
| Good / service | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | $1.61 |
| A monthly gym subscription | $52.43 |
| 1 liter of gas | $1.94 |
| A bottle of wine | $6.49 |
| 1 liter of milk | $1.56 |
| A loaf of bread | $2.14 |
| 12 eggs | $3.66 |
| Single ticket on public transport | $1.73 |
| 1-bedroom apartment monthly rent (city center) | $805.62 |
| 3-bedroom apartment monthly rent (outside city) | $1,020.37 |
(Data sourced from Numbeo)
Setting up your finances
Setting up your bank account in Italy is relatively easy for foreigners and US expats, with many banks offering expat-friendly services and non-resident accounts.
You won’t need to worry too much about opening an Italian bank account until you’re in the country, as they provide plenty of ATMs that take foreign cards.
That said, while you can use card payment in most establishments, that’s usually when the bank charges will start to grow.
So we advise setting up your finances soon after arriving so that you can keep those charges to a minimum. To open an Italian bank account, simply visit a branch in person and bring physical copies of the necessary documents.
You should have no trouble opening a joint account (conto corrente cointestato), student account (conto studente) or non-resident account (conto non-residenti).
Transferring money to Italy
Transferring money to Italy is thankfully pretty simple and there are lots of great money transfer services to choose from. Using an international money transfer service can be pretty convenient – especially if you’re handling multiple currencies and sending transfers back home to the US.
If you’re thinking of moving to Italy, you’ll probably need to convert some of your American dollars into euros.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with Wise, an easy-to-use online international money transfer service which uses the real exchange rate, and charges low fees.
How much could you save? Well, its service can be up to 8x cheaper than high street banks.
Join more than 12.8 million people and start using Wise today.
Working in Italy
Italy punches above its weight, with the 9th-biggest GDP (gross domestic product) in the world despite being 71st in terms of size.
It also launched a digital nomad visa in April 2024 for non-EU citizens that plan on staying in the country for over 90 days.
While the digital nomad visa application requires a lot of proof, it does allow you to live and work in Italy.
It’s also perfectly located in the center of Europe – but still just a short plane ride away from the US.
Getting a work visa for Italy
It’s relatively easy to secure a visa to work in Italy, but your employer will be required to do the leg work in getting you the right permits.
It can be a lengthy process, so it’s advised to start early, as you will essentially need you and your employer to apply for the permit, which typically costs around $127.30 for long term stays.
You’ll need to apply for a work visa (Nulla Osta), and your employer in Italy will need to secure you a work permit before you arrive from the Italian Consular authorities.
At various points in this process, you and your employer will require some or all of the following documents:
- A copy of your employment contract
- Your application for a work visa
- Your passport, which must contain at least two blank pages and be valid for at least three months after the visa is set to end
- Passport pictures
- Proof you have enough money to support yourself in Italy
- Proof you have a place to stay in Italy
- Proof you’ve paid the visa fee
- Evidence of your academic and professional qualifications
Your work visa may last anywhere between three months and two years initially, but can be renewed for up to five years.
You must apply for a residence permit (more than three months) before arriving in the country. Upon arrival in Italy, you must then obtain a permesso di soggiorno (permit of stay).
You can pick up an application kit at one of 14,000 post offices (Poste Italiane), before dropping off your completed forms at any of the 5,332 accepted locations.
Within 20 days of having received a residence permit, you must go to your local Vital Statistics Bureau office (Anagrafe) to apply for your certificate of residence (Certificato di Residenza).
If you’re planning on staying in Italy for longer than 12 months, you have to sign an integration agreement in which you promise to take classes and pass tests on the Italian language, culture, and civil structure.
If you fail to satisfactorily complete the course, you’ll be expelled.
Average salary in Italy
The average salary in Italy sits at around $43,900 a year as of November 2024. Considering the average cost of living in Italy is around 20% lower than the US, this salary will be more than enough to live comfortably.
Italy is 17th in terms of cost of living in Europe too, so you likely won’t find yourself short of change if you’re getting the average salary.
Income tax in Italy
There are three levels of personal income tax in Italy: national, regional, and municipal.
The national income tax is collected on a progressive basis, with a total of five bands, according to PwC.
This is the current breakdown:
| Income band | Tax rate (%) |
|---|---|
| €0 - €15,000 | 23 |
| €15,001 - €28,000 | 27 |
| €28,001 - €55,000 | 38 |
| €55,001 - €75,000 | 41 |
| €75,001+ | 43 |
You’ll only be charged on the money you make in Italy, so don’t worry about paying the Italian government for income you gain on the other side of the Atlantic.
Your income may also be taxed by your regional and municipal governments, though the exact percentages depend on where you live.
Your regional income tax rate will be anywhere from 1.23% to 3.33%, while your municipal tax rate will range from zero to 0.9%.
Climate in Italy
Italy is home to several different climate zones, but all of them are relatively mild, with an average temperature of between 52°F and 61°F.
You can expect cooler winters – though it rarely goes below 26°F – and hot summers, though the thermostat usually stays around 80°F to 90°F.
In cities with a more tropical climate, like Genoa, Milan, and Venice, you’ll experience hotter, wetter summers with occasional thunderstorms, as well as more humidity year round.
In any case, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the sun. Italian cities enjoy around 2,000 to 3,000 hours of sun per year – the same range as Atlanta, Detroit, and Louisville.
Does it snow in Italy?
Yes, it snows in Italy especially in the mountains – in fact, it snows so often that the country boasts around 300 ski resorts.
Most of these are in northern Italy, in the Alps, but there are dozens of resorts scattered around the country, wherever the mountains are high enough to receive regular snow.
Most cities experience some snow every year, but generally not in such volume that it disrupts daily life – unless you live near the Alps.
The best places to live in Italy
There are plenty of beautiful, interesting towns and cities to live in across Italy. Rome and Milan usually dominate the discussion – for good reason – but there are lots of other places worth consideration.
Rome: best for work
Predictably, Italy’s capital is your best bet for finding a new job, dollars to doughnuts.
Unlike in many countries, living in the capital doesn’t mean paying inflated prices, plus it plays host to more big companies’ headquarters than any other city.
And it doesn’t hurt that there are countless ways to enjoy spending your hard-earned cash, from world class restaurants and museums to soccer matches and nightclubs.
And unlike many major cities, Rome has many green spaces where you can relax and recharge, such as the gorgeous Villa Aldobrandini and the stunning Parco degli Acquedotti.
There are even multiple beaches located just an hour from the city center. Perfect.
Milan: best for students
This center of fashion, design, and modern architecture has four of the top 13 universities in Italy, according to The Times.
There’s no better place in the country to appreciate art, thanks largely to Leonardo da Vinci, but also because of contemporary museums like the Museo del Novecento and Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea.
And don’t worry, there’s also plenty of less distinguished fun for students to have here, with Navigli in the south of the city currently holding our award for best neighbourhood in Italy for nightlife.
Florence: best for families
Tuscany’s capital is the best city for your little expats to receive a fantastic education, from kindergarten all the way through to graduation.
There are plenty of awe-inspiring and culturally fascinating areas to explore as a family as well, largely due to increasing efforts to create pedestrian areas in the center of the city.
You can also enjoy the multitude of playgrounds and parks in Florence – and we’d recommend taking weekend breaks to appreciate the delightful, endless greenery of Tuscany that surrounds the city.
Next steps
You’re now prepared to enjoy all the wonders that Italy has to offer – from its magnificent beaches and architectural creations to its delicious food and universal healthcare system.
You can take the next step by filling in this form for free shipping quotes from trusted specialists, who can move your belongings to your new home.