Cost of Living in Florence, Italy

Cost of living in Florence, Italy: check below the costs related to daily expenses, real estate, entertainment and transport in Florence (Firenze)

Are you considering to move or spend some time in Florence, Italy? Below you can check the data for the cost of living in Florence, one of the most cultural rich cities in the North of the country.

cost of living in Florence

Cost of Living in Florence, Italy

Florence, or Firenze in Italian is the capital and the largest city of the Tuscany region, located in Northern Italy. It has a moderate cost of living for Western European standards, and is one of Italy’s main tourist hubs.

Despite having a moderate cost of living for Western European standards, Florence is still among the most expensive cities in Italy. While its real estate market is not as expensive as cities like Milan, Venice or Rome, it is still rather pricy.

Florence is one of the most culturally rich cities in Western Europe. It was once home of Leonardo da Vinci, and is the location of the many of Michelangelo’s works, including the Statue of David. The history and cultural richness of Florence bring millions of tourists to the city every year. It comes as no surprise that tourism is one of Florence’s main sources of income.

While Florence is a rather wealthy city, the economic prospects of the city are rather stable, with low yearly GDP growth. Most economic opportunities in the city are in the services industry, notably influenced by tourism

Let’s check some data for the cost of living in Florence, Italy below:

The currency in Italy is the euro. The conversion rate to the EUR is 1 dollar to 0.94 EUR as of April 25, 2024.

If you want to suggest your own values based on your experiences in this city, click on edit and insert the values. Upon moderation they will be calculated to make part of the average prices displayed below.

Food Price [EDIT]
1 liter of milk 1.20 USD
1 loaf of bread 1.61 USD
1 kg of tomatoes 1.80 USD
1 kg of chicken 6.20 USD
1 single meal cheap restaurant 12.50 USD
1 single meal high-end restaurant 45.00 USD
1 cappuccino or latte 1.57 USD
1 big pizza delivery 11.99 USD
Real Estate Price [EDIT]
1 bedroom flat (40 m2) rent per month 810.00 USD
1 bedroom flat (40 m2) utilities per month 85.00 USD
2 bedroom flat (80 m2) rent per month 1,354.00 USD
2 bedroom flat (80 m2) utilities per month 158.00 USD
Price per square meter (city center) 5,100.00 USD
Transport Price [EDIT]
1 single ride public transport 1.65 USD
Monthly public transport ticket 39.00 USD
1 km taxi or similar transport app 3.30 USD
1 liter of gasoline (1/4 gallon) 1.61 USD
Toyota Corolla (new) basic version 21,746.00 USD
Salaries Price [EDIT]
Minimum Salary 975.00 USD
Average Salary (net) 1,470.00 USD
Extras Price [EDIT]
1 ticket to the movies (adult price) 9.00 USD
High speed internet per month 32.00 USD
1 month gym subscription 57.00 USD

Cost of Living for Students in Florence, Italy

Italy as a whole is generally an attractive destination for international students. Costs are relatively low with tuition fees, especially when compared to those of North America. The country also has a tradition of high quality academic studies and has the oldest university in the world still in operation (in Bologna).

Tuition fees in public higher education institutions will, in most case, stay below or near a couple thousand euro per year. Most of the programs are in Italian. Fees in private universities are higher, but so is the availability of courses in English.

Florence is also a big center for students of the Italian language.  The standard Italian language is based on the Tuscan dialect, which contributes to the attractiveness of the city for Italian language enthusiasts.

Here are some of the main higher education institutions in Florence:

Università degli Studi di Firenze

Lorenzo de’ Medici – The Italian International Institute

Getting a Job in Florence

The Italian job market is opened to EU citizens and there is a high number of third country (non-EU) citizens also working in the city. Most of jobs are in the service industry and almost all of them will require at least some decent command of the Italian language.

Italy does not have an official minimum salary, unlike most European countries. However, most jobs will pay above 900 euros per month, while the average net wage in Florence is about 1350 euros per month.

Here are some websites for job hunting in Florence:

Monster.it

indeed it

infojobs.it

Quality of Life in Firenze

Florence has a rather high quality of life and it is among the most liveable large cities in Italy. The capital of Tuscany scores high in entertainment, transport infrastructure and climate.

The balance of relative affordability, good geographic location and diverse entertainment options make of Florence an attractive city. That applies not only to the tourists visiting Florence every year, but also to a growing number of expats.

milan to florence

Florence is also one of the Italian cities with the highest percentage of English speakers. This fact is explained by the cultural background of the city, as well as for the vital importance of its tourism sector. However, the number of locals with good English skills is lower than in German or Dutch cities.

If you are visiting Firenze soon you may also want to check some of our other Italy guides. Check the where to stay in Florence and our article on the best places to stay in Bologna. You can also check the our article on the average and minimum salary in Rome and how to travel from Milan to Florence.

Other Resources for Expats and Travelers

Salaries Worldwide: check our articles on wages worldwide and understand better the economics of the countries you may be considering to move or invest.

Retire Abroad: check our retirement guides and maximize your retirement income and quality of life.

Jetradar: compare and find the cheapest air fares worldwide.