Living and working in Italy
Italy is one of the most thrilling countries in the world. It’s known for food like pizza, pasta and gelato. As well as artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli. In addition to the food and the people, the nature of Italy is also astonishing. Visit the Amalfi Coast, the beautiful hills in Tuscany or sunny Sicily. Living in Italy can be a great experience. Get to know more about what it’s like to live and work in Italy.
Latest available jobs in Italy
Dutch remote freelancer – B2B credit card sales
Work remotely as a Dutch Account Executive from Athens or Barcelona. Manage the full B2B sales cycle and grow with a global tech-focused sales organisation.
German B2B Sales, fully remote
We are currently looking for a German employee in sales for a fully remote position. Full-time and part-time positions available.
Account Manager in Construction for Job Squad – Fully Remote
Are you a good sales person and have you worked with construction before? Then maybe this is the job for you!
Currency
The Euro (symbol: €, ISO: EUR) is the official currency in Italy
Famous people
Some famous Italians are Andrea Bocelli, Giorgio Armani and Damiano David (frontman Måneskin)
Population
Italy has ~59 million residents, with Rome and Milan being the biggest cities with more than a million residents
Typical food
Pasta, pizza, gelato, risotto, focaccia, tiramisù
Avg. working week
Italy has an average of 36 hour work week, 8 hours daily, 5 days a week
Location
Italy lies in southern Europe, with the Mediterranean Sea on the south of it. France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia are the neighboring countries in the north
Languages
The official language is Italian, and they use the Latin script
Healthcare
High standards, universal healthcare system which provides free or low-cost healthcare to residents
What you need to know about working in Italy
In the Italian working culture, relationships matter:
- Small talk and social interactions are part of this. In Italy, you don’t just rush into business. You have to build relationships with each other first.
- Personal time and family life is important. The Italians live by ‘La dolce vita’: work is important, but life is more than just working all the time.
- Most workplaces have a clear hierarchy, which is respected. Team collaboration however is important, so all members of the team can offer their input.
- Appearance matters in Italy. Fashion is important in the country, and also within the working culture. When you work in Italy, give some thought to your outfit, it will be appreciated.
There is a difference between working in the north of Italy and working in the south:
- In the north punctuality is important. Meetings start on time and it is expected that you are punctual too.
- In the south there is a more relaxed tempo. Meetings can start late and lunchbreaks can take a bit longer than expected.
The average salary in Italy varies by industry, but professionals earn €35K-€45K EUR annually.
Taxes in Italy
Italy has a progressive tax rate, which means the following tax rates for your income:
- Up to €28,000: 23%
- €28,000-€50,000: 33%
- Above €50,000: 43%
What you need to fix when you start living in Italy
- Get a tax code; this is required for everything, from your job contract to opening a bank account
- Register your residence; required for healthcare and taxes
- Open an Italian bank account; needed for salary payments
- Register for healthcare; you can do this through the public system
- Get a local SIM card
Popular cities in Italy
Speak to one of our recruiters
Life in Italy
Italy will be the perfect destination for you, if you like eating pizza, history, stunning architecture and beach life.
With a long coastline with approximately 3.300 kilometers of beaches, there will always be a spot for you to enjoy the water. Especially the islands of Italy offer lots of beautiful beaches like La Pelosa in Sardinia and Favignana in Sicily.
You will find a diverse and multinational environment, tourists ranging from backpackers to history seekers and people on work visa.
Finding accommodation in Italy
The best ways to find housing and rentals depends on the area/city you want to live in. Finding housing in the big cities can be competitive. The northern, bigger cities Milan can be expensive. The same goes for Rome. A lot of people look for housing in these cities. Further south, in Naples, it is a bit easier to find housing. On average, these are the monthly rental prizes in Italy:
- 1-bedroom apartment in the city center: €700-€1,400
- 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center: €500-€900
- Room in a shared apartment: €300-€600
Cost of living in Italy
We list the most important costs of life for an expat in Italy. Note that this is an average. Prizes can be higher in the bigger cities.
- Groceries: €150-€300 a month
- Basic meal in a restaurant: €10-€25
- Coffee in a café: €1,50-€3
- Glass of wine in a bar: €4-€7
- Gym membership: €35-€70 a month
- Cinema ticket: €9-€12
Typical food in Italy
Italian food is often seen as one of the best in the world. Some of Italy’s most famous foods and drinks are:
- Pizza: one of the most popular foods in the world. Pizza originated in Naples and the Neapolitean pizza style is simple but holy. The making process of this pizza is included on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
- Pasta: another food that is holy in Italian cuisine. Italy has hundreds of pasta shapes and recipes. The dishes emphasize on few, but high-quality ingredients. Recipes are often passed down through generations. Pasta dishes like spaghetti carbonara and pesto alla Genovese.
- Bread & Antipasti: Focaccia and bruschetta, mostly prepared with delicious olive oil.
- Italian seafood: Along the long coastline you can find the most delicious seafood, like mixed fried seafood and spaghetti with clams
- Gelato: Ice cream, made with more milk, less cream and less air. It’s made with fresh ingredients and tastes more dense and creamy than ‘regular’ ice cream
- Espresso: Drinking espresso is a daily routine for almost everyone in Italy. Drinking it together is seen as a social ritual and a moment to pause and relax
- Wine: Italy is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. Italians are proud of their wines, which they drink at almost every social event. They drink wine slowly and really focus on enjoying the taste.
Italians eat dinner quite late, compared to other European countries. Eating between 8:30-10:30 pm is regular. Italians also love long dinners, lasting 2-3 hours sometimes.
Still not convinced about Italy?
Italians are known for their passion in everything they do:
- They are raised to be very expressive, being encouraged to show their emotions. Communication goes with tone and lots of gestures.
- Strong opinions and emotional expression are culturally accepted in the country.
- You experience this best during sporting events. The passion you find inside an Italian football stadium is thrilling, with lots of emotion and loud chanting. Italians eat, sleep and breathe football. If you want to connect with strangers in Italy, talking about Calcio (football) is a great starting point.
Italians love celebrating, and they obviously do this with passion. You can celebrate Ferragosto (Assumption Day) on the 15th of August. On this day, everyone is free from working and celebrates with family and friends by organising big meals, barbecues or picnics.
FAQ
No, you do not need a work permit if you are an EU/EEA citizen, but if you are staying for longer than three months you will need to get a Certificate of Residence.
In the bigger cities most people speak relatively good English. You can talk in English in restaurants and shops. Younger Italians are also quite good at English, making it easier for you to communicate. It is however smart to start learning some Italian, as it makes acclimatising easier for you.
It depends on the region where you live. In Northern Italy (Milan), winters are cold with lots of snow, especially in the Alps. Summers are nice, with temperatures ranging from mid-20s to low 30s °C.
Central Italy (Rome) has mild and rainy winters (5-15 °C), with hot and dry summers (28-35 °C). Snow is very rare in the winters. In the summer, especially the nights are warm and pleasant.
Southern Italy winters are mild and quite pleasant (10-15 °C) and the summers are hot and dry, with temperatures from mid to high 30 °C. In the spring the landscape blooms beautifully.
The transportation system in Italy is well-developed:
- Public transport: The big cities offer trains, trams and buses. In seven cities there are metros, including Milan, Naples, Rome and Turin. You can use contactless payment or buy tickets for the public transport in Italy.
- Domestic Flights: If you want to travel from one Italian city to another, you could book domestic flights. Italy has 37 airports, with every big city having at least one.
- Driving: Renting a car is a great way to explore different parts of Italy. The country is big, but not too big for exploring every spot by car. The roads are generally well-maintained.
- Taxis & Ride-Sharing: Uber and other ride-sharing services are widely available in the big Italian cities.
- Bicycles: It depends on the city. Milan is one of the most bike-friendly cities of Italy, but in Rome and Naples cycling is more challenging and not that usual.
- Trains: Intercity trains are one of the best options for travelling through Italy. It’s not the quickest way of travel, but it gets you to where you want to be. For example from Rome to Naples (~1 hour, 15 minutes) or from Milan to Rome (~3 hours).
There are always benefits when learning another language: you have the possibility to blend in a new culture. Italians are famous for their hospitality and help you, even more, when they realise you’re learning the language. You can check HERE for Italian courses with immersive experiences for you to learn the actual culture behind the language.