✦ Cost of living
Florence
Florence, Italy
US = 100
In plain terms: Florence is about 2% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $900/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing95−5%
- Food & groceries104+4%
- Transport78−22%
- Utilities118+18%
- Healthcare80−20%
- Goods & services106+6%
Is Florence expensive?
Not really — Florence indexes at 98 against a US average of 100, so a month here lands within a few percent of a typical US city. Expect the surprises in individual lines rather than in the total.
Of the 87 cities we track, Florence ranks #46 by overall cost — 41 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Florence costs
One person
$2,460/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$3,510/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$6,060/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $680 | $900 | $1,700 |
| Food & groceries | $480 | $700 | $1,160 |
| Transport | $470 | $690 | $1,150 |
| Utilities | $240 | $350 | $590 |
| Healthcare | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Goods & services | $370 | $540 | $910 |
| Total per month | $2,460 | $3,510 | $6,060 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Florence
An open-air museum in the Tuscan hills — Renaissance art, Chianti country on the doorstep and a walkable historic core. Tourism keeps the centre pricey and busy, but salaries are modest and it runs cheaper than Milan or Rome overall.
- Currency
- Euro (€ EUR)
- Languages
- Italian
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Internet
- 120 Mbps
- English
- Fairly common
- Safety
- 60/100
- Climate
- ❄ 7°C · ☀ 26°C · 240 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- F/L · 230V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Oltrarno · Santa Croce · San Marco · Campo di Marte
About
“Cradle of the Renaissance”
An open-air museum in the Tuscan hills — Renaissance art, Chianti country on the doorstep and a walkable historic core. Tourism keeps the centre pricey and busy, but salaries are modest and it runs cheaper than Milan or Rome overall.
- Currency
- Euro · EUR
- Languages
- Italian
- Coordinates
- 43.77, 11.26
- Emergency
- 112
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
43%
Income tax
progressive
22%
VAT / sales
24%
Corporate
26%
Capital gains
$1,900
Avg net salary
per month
Plus regional/municipal surcharges.
Flat-tax regimes for new residents and impatriates.
Visas & residency
Quota-based work permits (Decreto Flussi); new digital-nomad route.
✈ Schengen 90/180 for many passports.
Passive income.
Permanent residence after ~5 yrs. Citizenship after ~10 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
70/100
Safety
60/100
Healthcare
80/100
Pollution
48/100
Internet
120 Mbps
Jan avg
+7 °C
Jul avg
+26 °C
Sunny days
240/yr
Walkability
84/100
Public transit
68/100
Family-friendly
66/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Moderate
- Expat community
- Medium
- Coworking spaces
- 18
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Florence without a car?
78/100
Car-free score
84/100
Walkability
68/100
Public transport
Yes — Florence scores 78/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Florence indexes at 78 against a US average of 100 — about 22% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Florence ranks #15 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Florence — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$900
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$680
- Inexpensive meal$15
- Monthly transit pass$40
- Utilities (monthly)$190
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Florence, IT expensive to live in?
Florence, IT's cost-of-living index is 98 (US average = 100) — about 2% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #46 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,460 a month and a family of four around $6,060, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Florence, IT?
Florence, IT's cost-of-living index is 98 (US average = 100) — about 2% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $900 per month.
What are the average living costs in Florence, IT?
Living costs in Florence, IT are about 2% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 98 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $900. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Florence, IT?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $900 per month, and around $680 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Italy?
Italy has a top income-tax rate of 43% and a VAT or sales tax of 22%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Florence, IT?
Florence, IT averages around +7 °C in January and +26 °C in July, with roughly 240 sunny days a year.
Is Florence, IT safe?
Florence, IT scores 60 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Florence, IT without a car?
Florence, IT scores 78/100 on our car-free score — 84/100 for walkability and 68/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.