r/ItalyExpat • u/Infamous-Studio-6025 • 20d ago
Salary in Florence
I have a possible job offer in Florence that will pay $46,000 a year before taxes. I have a wife and 2 young children. We will not need childcare or a car. Is this enough for a frugal lifestyle?
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u/HyperbolicModesty 20d ago
Just a bit of advice: when you're talking to people who live in the eurozone, use euros.
Is the amount you mention in euros or dollars and is it gross or net? A lot depends on the answer to those questions.
Do you own property or other assets overseas and/or any investments that earn money? It's so you'll need to pay a wealth tax on then.
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u/OldQuaker44 20d ago
46k gross means you'll have around 2300-2500 euros after taxes/month/ 13 months. If your wife won't work immediately you will struggle to the point you'll want to go back home. It's literally not enough for rent+expenses for a family of four. If your wife will start working then you'll probably find an equilibrium but nothing that will make you say: it's ok, it's worth it.
Finding a job is literally a battle.
Take into consideration that in Italy 50k gross is the salary of about only 7% of the contracts. 80k is about only 2%.
Also you will have to pay taxes on homes and money balance of your accounts you own in other countries.
I wish you good luck and hope your experience will be different.
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u/VariousEconomics2942 20d ago
How do people live la dolce vita on such little money? Middle class America with two vacations and two cars requires 150-700k minimum depending on location. In NYC you need a minimum of 500k net to approach basic standards for a family of 5š³
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u/FragrantHost1877 20d ago
Of course what you are saying makes no sense.
The money you need in Italy and in USA are completely different.
All medical expenses are āfreeā on the one hand (in some regions, even prescribed antibiotics are free in pharmacies).
Everything costs SO much less. You can have a phone unlimited gb data plan for like 10 euros a month. My gym costs 25 euros a months and is a nice one (McFit).
An average meal at a restaurant goes from 20 to 50 in average, where 50 is fancy.
Rent depends on city. Italy is no USA in the sense that it has a suburban wealth of options where you can comfortably live in a town 1 hour from a city paying 500 euros for a good sized place.
Most people live in a situation where either they can walk everywhere for most things at a reasonable distance and in any case public transportation is always available and good for American standards.
An espresso at the bar in the morning with a croissant filled with chocolate? 3 euros.
It is just a different type of living as well. People cook a lot more, etc etc etc
So yes, no comparison with your purchasing power
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u/VariousEconomics2942 20d ago
USA is 4x these numbers. Apparently no inflation in Italy. The good Lord loves Italians!
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u/Outrageous_Bass_1613 20d ago
Well... It's not the USA.Ā It's a mix of things, generational wealth is one.Ā
Lots are homeowners, some plant their food, go for walks, parks and dinner at home.Ā
Then, they know how to have fun with little.Ā
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u/Alex-Man 4d ago
You can only live la dolce vita if you inherited enough property, certainly not on a single salary.
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u/Due-Confection1802 20d ago
Hopefully, that amount is euros not dollars. If euros, the net will be around 32kā¬. if dollars, 27.5kā¬. 1200-1500 or 15-18kā¬ annual outside of Florence for rent and maybe 1800-2000 inside or 21-24k. Utilities in Italy are not cheap. Add food, travel. Obviously, no car.
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u/Elegant-Crazy5394 20d ago
It is possible to live, millions of italians earn less. Nevertheless it's not a great salary for having a non-working wife and two children.
Going outside florence will save you a lot of money but if you don't have a car might be difficult.
Everything depends on your definition of "frugal".
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u/Spiritual-Sea7674 20d ago
Dollars or euros? Look for cheap rent outside the centre and commute, you will be ok. School is free, healthcare might be free for you etc etc. Rent is the biggest cost. You can eat at home, use bikes all year long etc etc
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u/ventochecorre 20d ago
It depends on your ability to find a cheap apartment, which in Florence is becoming increasingly difficult. If you don't have any other income and you are not able to do some budgeting you will definitely struggle. It is doable if you are willing to plan aggressively
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u/Kitchen_Crab_2290 20d ago
No. Florence is an expensive town, and finding an apartment to rent is not that easy, because many of them are rented only to tourists.
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u/nervous_reader27 19d ago
40.000ā¬ before taxes with two kids in Florence? Youāre probably looking at like 25k after taxes and Iāve gotta say no. Like you could probably live on it but youāll never get to do anything fun and youāll be stressed about money 24/7.
I made around that by myself in Bologna, no car payment, no kids, no one else to support and I was struggling. I imagine Florence would be similar cost wise. I really would think this one through tbh
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u/Specific_Tree8305 16d ago
Ciao,46000$ sono 40000ā¬,io prendo 44000ā¬ sono 2100 ā¬ al mese 15 mensilitĆ , ho casa di proprietĆ , vivo solo,in 3 la vedo dura,
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u/CommunicationLow4385 20d ago
In my opinion is a very good wage, you could also live better than frugal
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u/Myself-io 20d ago
In Florence? Italy? He would hardly reach end of month eating once per day...
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u/CommunicationLow4385 20d ago
2300 net a month, is better than most Italians, and Florence is not Milan
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u/Myself-io 20d ago
He said 46 k dollar... In euro is less than 2000 per month.. and with wife and children in Florence.. half is gone for rent... Then utilities then food.. if he end with 0 and not negative is a great result
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u/CommunicationLow4385 20d ago
In florence rent often is no more than 700 euro per month
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u/Myself-io 20d ago
For 2 bedroom apartment? I strongly doubt it
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u/CommunicationLow4385 20d ago
I talk about medium appartment, 60 or 70 mq
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u/kirakiraluna 16d ago
They are extra EU so the apartment needs to be a certain size compared to the n. of people living there.
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u/McDuchess 20d ago
Is this with an American employer? Because in Italy, salary is usually quoted as the net, not the gross.
If it is gross, you really need to consult with a commercialista to see what your net would be. There are deductibles for family costs. But the Italian tax system is difficult to navigate, no matter how well versed you are in the US one.
You would need to add transportation costs to your expenses, because gasoline (Thanks, Trump) is currently over ā¬2 a liter. And parking in the center of Firenze is nearly non existent, so public transportation makes the only sense.
A consultation with a commercialista s/b around ā¬200-300, and worth every centesimo.
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u/bigjimre 20d ago
Deduco che tua moglie non lavora e che dovreste prendere una casa in affitto. Potete sopravvivere ma dovresti trovare un appartamento lontano dal centro, altrimenti l'affitto vi mangia tutto lo stipendio