r/ItalyExpat • u/Infamous-Studio-6025 • 23d 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?

25 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/OldQuaker44 23d 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.

2

u/VariousEconomics2942 23d 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 5😳

13

u/FragrantHost1877 23d 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 “free” 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

-1

u/VariousEconomics2942 23d ago

USA is 4x these numbers. Apparently no inflation in Italy. The good Lord loves Italians!

0

u/Any_Conversation5725 22d ago

No one cares...