The mystery of average Italian salaries
May 15th, 2008 by Peggy
My friend and her family are considering moving to Ireland. We got onto the topic of quality of life as I told her that many of my students are convinced that Italy has one of the highest qualities of life. Both my friend and I have our doubts, especially since my friend is considering moving to Italy. I started doing some research for my friend gathering some statistics to see if in reality life may be better in Ireland. I wanted to start with something relatively easy…let’s say average salary. Well I went to Eurostat to get those statistics and would you know it, both Italy and Ireland did not provide that data.
I remember reading in some Italian newspaper about a year ago that the average monthly salary was 800 euros. Well, I now would like some kind of confirmation. I did a google search which was unsuccessful and then I went to ISTAT’s site - the Italian National Institute of Statistics - and again could not find this data. This really bothered me, so I wrote to them today asking for this info. Is it possible that there is no official data regarding average salaries in Italy?
I think that the average salary in Italy is 1000 euros. They call us “the 1000 euro generation”
The average salary of people who pay taxes…
Dear Peggy,
Italian salaries at at the worst level since 30 years or so. A worker without qualification gets 800 euro per month, the first salary of an engineer is 1200 euro. Consider that a rent in Milan or Rome for one room (not an apartment) is around 400 euro, and an 80 sqm apt in a village (not in a city) may cost 700 euro/month.
At the moment 50% Italian families do not have 1900 euro per month, 30% of them cannot face an unexpected expense of 600 euro and 54% of them cannot put money aside. Poverty level is 30% below 18 years old (see ISTAT). People do not have the money to get married and as a result of this we have the lowest fertility rate in Europe.
The average apartment in Rome costs 4000 euro/sqm, in Milan 4800 eur/sqm. With a salary here you need a 35-year-mortgage to buy a small apartment.
Are you still sure you wanna come to Italy?
Good Luck in Ireland!
Emanuele (Rome)
Hi Emanuele,
Thanks for your valuable info. Unfortunately, we are one of those families making less the 1900 euros a month here in Italy. Another “unfortunately,” we are not considering moving to Ireland, my friends are. We are already in Italy and it has been tough, especially after the Euro introduction. I hope things are better for you in beautiful Roma.
Ciao!
Peggy