The Cost of Living in Abruzzo: What the Blogs Don't Tell You

The Reality Check

Let us start with what you have probably read: Abruzzo is one of Italy's most affordable regions. That is true. Property costs less than Tuscany. Restaurants are cheaper than Rome. A coffee at the bar is still EUR1.20, not EUR3.50. According to ISTAT regional cost of living data, Abruzzo ranks 16th out of 20 Italian regions for expenses, with an average monthly cost around EUR1,200 for a single person.

What is also true: "affordable" is relative. If you are comparing to London, Milan, or San Francisco, almost anywhere seems cheap. If you are comparing to your fixed retirement income, or to the vague assumption that Italy is just inexpensive, you might be surprised.

The numbers below come from actual residents, actual bills, and actual shopping trips. Not from someone who visited for a week and extrapolated. Not from aggregated data that mixes Rome prices with rural village prices.

Two important caveats before we start. First, costs vary significantly between Pescara (the main city) and small inland villages. Rent in Pescara runs about 40% higher than in Chieti province. Second, your first year will cost more than subsequent years. Setup costs, deposits, furniture, a car, professional fees. Do not extrapolate year-one expenses to predict ongoing costs.

Monthly Cost Breakdown

Notice the range. The low end is possible, but it assumes you cook at home, drive minimally, and nothing breaks. The high end assumes you are living comfortably without overthinking every purchase. Most people land somewhere in the middle, around EUR1,400-EUR1,600 per month excluding housing.

Housing Costs

If You Are Renting

The average rent in Abruzzo is around EUR8 per square metre per month, significantly lower than northern Italy. But this varies dramatically by location. Pescara averages EUR9.50/sqm; Chieti province averages EUR6.50/sqm. For a 70sqm two-bedroom apartment:

• Village apartment (inland): EUR300-EUR450/month
• Town apartment (Chieti, Teramo): EUR400-EUR550/month
• Pescara city: EUR550-EUR750/month
• Coastal (summer areas): EUR500-EUR800/month
• Farmhouse/villa: EUR600-EUR1,200/month

Long-term rentals are cheaper than holiday lets but harder to find, especially furnished and in good condition. Budget for a deposit (usually 2-3 months) and potentially an agency fee (one month's rent). Utilities are almost always excluded from rent.

If You Own

If you have bought property outright, your housing costs are taxes and maintenance. Annual property taxes (IMU + TARI) typically run EUR800-EUR1,500 depending on property classification, size, and municipality. IMU is the main municipal tax, calculated on cadastral value at rates between 0.76% and 1.06%. TARI is the waste collection tax, based on square metres and occupancy.

Important: if you are not registered as a resident at the property (most foreigners initially are not), you pay IMU as a second home owner. You cannot claim the main residence exemption until you have official residency at that address.

Maintenance on older properties averages EUR1,000-EUR3,000 annually. More if you are dealing with deferred maintenance or ongoing renovation. Stone houses in mountain villages look romantic but have higher heating costs and more maintenance issues than modern apartments.

Food & Groceries

Food is one area where Abruzzo genuinely delivers value. Local produce is excellent and reasonably priced. Supermarkets are cheaper than the UK or US for most items, and local markets offer even better deals on seasonal produce.

According to ISTAT consumer spending data for 2025, a family of four in Italy spends an average of EUR550-EUR650 monthly on groceries, up about 7.5% from 2024. A couple can manage on EUR350-EUR500 if shopping strategically. A single person: EUR200-EUR300.

Shopping tips: Lidl and Eurospin offer the best value for basics. Conad and Coop are mid-range with better selection. Local markets (mercato) on specific days offer excellent produce. Avoid SPAR and convenience stores, which charge premium prices.

Eating Out

Dining out remains genuinely affordable in Abruzzo. A coffee at the bar: EUR1-EUR1.30 (standing) or EUR1.50-EUR2 (seated). An aperitivo with snacks: EUR3-EUR5. A pizza: EUR6-EUR9. A full meal at a local trattoria: EUR15-EUR25 per person including wine. Even upscale restaurants rarely exceed EUR50-EUR60 per person.

Budget EUR150-EUR400 per month for a couple who dines out once or twice a week.

What Things Cost at a Glance

Quick reference for everyday costs in Abruzzo. These are prices we actually pay, not averages from a database.

Utilities

Utilities are one of the most surprising costs for newcomers. Italy has some of Europe's highest electricity prices, around EUR0.33 per kWh including taxes (ARERA, the Italian energy regulator). Gas prices have stabilised since the 2022 spike but remain significant, especially for heating.

Electricity

For a typical household, expect EUR70-EUR150 per month depending on usage and season. Air conditioning in summer and electric heating in winter both spike bills significantly. Many Italian homes have limited power capacity (3kW standard), which means you cannot run multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously without tripping the breaker.

Gas

Gas bills vary dramatically by season. Summer: EUR20-EUR50 (cooking and hot water only). Winter: EUR100-EUR250 or more depending on heating method and insulation. Mountain properties and older buildings can see winter gas bills of EUR300-EUR400. Annual total for a typical household: EUR800-EUR1,300.

Water

Water is relatively cheap in Abruzzo. Expect EUR20-EUR40 per month for a typical household, billed quarterly or annually.

Internet & Phone

Fibre broadband: EUR25-EUR35 per month. Mobile plans: EUR8-EUR15 per month for generous data. Combined packages are often better value. Coverage in rural areas is generally good, though some very remote locations may have limited options.

TV Tax

The Canone RAI (public broadcasting tax) is EUR90 per year, charged automatically through your electricity bill in ten monthly instalments. You can request exemption if you genuinely have no TV or devices capable of receiving broadcasts, but the process requires a sworn declaration.

Transport

Unless you live in central Pescara, you need a car. Public transport exists but is infrequent and does not reach most villages. This is non-negotiable for rural living.

Fuel

Petrol (benzina) currently runs EUR1.75-EUR1.85 per litre. Diesel (gasolio) is slightly cheaper at EUR1.65-EUR1.75 per litre. LPG is about EUR0.75-EUR0.80 per litre if your car is converted. Self-service pumps are cheaper than staffed ones. Supermarket petrol stations (Carrefour, Coop) offer the best prices.

For typical usage (800-1,000km per month), budget EUR100-EUR180 monthly on fuel depending on your car's efficiency.

Car Insurance

Italian car insurance averages around EUR350-EUR500 per year for basic coverage, though rates vary by age, driving history, and vehicle. New foreign residents often pay more initially due to lack of Italian driving history. Shop around; prices vary significantly between providers.

Road Tax & Maintenance

Road tax (bollo auto) depends on your car's power output, typically EUR150-EUR300 per year. Annual service and maintenance: EUR150-EUR300. Budget for occasional repairs, especially with older vehicles.

Tolls

The A14 autostrada runs along the coast. Tolls add up if you commute or travel frequently. Pescara to Rome via autostrada: about EUR15-EUR20 one way. Many locals use free roads (strade statali) to avoid tolls, though journeys take longer.

Healthcare

If you are enrolled in the Italian public health system (SSN), most care is free or low-cost. GP visits are free. Hospital care is free. You pay small co-pays (ticket) for prescriptions and specialist visits, typically EUR15-EUR36 per appointment.

If you are not enrolled (non-residents, or during the gap before enrollment), you need private insurance. For visa applications, this is mandatory anyway.

• Basic private insurance: EUR50-EUR100/month
• Comprehensive private insurance: EUR100-EUR200/month
• Voluntary SSN enrollment (if eligible): EUR2,000-EUR2,788/year

Many residents use a hybrid approach: public system for major care, private for speed or specific specialists. A private GP visit: EUR50-EUR80. Private specialist consultation: EUR75-EUR150. Budget EUR500-EUR1,000 per year for occasional private care on top of your basic coverage.

Dental and vision are mostly not covered by SSN. Budget for private dentistry (cleaning: EUR60-EUR100; filling: EUR80-EUR150) and opticians separately.

Hidden Costs

The costs that do not appear in blog posts or budget calculators:

Trips Back Home

Flights from Pescara are limited (mainly Ryanair to a few destinations). Rome Fiumicino is 2-3 hours away. If you are flying back to the UK or US twice a year, budget EUR500-EUR1,500 per person per trip including transport to the airport.

Visitors

Everyone wants to visit you in Italy. Feeding, entertaining, and driving them around adds up. Some people budget a separate "visitor fund" of EUR1,000-EUR2,000 per year.

Admin and Professional Fees

Accountant (commercialista) for annual tax filings: EUR300-EUR800 per year. Document translations, apostilles, legal consultations: irregular but real. Notary fees for any official property changes. These add up, especially in your first few years.

Things That Break

The boiler. The car. The washing machine. The roof tile. In older properties especially, maintenance surprises are inevitable. Build a contingency of EUR2,000-EUR5,000 per year depending on property age and condition.

The Setup Year

Your first year costs more. Deposits, furniture, appliances, a car if you do not have one, professional fees, setup costs. Expect your first year to cost 20-40% more than a typical year. Do not panic; do not extrapolate.

Currency Fluctuation

If your income is in pounds or dollars, the exchange rate matters. A 10% swing either way significantly affects your buying power. Consider this when planning your budget.

Budget Scenarios

Add children, pets, hobbies, or health issues and adjust accordingly. A single person can reduce groceries and some other costs by about 30-40%.

The Bottom Line

Can you live on EUR1,000 per month in Abruzzo? If you own your home outright, cook at home, drive minimally, and nothing goes wrong, yes. Is that realistic long-term for most people? Probably not.

EUR1,500-EUR2,000 per month (for a couple, owning their home) allows a comfortable life with dining out, the occasional trip, and breathing room for surprises. EUR2,500+ means genuine comfort and the ability to absorb problems without stress.

If you are renting, add EUR400-EUR700 to those figures.

The question is not whether Abruzzo is cheap. It is, compared to most of Western Europe and certainly compared to the UK or US. The question is whether your income matches your expectations for daily life. Adjust one or the other before you arrive, not after.