Italy : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in Italy
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Cagliari?
As the capital of the island of Sardinia, you would expect Cagliari to be extremely expensive.
However, while in some aspects that might be true, in others it is not.
It mostly depends on your priorities and what you choose to save up on, and – on the other hand – what you choose to spend your money on.
As a general rule, though, the most expensive thing about living costs in Cagliari, Sardinia is the rent, and once you’ve to go that taken care of, most other things are pretty reasonable.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Cagliari
RESTAURANTS
As for going out and eating at restaurants, the amount of money you spend is up to you, and if you want to save up, you can always order a pizza that ranges between 3$ and 9$, or pasta, or even a cheaper beer for around 3$.
If you want to have a really nice dinner at a restaurant, count on paying between 15$ and 50$.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $15.96 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $3.72 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.04 |
MARKETS
Living (and eating) expense again depends on your standard of living but in general, your monthly expense could come out to be somewhere between 110–150$ – this is if you’re being thrifty and smart about your food, and not splurging around.
If you plan on cooking, take advantage of their pasta, it’s cheap and nutritious.
For a (very Italian) reference, let’s say that a kilo of pasta is around 2$ and tomato sauce is 1$ for 700m.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.34 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.13 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.98 |
TRANSPORTATION
Driving a bicycle (while living at a close distance from the center of Cagliari), is honestly the best combination for anyone.
You avoid spending money, and traffic jams, and are generally free to roam around.
However, if you must use public transport, a monthly ticket for all public transport in town can move within the range of 37$.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $1.38 |
| Monthly Pass | $36.71 |
| Gasoline | $2.06 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Including electricity, water, garbage, heating and cooling, basic monthly utilities don’t cost as much as they do in some other countries and they really don’t take up a lot of the people’s salaries.
For an apartment around 85m2 (which is definitely bigger than a usual apartment for one or two people), these will cost you 200$ approximately.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $198.05 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.16 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $28.73 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Sports are definitely expensive in Cagliari, which is a phenomenon typical for most European countries.
However, young people love to take care of themselves, so a considerable part of their monthly salaries is spent on these activities.
A membership at the gym or a fitness club can’t go by without you cashing out around 55$, while movie lovers will pay a somewhat cheaper price than in some other cities in Italy – around 8$ per person for a cinema ticket.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $54.73 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $18.98 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $8.51 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
All around Italy, there are plenty of shops and boutiques where you can buy clothing, shoes, and accessories, and Cagliari is no exception.
It is, in fact, full of shopping malls where you can buy these.
If you want a pair of Levi’s, it will cost you around 95.77$, though.
Quality sneakers cost about the same.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $95.77 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $38.01 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $91.78 |
RENT PER MONTH
Being one of the most expensive aspects of living in Italy, it’s no wonder that rent is expensive in Cagliari, too.
If you’re looking to rent an apartment and save some money, you will need to stroll out of the city center and here you can rent one for around 673.96$ which is actually relatively low for Italy’s average rent price.
However, prepare another 200$ if you’re looking for a one or two-room apartment in the city center.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $673.96 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $510.79 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1064.15 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Cagliari?
An average citizen of Cagliari spends most of his or her money on food, in markets and grocery stores. As we mentioned, you can count on 200$ a week going on food, if you have a family and not living as a student.
And if you want to shop for food without saving up and worrying about every penny, your monthly food expenses can reach more than 250$ a week.
Next on the list of biggest expenses in Cagliari is rent, as it can be pretty steep in certain areas.
Restaurants and transportation go side by side like in most countries – though restaurants don’t need to be pricey if you choose food economically.
Finally, the last on the list is, as per usual, clothing and sports, with sports having a higher percentage than clothing.
Average Costs Breakdown
Cagliari: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Citizens of Cagliari (and most other Italian cities) have a relatively reasonable minimum wage which allows them to cover their rent and additional expenses without stress.
Their monthly average net salary is around 1500$, which basically means that, for the most part, people that live here can manage their salary so they can pay everything up front, live comfortably and not worry about making ends meet.
However, rent is still pretty expensive in some parts of the city, compared to other expenses so, those that are renting will save up much less from their salary.
Cost of Living by City in Italy
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bologna |
69.5 |
| Florence |
77.21 |
| Genoa |
75.38 |
| Milan |
73.89 |
| Naples |
61.3 |
| Padova |
73.49 |
| Palermo |
61.16 |
| Rome |
69.03 |
| Trieste |
71.51 |
| Turin |
66.68 |
Anywhere in Italy is expensive but if you’re looking to budget-friendly cities, then Cagliari can be the one that you are looking for.
So it is expensive in Cagliari. I’m planning to go there with my friends and I think it is doable because we just want to relax before my wedding.
So basically, if you can find a way to live without spending a fortune on rent, you’re golden? Sounds like one of those places where the rent is higher so you can have all the gelato you want!
It’s interesting to hear that rent is the biggest expense in Cagliari. I always thought it would be a lot pricier overall. Sounds like with some smart budgeting, you could really enjoy all that beautiful island life without breaking the bank!