The average rent in Italy is about €15 per square meter per month in 2026, according to major listing portals. That works out to roughly €750 for a 50 m² one-bedroom and €1,200 for an 80 m² two-bedroom nationwide, but the gap between cities is huge. Milan and Florence are well above the average, while Palermo and Turin are far cheaper. These are asking rents, so final contract prices, utilities and agency fees can differ.
Quick Answer
Budget about €750 a month for a 50 m² flat at the national average, €1,000 to €1,800 in Rome, Florence and Milan for 80 m², and under €800 for 80 m² in Palermo. Add utilities and building charges on top.
What Is the Average Rent in Italy?
Italian rents are usually quoted per square meter per month. Immobiliare.it lists a national average of about €14.90/m² for its September 2026 reference period, and idealista reported €15/m² for May 2026, up about 2.2% on May 2025. Both are asking prices from online listings, not signed contracts.
To turn a per-square-meter rate into a monthly rent, multiply it by the size of the flat. The table below does that for a 50 m² one-bedroom and an 80 m² two-bedroom. The monthly amounts are our own calculations from the Immobiliare.it rates, rounded to the nearest euro.
Average Rent in Italy by City
| City | Rent per m² per month | Estimated 50 m² | Estimated 80 m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | €22.32 | €1,116 | €1,786 |
| Florence | €21.75 | €1,088 | €1,740 |
| Rome | €19.13 | €957 | €1,530 |
| Bologna | €16.51 | €826 | €1,321 |
| Naples | €15.33 | €767 | €1,226 |
| Turin | €12.99 | €650 | €1,039 |
| Palermo | €9.70 | €485 | €776 |
| Italy (national) | €14.90 | €745 | €1,192 |
City-level rates are from Immobiliare.it. Idealista’s May 2026 figures point the same way: €23.2/m² in Milan, €21.8 in Florence and €19.8 in Rome. Central districts cost more than the city average, and outer areas cost less.
Average Rent in Italy by Apartment Size
Size is the simplest lever on your rent. A studio or small one-bedroom (30 to 50 m²) costs far less than a family flat, and the difference grows in expensive cities. At Milan’s €22.32/m², a 30 m² studio comes to about €670, a 50 m² flat to €1,116 and a 100 m² flat to €2,232. In Palermo the same three sizes come to about €291, €485 and €970.
Furnished flats, new builds and homes in the historic centre usually ask for more than the city average. Unfurnished flats further from the centre usually ask for less.
Where Is Rent Cheapest in Italy?
Of the cities above, Palermo (€9.70/m²) and Turin (€12.99/m²) are the cheapest. Rents in many smaller southern and inland towns are lower still, though listing data there is thin and prices vary a lot from one town to the next. On idealista’s regional ranking, Valle d’Aosta (€26.6/m²), Lombardy, Tuscany, Lazio and Trentino-Alto Adige are the most expensive regions.
- Lowest cost: Palermo and other southern cities, where an 80 m² flat averages under €800 on the figures above.
- Mid-range: Naples, Bologna and Turin, roughly €1,000 to €1,300 for 80 m².
- Highest cost: Milan, Florence and Rome, about €1,500 to €1,800 for 80 m².
Why Rent Is Higher in Some Italian Cities
Rent follows jobs, universities and tourism. Milan has the country’s largest concentration of corporate jobs, and Florence and Rome compete with short-term tourist lets for the same flats. Cities with fewer jobs and weaker demand, such as many in the south, have lower asking rents.
Within a city, the main price drivers are:
- Distance from the historic centre and metro or train stations
- Whether the flat is furnished
- Building age, floor, lift and energy rating
- Lease type and the length of the contract
Extra Costs Beyond Monthly Rent
The headline rent is not your full housing cost. Budget for the following, and ask the landlord or agent to confirm each item in writing:
- Utilities: Electricity, gas, water and internet are normally billed to the tenant on top of the rent. Amounts depend on the size of the flat, heating type and season.
- Condominium charges (spese condominiali): Some building costs, such as cleaning, lifts and shared heating, are passed on to tenants. Check whether they are included in the quoted rent or billed separately.
- Security deposit: Italian law caps the deposit on a residential lease at three months’ rent.
- Agency fee: If you rent through an agency, ask who pays the fee and how much it is before you sign. It is negotiable and varies by agency.
- Lease tax: Landlords can choose a flat-rate tax regime for rental income, and registration costs are usually shared or handled by the landlord. Confirm this in the contract.
Typical residential contracts are the 4+4 free-market lease and the 3+2 agreed-rent lease. Agreed-rent leases follow local reference prices and can be cheaper. Always read the contract and the energy certificate before you pay a deposit.
How to Pay Less Rent in Italy
- Compare asking prices per square meter in two or three neighborhoods, not just the centre.
- Look at cities with a good rail link instead of the most expensive hub.
- Ask about agreed-rent (3+2) contracts and unfurnished flats.
- Check what is included: rent plus building charges can be higher than a flat that looks pricier.
- Move quickly on good listings, because popular flats in big cities go fast, but never pay a deposit before you have seen the flat and the contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Italy per month?
Listing portals show about €15 per square meter per month nationwide. That is roughly €750 for a 50 m² flat and €1,200 for an 80 m² flat, based on our calculation from the per-square-meter figure. Milan, Florence and Rome are well above that, and Palermo is well below.
Which Italian city has the highest rent?
Among the large cities, Milan, at about €22 to €23 per square meter, or around €1,786 a month for 80 m². Florence is close behind at about €21.75 per square meter.
Where is rent cheapest in Italy?
Of the major cities listed, Palermo is the cheapest at about €9.70 per square meter, followed by Turin at about €12.99. Smaller southern and inland towns can be cheaper again, but prices vary widely.
Are utilities included in Italian rent?
Usually not. Electricity, gas, water and internet are normally billed separately, and some building charges may be passed on to tenants. Ask for a written breakdown before you sign.
How much deposit do landlords ask for in Italy?
Italian law limits the security deposit on a residential lease to three months’ rent. Many landlords ask for one to three months.
Conclusion
The average rent in Italy is about €15 per square meter, which means roughly €750 for a 50 m² flat and €1,200 for 80 m², but your city decides most of the bill. Milan, Florence and Rome cost about twice as much per square meter as Palermo. Compare the per-square-meter rate, check what is included, and add utilities and building charges to your budget.
Related guides: Salary needed to live in Madrid | Average rent in Prague | Salary needed to live in Vienna
Sources
- Immobiliare.it: Real estate market — average rent per m² for Italy and major cities (September 2026 reference period).
- idealista: Rental prices in Italy hit new high in May 2026 — national, city and regional rents.
