How much do you need to earn to live here, after Italy takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Italy's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Bologna is roughly €1,774/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,360/month gross (€1,773 net after ~25% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €750 Cheapest neighborhood (Bolognina) | €1,000 Median neighborhood | €1,350 Premium neighborhood (Santo Stefano) |
| Groceries | €320 | €384 | €480 |
| Transport | €37 | €37 | €37 |
| Utilities | €148 | €148 | €148 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €170 | €204 | €255 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,425 | €1,773 | €2,270 |
€1,774/month gross
€2,360/month gross
€3,332/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 5 neighborhoods in Bologna.
Bolognina
12 min by bus
€750 - €900
San Donato
15 min by bus
€800 - €1,000
Zona Universitaria
8 min by walk
€900 - €1,100
Santo Stefano
10 min by walk
€1,250 - €1,450
Centro Storico
5 min by walk
€1,100 - €1,300
Zona Universitaria
8 min by walk
€900 - €1,100
All 5 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore BolognaPlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Italy's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,774/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Bologna. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,360/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Italy.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Bologna is approximately €1,055/month. Rents range from €750 in Bolognina to €1,450 in Santo Stefano.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Bologna cost approximately €320. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Italy are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,774/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 20%. At the comfortable level of €2,360/month, it rises to approximately 25%. This includes income tax and social contributions.