Job Discussion Forums

[Dave_1]

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[Teacher in Rome]

Hi Dave

Generally speaking, you earn more in the north of Italy, but the living costs are higher. You'll earn more in cities too, though rents are high there. Possibly the best earning-outgoings ration is to be found in small provincial cities or towns, where rents aren't too high, but pay isn't too low, either. Try the towns around major cities in the north, such as Milan, Turin or Venice.

Savings? Hard to do, if teaching is your only income. If you work for a language school, you're likely to work at most ten months a year (and get paid for ten - not twelve). If you work in the state school sector, you'll work on and off. For example, I work October - December, then January - March on a combination of lettore classes and exam preparation classes.

Living costs have gone up a lot since I've been here (seven years). There have been price hikes in utilities, food, clothes, shoes - but no corresponding hikes in pay. Many Italian families have difficulty getting to the end of the month, and there are many more people now officially classed as being under the poverty line. The economy has never been particularly good, but the whole of the Eurozone is now heading towards major recession - Italy included.

Oh, and don't forget the taxes, which your employer will pay for you if you have a contract, but which you'll need to take care of if you go self-employed. 20% income tax, plus a further 20% (more or less) in the equivalent of NI. You'll need an accountant to fill out the forms for you if you work as a freelancer - don't even think about doing them on your own!

Having said all this, I don't think that Italy is necessarily a bad place to live and work, as long as you realise that you won't save much. Like anywhere else, if you settle in one place and make some contacts, you'll get by. If you're a good teacher, with experience, qualifications and a "serious" attitude to work, you'll always have students willing to pay.

[Teacher in Rome]

Sorry - didn't include what it actually costs to live here!

Here are my costs, but bear in mind I live in the middle of nowhere, and I need a car as public services are few and far between. I share the costs with my husband.

Mortgage / bank costs: �500 pcm
Car loan repayments: �170 pcm
Petrol etc: �100 - 150 pcm
Internet access / mobile phone: �75 pcm (we don't get broadband so far out of town)
Utilities: probably a further �100 pcm
Wood (for heating): �600 per year
Accountant costs: anywhere between �600 and �800 per year each.

All in all, about �1000 pcm before food, and before taxes. We eat well, and our household / food costs are probably between �100 and �150 per week.

Our respective incomes fluctuate wildly, as we both work freelance. A question of saving when we have good months for the lean times and the months when taxes are due...

[Dave_1]