How Much Does it Cost to Study Abroad in Italy?

Italy has a cultural significance that is virtually impossible to measure. The country is dazzling, delicious, and full of history — which makes it the perfect place to study abroad! The spectacular cities, ruins, museums, and beaches will thrill you during your experience as a student in Italy. You’ll find a truly romantic quality here that just makes everything that much more beautiful.

Study in Italy and fall in love with your semester.

But...you can’t help wondering about the cost of living in Italy for students, right? With so much to offer, studying abroad in Italy does come with a cost. The experience is priceless — and also a tad pricey if you don’t have scholarships or financial aid backing you up.

Italy is considered a more expensive study abroad location (don’t let the 5-euro bottles of wine fool you!), but with some savvy budgeting, you’ll be on your way to gelato, pizza, and pasta galore in no time!

So...how much does it cost to study abroad in Italy? Here is a rough breakdown of some of the major costs you will face as a student.

What’s the cost of studying abroad in Italy?

1. Airfare

Let’s start with getting to Italy! Ah, if only we could teleport. If you are not from Europe, flights will take up a good chunk of your Italy study abroad budget. You can expect a round trip ticket from North America to cost around $1000, but the cost varies depending on your departing airport.

Once you walk the romantic streets and taste the pasta, you’ll forget about how much you spent on your flight to study abroad in Italy.

Start looking for travel deals early so you can get an idea of what is a reasonable fare from your home city. You can also check out student discount websites such as STA travel to see if there are any flight deals, or set up price alerts with Skyscanner in case the fare drops dramatically while you’re not paying attention (it happens!).

There are some added costs if you are not departing or arriving from a major city, as you will likely have to transfer flights or pay for additional transportation. If you are studying in a smaller city in Italy, trains can be a more economical way to reach your destination once you have arrived in the country.

• Average cost: A round trip flight from North America to Italy can range from $500 - $1500.
• Scholarship: Good Colleges Study Abroad Award

2. Tuition

Tuition costs vary when it comes to studying in Italy. The amount you pay depends on the school or the program you choose to attend. If you are planning on directly enrolling in an Italian school, public universities are usually the cheaper option.

Private universities and Italy study abroad programs are usually more expensive. If you are participating in an exchange program with your home school, you will likely pay your home tuition. 

One of the more popular and stress-free options is to participate in Italy study abroad programs through a third party provider. These are beneficial if you would like some help with setting up in Italy: visa help, accommodation help, and orientation upon arrival are some of the benefits of study in Italy programs.

• Average cost: You can find semester or summer programs in the $3000 range, but if you go all out with a more high end program, you can pay closer to $30,000 for a year (including a range of amenities, of course). Some public universities have yearly tuition in the $3000 range, with some as low as $1000 per year, while private universities can be closer to $10,000 (and more) per year.
• Scholarship: GoTranscript

3. Program fees

While the cost of studying abroad in Italy might be a bit high, it is 100% worth it!

If you choose to study abroad in Italy, programs will replace tuition costs if you’re not enrolling directly in Italy or through your home university. Program prices depend on the length of the program and what amenities are included (for example, if housing is included, the program will be more expensive overall).

Some programs also include some meals and extracurriculars, which can bump up the price; however, it’s a cost that is so worth the experience! One way to lower the cost of studying abroad in Italy is to seek out programs with scholarships and grants. Many programs offer bursaries to reduce the cost to students.

• Average cost: You can expect program costs to range from $3000 per semester to over $30,000 per year, and there is a lot of range in between! 
• Scholarship: ISA Scholarships

4. Housing and living costs

One major cost of living in italy for students is housing. Housing and living costs can vary wildly depending on the location you choose. Big cities like Rome and Milan are exciting but much more expensive, and you’ll find yourself needing to budget more for living expenses, food, and entertainment.

Housing may be included in your program costs, but keep in mind that it may bump the entire program cost up if you choose a program in a larger city (they still have to pay the rent for you!). Living in a homestay will greatly lower your living costs, you will not have to pay as much for rent, and some delicious home cooked meals may be included.

On the other hand, staying in an apartment is exciting — you have a different kind of freedom than living with a family in a homestay, but that also means paying more for rent and groceries. Luckily, groceries are reasonably priced in Italy, and cooking on your own is the most economical way to stick to a student budget.

• Average cost: Rent costs can range from $500 - $1000 per month, and this will be the biggest expense when it comes to living costs. The lower range is more likely in smaller cities, whereas in cities like Rome and Milan, you will spend more. You can get a basic, cheaper meal out for $15 (and you can definitely save on this cost if you buy groceries). Groceries will likely run you around $200 a month. Overall, plan to spend $1000 - $2000 per month on housing and food if these things aren’t included in your program.
• Scholarship: WanderPig’s Study Abroad Scholarship

5. Transportation

Public transportation is the best way to get around in most cities. It is quite affordable, and often even more discounted for students. You can expect to pay around $40 for a monthly public transportation pass — not too bad considering you will likely use it every day!

You’ll be able to explore all different parts of Italy through public transport!

Whether it’s getting to class or getting to the next museum to explore, public transportation is a great way to get around on a budget. Like many countries in Europe, you can get around Italy using trains. It’s perfect for exploring different cities.

• Average costs: Under $2 per ride for most transit fares, and you can expect monthly passes to cost $30 - $60.
• Scholarship: Owner Direct Scholarship

6. Insurance

Don’t forget health insurance! Although Italy is a safe country, you truly never know what can happen. The need for insurance depends on a number of factors, such as your age, home country, and duration of stay. Insurance may be mandatory for some students; it depends on your home country and if you are studying on certain types of visas (EU students are not required to have a visa or health insurance).

If you’re studying in Italy on a study abroad program, some may provide insurance or insurance recommendations. Others may require you to get your own private insurance. Make sure to check what existing coverage you may have, for example, from family or student insurance plans. The cost of insurance will range depending on how comprehensive your plan is and how long you need it for.

• Average cost: Costs range greatly depending on insurance provider, program duration, and coverage.
• Scholarship: Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship

7. Funds to have some fun! 

As a student, you will be scrimping and saving, but you definitely don’t want to miss out on the amazing experiences that Italy has to offer! When you’re not studying, you will want to see all the historical sites, peruse all the museums, eat all the food, drink all the wine, and maybe even pick up a souvenir or two to bring home.

To make sure you can experience all of these things, set aside a “fun budget”. Giving yourself an idea of how much you can spend on extracurriculars will help you keep some of your spending in check, and also stop you from stressing out too much about having a little fun!

• Pro Tip: If you can, you probably want to budget at least $75 a week for fun money. This is enough for a couple of meals out and entrance fees for museums.

Find Financial Resources for Travel on GoAbroad.com

You CAN manage the cost of living in Italy for students!

Study abroad in Italy and every part of it will be worthwhile.

Art, history, and life mingle in the day to day student life in Italy. Idyllic towns and world-famous cities means you will have a varied study abroad experience all within the same small country. When you are budgeting, tuition or program costs and location are two of the most important factors when considering the cost of studying abroad in Italy; smaller cities are more likely to have more reasonable living costs than the major metropolises. 

Studying abroad in Italy is like a dream come true. The sheer amount of history at your fingertips is exciting enough, but you’ll also get beautiful architecture, delicious food, and an awesome student and party culture. It’s easy to see why Italy is one of the top study abroad destinations in the world! Moving to Italy to study can be a costly endeavour, but with some savvy saving and budgeting, you can easily manage the cost of studying abroad in Italy!

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