Gorgeous country is ‘cheapest place to live’ for British expats

A recent study by YourOverseasHome has revealed the most affordable destinations for British expats, with Italy emerging as the top choice.

In 2022, more than 3.6 million Brits travelled from the UK to the stunning country to experience what Italy has to offer. While you may think of Rome, Milan or Venice as the top places to go and visit in the Mediterrianean destination let’s not forget about locations such as Rimini, Naples and Capri where tourists are less likely to visit but nevertheless just as beautiful.

The research analysed the cost of living in seven countries, including the UK. Despite some Italian cities being known for their high costs, the country was found to be the cheapest overall for long-term living.

YourOverseasHome commented: “Despite there being a few cities and towns that have reputations for being expensive destinations, Italy is by far the cheapest place to live long term when you’re not spending like a traveller.”

They added: “This is despite the fact that energy costs more in Italy.”

The company also acknowledged the true cost of living can vary significantly from region to region. However, they noted that for those residing in typical towns or villages outside of popular tourist areas, Italy is seemingly the most reasonable option, The Express previously reported.

While energy may be pricier in Italy, groceries are generally much cheaper than in the UK. Items such as fish, chocolate, and gin are more than double the price in the UK compared to Italy, although lettuce was found to be cheapest in the UK.

Housing costs in Italy could also lead to savings for Britons, with decorating supplies and domestic cleaning services costing less than in the UK. Electrical items, including TVs and Amazon Alexa Echo Docks, were also found to be cheaper in Italy.

Furthermore, Brits could enjoy a cappuccino in an Italian cafe for just £1 on average, compared to around £3.20 in the UK.

Let’s not forget the recent €1 home scheme in Italy. It could see travellers purchase a home in the beautiful Sicily in a bid to attract expacts to the region.

However, those who wanted to take part in the scheme had to follow some rules including that the property must be renovated within a specific time frame and that the home can only be used for residential or tourism purposes.

Once complete, the homes on offer can fetch up to €30,000 (around £25,000).

Elsewhere, if you love to eat out then you’ll be pleased to know that dining out in Spain is a bargain, with a three-course meal averaging at just £13.

When it comes to dental care, Spain again offers the best deal, with appointments costing approximately £21.50, a stark contrast to Germany’s £50 price tag.

For those seeking entertainment, the UK proves pricier than its European counterparts, with cinema tickets costing significantly more.

Conversely, some items are more affordable on British soil; for instance, paracetamol is nearly 10 times more expensive in Italy.

Fuel costs soar in Greece, where 50 litres of unleaded petrol hit the £86 mark, surpassing the UK’s £81.

Portugal, however, provides some relief for British expats, with the same quantity of petrol priced around £78.

Christopher Nye, Senior Editor at YourOverseasHome.com, commented: “We know that thousands of Britons are considering moving abroad, more so than ever! UK natives are looking to jump ship to avoid high energy costs and neverending price rises.”

“But if you’re moving under the assumption that you’ll be getting more for your money, you could very well be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as prices have shot up across the eurozone too.”

Following the UK, Germany ranks as the next most expensive place to live, with Spain and France trailing behind.

Cheapest destinations for British expats

1. Italy
2. Greece
3. Portugal
4. France
5. Spain
6. Germany
7. UK

Would you ever consider moving abroad? Let us know in the comments.