Italian households are spending a significant share of their income on housing, according to the latest study by idealista, Italy’s top property portal. In the fourth quarter of 2025, renting a three-room apartment cost, on average, 28% of household income — down slightly from 30% in late 2024. Buying a home via mortgage remains stable at 18%.
Most expensive cities for renters
Naples is the costliest, with households spending 42% of income on rent, followed by Rome and Venice (39%), Massa (38%), Milan (37%) and Florence (34%). Biella is the most affordable at just 13% of income.
Buying a home: Bolzano, Venice and Milan top the list
For homebuyers, Bolzano is the priciest city at 37% of income, followed by Venice (35%) and Milan (31%). Six cities match the national average of 18%, while Biella is the cheapest at 6%.
Year-on-year trends
Rental effort rose in 23 cities, fell in 51, and stayed the same in 24. The biggest rental increases were in Massa and Arezzo (+4%), while Florence fell most sharply (-14%). Purchase effort fell in 68 cities, rose in 17, and remained stable in 19.
How it’s calculated
The “effort rate” measures the share of household income spent on housing. For rentals, it’s based on typical three-room apartment rents (idealista/data) and net household income (ISTAT). For purchases, it reflects the annual share of income needed for a standard mortgage, updated for interest rate changes using ECB data.