One of the most beautiful countries in the world is also a bargain destination for Irish people looking to live abroad.
As January drags along and with the current cost of living crisis, households would be forgiven for dreaming of moving somewhere sunny.
Traditionally those looking to escape rainy Ireland have looked towards Spain's more tourism-focused areas to settle down.
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But according to new a new study of seven countries by YourOverseasHome, Italy is in fact the cheapest destination for people to live.
Not only is the country blessed with hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline, arguably the best cuisine in the world and an excellent train network, it is also a bargain.
Groceries are generally far cheaper in Italy, with an excellent selection of fresh vegetables, bread and meat easy to come by in most regions. To fill your basket with 17 basic items in Italy, you should expect to pay around €55.
Delicious staples such as fish, chocolate and gin are more than double the price here than in Italy, Mirror UK reports.
Expats could also save on housing costs in Italy, with the price of decorating supplies or a domestic cleaner significantly lower, the study found.
When it comes to decking out your home Italy comes out on top, as electrical items such as a TV or an Amazon Alexa Echo Doc are cheaper there. A cappuccino can be bought in an Italian cafe for just €1 on average, compared to an average of €2.90 in Ireland.
Foodies may want to opt for Spain instead where eating out is the cheapest of all the countries analysed.
A three course meal will set you back just €14.60 on average in the holiday hotspot.
Surprisingly, eating out apparently costs the most in Greece, where a three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant will set you back about €41.70.
Irish people could also save on leisure activities by moving abroad, with the price of a cinema ticket far more expensive here than in the other countries analysed.
The cheapest countries to live in
- Italy
- Greece
- Portugal
- France
- Spain
- Germany
- UK
Christopher Nye, chief editor at YourOverseasHome.com, said: “We know that thousands of households are considering moving abroad, more so than ever.
"People are looking to jump ship to avoid high energy costs and never-ending 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.”
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