Living in Turin as an expat

What the expat life is like is one of the most important aspects of a city. Read our guide to find out about the expat life in Turin.

Yordan

5 minute read

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Updated on 7 Jul 2023

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Living

Turin is a great city for expats to live in. The city ranks 3rd among the best cities to live in Italy and has a thriving economy. This makes Turin a great place to enjoy a laidback lifestyle while living and working here.

In this article, you’ll find information on:

• The cost of living in Turin
• The best neighborhoods of Turin to live in
• The average salaries in Turin
• The internationality in Turin
• The healthcare options in Turin
• The best way of getting around town in Turin
• The cultural and social hotspots in Turin

The monthly cost of living in Turin is a minimum of €1,200 per month. This makes Turin an affordable city to live in, especially when compared to other Italian cities like Milan, Rome and Florence.

Here’s a table with the breakdown of what your monthly expenses will be made up of:

As an expat living in Turin, you'll want to find rental homes in Turin that suit your lifestyle and budget.

To help you decide which neighborhood best fits this, take a look at some of the best neighborhoods in Turin for expats:

• Centro Storico is the most popular area of Turin to live in since the majority of the things to do in the city are here. The internationality in this neighborhood is the highest as there’s a constant flow of tourists and the accommodation price are the highest in the city.

• Mirafiori Sud is the best choice if you want to live in a quiet and affordable neighborhood. The area is far from the city center, has lots of parks and is a great option if you’re moving to Turin with your family.

• San Salvario is a great middle ground between being in the middle of all the action in Turin and living on the outskirts of the city. This is where you’ll find some of the most affordable housing in Turin.

The average monthly salary in Turin is €33,000 per year or €2,750 per month, which is higher than the average salary in Italy. This means that you’d definitely be able to afford living here as a working professional.

To give you an impression, here are the most popular jobs in Turin and the corresponding yearly salaries:

Of course, your actual salary will depend on your specific job and skillset. But in general, you can expect to earn a good-enough salary in Turin to live comfortably.

The internationality in Turin is low. Despite some locals having a decent level of English, it’s nowhere near enough for you to live comfortably. Combine that with the fact that many of the well-paying jobs in Turin require Italian proficiency.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t an expat community. There're expats from all age groups that reside in Turin on a permanent basis. However, in the words of a long-time expat in Turin:

“The expat community in Turin helped me find my bearings in the city, but nowadays all of my friends are locals and we communicate in Italian.”

If you live in Turin, you’ll have access to some of the world's greatest healthcare. There're numerous world-class hospitals and clinics in the city and specialists can be found in almost every discipline.

You’ll have to register with the Italian national health service, SSN, which is mandatory for all residents of Italy. This is a great option if you’re on a tight budget. The only downside of the SSN is that certain types of appointments and treatments may have to be booked well in advance. Yet, you can trust that you’ll receive top-notch treatment at your regular check-ins.

If the public healthcare is too slow for you or you’d just like a bit of extra security and guaranteed timely appointments, then you should also opt in for getting private health insurance. Private health insurances usually provide comprehensive coverage and come with hefty price tags.

Getting around Turin by foot is manageable since the most important parts of the city are close to each other. If you need to travel further, Turin has an outstanding public transportation system that will quickly get you throughout the city.

Getting around Turin by car, on the other hand, can be a hassle. The streets are narrow and finding parking can be a real pain. That’s why many of the locals own scooters that allows them to zoom around Turin and park close to their final destination.

Making use of the ride-sharing apps that are available in Turin is a great way to get to where you need to be without the concern of owning a personal vehicle.

Turin may be a relatively small city, but don't let that fool you — there’re plenty of things to do in the city. The city center is compact and easy to navigate and you'll find most of the attractions and amenities within walking distance.

Take your time and explore the city’s most famous landmarks, go to museums and art galleries, or go for a walk in one of the numerous parks. There is also a vibrant nightlife scene, with many restaurants, bars and clubs to pick from.

The most popular cultural spots that should be at the top of your list are:

As to the best restaurants, bars and clubs, they are:

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