Italian commuters lose €2,000 yearly to travel costs as housing moves outward

A study by the Confederazione Nazionale dell'Artigianato (CNA) estimates the average annual cost of commuting for Italian workers at around €2,000, covering fuel, maintenance, tyres and parking. In major cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence and Bologna the commuting expense can absorb more than half of the housing savings that prompted families to move to suburbs. In the south, cities like Bari, Naples, Perugia and Ancona see even higher erosion, with up to 85‑90 % of the rental benefit wiped out. For self‑employed tradespeople the costs are steeper: a carpenter may drive 20,000 km per year at €4,500, an electrician about €5,600 and installers can face up to €8,000 in vehicle expenses.

A separate survey by Sector Alarm and AstraRicerche found that 62.7 % of Italians leave their homes empty at least once a year, a figure that rises in summer. Overall, 43.1 % have cut vacations short after confirming a problem at home, most commonly theft or attempted break‑ins. The regions with the highest early‑return rates are Campania (54.5 %), Apulia (53.3 %) and Piedmont (46.1 %). Even without a confirmed incident, 42.3 % of respondents have returned early out of fear, with Campania again leading at 59.9 % of such cases. The findings highlight growing concerns over security and the financial strain of daily travel for many Italians.