Italy's rent savings eroded by commuting costs

A CNA analysis shows that families moving to cheaper housing outside city centres in Italy lose most of the rent savings to higher commuting expenses. A typical household that saves about €300 a month on rent can incur more than €2,000 a year in fuel, maintenance, tyre and parking costs, wiping out over half of the intended benefit. In medium‑size cities such as Bolzano and Trento the net advantage shrinks to only a few hundred euros annually, while in larger cities the pattern is similar, with Southern areas seeing up to 85‑90 % of the rent reduction absorbed by travel costs.

Artisans and small‑business operators face even larger mobility outlays: a window‑installer spends roughly €4,500 a year, an electrician €5,600, thermohydraulics €6,700 and general installers nearly €8,000. The report calls for coordinated housing policies and stronger public‑transport infrastructure to restore the economic balance between housing and work.