Fulltiming costs UK v Italy

[Rapide561]

Hi

I spent roughly four months in Italy and have spent a similar amount in the UK. As far as cost goes - and I know motorhoming etc is not all about cost, I have concluded as follows.

Italy is a lot cheaper. Full stop!

Campsite fees - Italy 150 Euro per month plus electricity on the meter. Electric units were charged at 16 cents per KW used - about 11p. Largest "bill" was for January, coming in at just under 100 Euros, meaning my cost for the month for a pitch was 250 euros - about £165.00. I am paying double that in the UK although the pitch does have its own tap and drain.

Unleaded petrol for the Corsa was about 75p per litre.

Food - after doing a reckky of all the local supermarkets, including Auchan, food is cheaper in Italy - particularly meat, chicken, turkey, wine, Coke, filter coffee etc. International foods - such as Lurpak, Kelloggs etc were about 50% dearer than the UK.

Clothing - cheaper in Italy for branded goods such as Levis and Nike.

Public transport - trains and buses are a lot cheaper.

Contact lens fluid - half UK price.

Internet access on PAYG - 1 euro per day - £1 per day in the UK.

So what was dearer - well, a hair cut cost 17 euros - prior to taking a part time job in another salon. International branded dog food - about twice the UK price. Chart CDs were about 30% dearer than the UK.

Presumably Spain compares similarly to Italy.

Russell

 

[Suzy]

An excellent post Russell, very informative.

So Italy is definately cheaper, I think we should all go!

 

[Rapide561]

Italy

The oher slight advantage, Suzy is something called a beautiful Lake, sunshine, snow capped mountains, a romantic language.....

.....on the other hand getting anything done is so, so complicated! Passes, permits, authorities, ID etc etc

Russell

 

[artona]

Hi Russell

I think with Spain it really depends on where you head for. The Costas are very expensive, a situation created by the Brits who have businesses there. If you are an explorer head inland. To give you an example Shona and I looked at buying a property there a few years ago. The British estate agent want 140k euros for it, its a long story but we found out the local Spaniards price for the property was just 28k - wonder how some Brits get rich over there!!!!

Inland you can socialise with the locals and a meal will cost you 2/3 euros rather than 20. Inland Spain is beautiful and there is so much happening


stew

 

[Suzy]

The oher slight advantage, Suzy is something called a beautiful Lake, sunshine, snow capped mountains, a romantic language.....

.....on the other hand getting anything done is so, so complicated! Passes, permits, authorities, ID etc etc

Russell

It seems there is always a compromise. When are you thinking of going back?

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[Suzy]

Hi Russell

I think with Spain it really depends on where you head for. The Costas are very expensive, a situation created by the Brits who have businesses there. If you are an explorer head inland. To give you an example Shona and I looked at buying a property there a few years ago. The British estate agent want 140k euros for it, its a long story but we found out the local Spaniards price for the property was just 28k - wonder how some Brits get rich over there!!!!

Inland you can socialise with the locals and a meal will cost you 2/3 euros rather than 20. Inland Spain is beautiful and there is so much happening


stew

I have stayed in Spain twice, Once for a year (gap year) and again in 1987 for 14 months. I loved it. I don't know if I would ever want to live there permanently but I would love to be in the position where I could take my RV and stay for as long as I want and then come home to my house.

 

[Jim]

Its all down to quality of life and your perception of happiness Russell, if you wake up with a smile, then keep doing what you are doing and... if that smile comes cheaper than somewhere else, then it would be silly not to be there When are you off again?

 

[Rapide561]

Italy

Hi

All being well I am triping off for a short stop in September and November. Long term, not certain yet, need to recruit a four legged companion.

Suzy - leave Brian behind to do the work and you come with me - we will be able to keep in tough with the UK via your telephone entension!

Russell

 

[johnsandywhite]

I don't know if I would ever want to live there permanently but I would love to be in the position where I could take my RV and stay for as long as I want and then come home to my house.

:Cool: Sounds very similar to what we have been doing for the last 11 years?

 

[johnsandywhite]

The Costas are very expensive, a situation created by the Brits who have businesses there.

What? With a Chino 4 course meal costing from 3.40 Euros between Denia and Benidorm? Indian Buffet for 8 Euros? Monroes Carvery for around 7 Euros? 4 course Fish dish with Vino for 6 Euros? No way Jose.

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[Suzy]

Hi

All being well I am triping off for a short stop in September and November. Long term, not certain yet, need to recruit a four legged companion.

Suzy - leave Brian behind to do the work and you come with me - we will be able to keep in tough with the UK via your telephone entension!

Russell

You will never forget my telephone extension will you?

 

[Suzy]

:Cool: Sounds very similar to what we have been doing for the last 11 years?

Wish I was in that position but work calls. I really wish it didn't!

 

[Rapide561]

Work calls

Hi Suzy

If ANYONE calls, whether it be work or otherwise, you can answer your telephone extension!

No more talk about telephones - we could get two yoghurt pots on a bit of string though.

Russell

 

[Wild Brambles]

Full timing in a campsite - you might as well live in a house.

I don't know about Italy, but full timing in England is fun, and it's extremely cheap in my experience.

 

[42208]

You quote '250 euros about £165?' Where can I get that exchange rate from please?

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[The Wino]

Interesting first post looking at costs seems strange to look at the cost of branded clothing in a post about keeping costs down I usually dress in finest primani!!!

 

[DBK]

You quote '250 euros about £165?' Where can I get that exchange rate from please?

I guess you could in 2007.

 

[The Wino]

I guess you could in 2007.

Caught out again by a resurrection!!! It's Christmas not Easter!!!

 

[Offagain]

You quote '250 euros about £165?' Where can I get that exchange rate from please?

This thread was started in 2007....

 

[DBK]

When did MHF start? The OP was Funster #64.

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[Figaro]

Oh if only cost of living in Italy were still that cheap !
I found it mostly expensive

 

[Figaro]

Jim's No 1, I wonder who is No 2 ?

 

[Floydster]

Jim's No 1, I wonder who is No 2 ?

I am not a number. I am a free man.

 

[42208]

This thread was started in 2007....

Looks like I'm suffering from too much Turkey, I need to keep up.

 

[PhilandMena]

Hi

I spent roughly four months in Italy and have spent a similar amount in the UK. As far as cost goes - and I know motorhoming etc is not all about cost, I have concluded as follows.

Italy is a lot cheaper. Full stop!

Campsite fees - Italy 150 Euro per month plus electricity on the meter. Electric units were charged at 16 cents per KW used - about 11p. Largest "bill" was for January, coming in at just under 100 Euros, meaning my cost for the month for a pitch was 250 euros - about £165.00. I am paying double that in the UK although the pitch does have its own tap and drain.

Unleaded petrol for the Corsa was about 75p per litre.

Food - after doing a reckky of all the local supermarkets, including Auchan, food is cheaper in Italy - particularly meat, chicken, turkey, wine, Coke, filter coffee etc. International foods - such as Lurpak, Kelloggs etc were about 50% dearer than the UK.

Clothing - cheaper in Italy for branded goods such as Levis and Nike.

Public transport - trains and buses are a lot cheaper.

Contact lens fluid - half UK price.

Internet access on PAYG - 1 euro per day - £1 per day in the UK.

So what was dearer - well, a hair cut cost 17 euros - prior to taking a part time job in another salon. International branded dog food - about twice the UK price. Chart CDs were about 30% dearer than the UK.

Presumably Spain compares similarly to Italy.

Russell

Not wanting to challenge your assertion (Season of good will and and all that!) However, I do find some of the pricing you are quoting as very odd. e.g. €150 a month on a campsite with electricity ? That works out at €5.00 per day. My limited experience of Italian campsite prices is somewhat different and if not ACSI prices then upwards of €30.00 per day. What is this campsite that charges this very low daily rate ? (Well done you!).
I looked at cost of living indexes between Italy and the UK and as expected Italy is more expensive in a number of areas and I attach for anyone who is interested. I'll be travelling down through Italy in a few months and will get some first hand experience. (as an aside, looking at Robert Clark Italian restaurant bills this year on his way to Greece this year, I got a bit of a fright ! (Merry Crimbo too).

Cost Of Living Comparison Between Italy And United Kingdom

www.numbeo.com

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[TerryL]

Not wanting to challenge your assertion (Season of good will and and all that!) However, I do find some of the pricing you are quoting as very odd. e.g. €150 a month on a campsite with electricity ? That works out at €5.00 per day. My limited experience of Italian campsite prices is somewhat different and if not ACSI prices then upwards of €30.00 per day. What is this campsite that charges this very low daily rate ? (Well done you!).
I looked at cost of living indexes between Italy and the UK and as expected Italy is more expensive in a number of areas and I attach for anyone who is interested. I'll be travelling down through Italy in a few months and will get some first hand experience. (as an aside, looking at Robert Clark Italian restaurant bills this year on his way to Greece this year, I got a bit of a fright ! (Merry Crimbo too).

Cost Of Living Comparison Between Italy And United Kingdom

www.numbeo.com

Check the date of the posting Phil............................

 

[PhilandMena]

Check the date of the posting Phil............................

Ah Ha! Thanks Terry, I missed that. That's a first!.

 

[Wild Brambles]

I am not a number. I am a free man.

You are lucky, everybody seems to think I am a number.

 

[Northernraider]

Weird as I found italy expensive ...even more so than france , diesel was around €1.60 l petrol around €1.75l
I also found the food to be more expensive especially things like coke etc
Didn't buy any clothes or use campsites so cant comment on those but certainly compared to spain and even portugal its expensive.

 

[peterc10]

Weird as I found italy expensive ...even more so than france , diesel was around €1.60 l petrol around €1.75l
I also found the food to be more expensive especially things like coke etc
Didn't buy any clothes or use campsites so cant comment on those but certainly compared to spain and even portugal its expensive.

As others have said .......... have a look at the date of the original post .........................

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