Sales taxes in Italy are higher than in most other European countries. The Italian government generally chooses to place very high taxes on tangible items that citizens cannot live without, such as houses, cars, gas, and cigarettes, rather than depending upon an income tax, since many people working in Italy do so unofficially. For those who do work officially, the income tax ranges from 15 percent to 45 percent depending on income level.

For expatriates looking for housing, a real estate agent (agenzie immobiliari) may be very useful. Agents who specialize in housing for expatriates usually charge a fee between 10 percent and 20 percent of the first year's rent. While rents and home prices can be expensive in a large city, housing can be found in the country for a fairly reasonable price.

This is just a sample of what you'll find in the complete Italy guide.