Italy

Living in Rome with a pet

Cost of living and pet-import essentials for nomads relocating to Rome, Italy.

Photo: Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Yes — you can relocate to Rome with a dog or cat under Italy's national pet-import rules (ISO microchip, rabies vaccination and an official health certificate). A one-bedroom flat in the centre runs about $1,100 per month; the national single-person monthly estimate is $2,300.

Cost of living

Rent is a city-level figure; the monthly estimate and broadband speed are national medians.

Rent — 1-bedroom, city centre
City-level figure (WhereNext).
$1,100
Monthly cost estimate (single person)
National estimate — not city-specific.
$2,300
Broadband speed
National median (Speedtest Global Index by Ookla).
119 Mbps

Cost-of-living data © WhereNext (getwherenext.com), CC BY 4.0. Broadband: Speedtest Global Index by Ookla.

Bringing your pet to Italy

The essentials, drawn from Italy's official rules. See the full Italy import guide →

Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785)Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccine is not recognised.
Rabies vaccinationPet must be at least 12 weeks old. Valid 21 days after the primary dose.
Rabies antibody (titer) test — required from some origin countriesFAVN/RNATT rabies antibody test; the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; the sample must be taken not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the health certificate (the certificate is issued before entry, so counting to entry is the stricter reading). Testing is limited to EU-approved laboratories.
Official health certificate (EU Animal Health Certificate (new Reg 2026/705 format from 2026-10-01))Endorsed by Competent authority of the country of departure (USDA APHIS for the United States). Enter within 10 days of endorsement.
Travel through an approved point of entryPets from third countries must enter through points of entry designated by the Italian Ministry of Health: the official list contains 41 airports and 16 ports

Pet-friendliness in Rome

Curation in progress

City-level pet-friendliness scores — vets, dog parks, pet-friendly rentals and transport — are being curated from primary sources and will appear here. We don't publish scores we can't back with a source.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my dog or cat to Rome?

Yes — Rome follows Italy's national pet import rules. See the checklist above and the full Italy guide for microchip, rabies, certificate and entry requirements.

Does Italy require a rabies antibody (titer) blood test?

Yes — for pets arriving from unlisted / higher-risk origin countries. FAVN/RNATT rabies antibody test; the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; the sample must be taken not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the health certificate (the certificate is issued before entry, so counting to entry is the stricter reading). Testing is limited to EU-approved laboratories.

Is there a quarantine for pets entering Italy?

No routine quarantine when your pet meets every requirement. Non-compliant animals can be detained.

How much does it cost to live in Rome as a nomad?

A one-bedroom flat in the centre runs about $1,100. The national single-person monthly estimate is $2,300 — a country-level figure, not city-specific.

Sources & last verified

Last verified: 2026-07-17Next review due: 2026-09-01

Tier 1 · Official (primary)Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country — European Commission — Food Safety
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 — EUR-Lex (EU Official Journal)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 of 20 March 2026 — country/territory list — EUR-Lex (EU Official Journal)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Elenco dei Punti di ingresso per animali da compagnia (41 aeroporti + 16 porti) — Ministero della Salute — Direzione Generale della Sanità Animale (official, published via the EC)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Ministero della Salute — Cani / Viaggiare con animali — Ministero della Salute (Italian Ministry of Health)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Ordinanza 3 marzo 2009 (abolishing the dangerous-breed list) — Ministero del Lavoro, della Salute e delle Politiche Sociali (official order)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Ordinanza contingibile ed urgente concernente la tutela dell'incolumità pubblica dall'aggressione dei cani (6 agosto 2013) — Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana / Ministero della Salute (official)

Pet import rules verified for Italy. Cost data: wherenext_city_prices@2026.1, fetched 2026-07-17.