Vatican City

Profiled in Vatican City · Western and Southern Europe

5fit /10

The smallest sovereign state on earth, forty-four hectares inside Rome, holding one of the greatest art collections in existence and a population of a few hundred.

CapitalVatican City
LanguageItalian and Latin
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
Population0.001M

Cost of living

What a month costs

$0Comfortable single
$0Family of four
$01-bed, central
$0Casual meal

There is no housing market and no residents in the ordinary sense. Costs are effectively those of Rome, immediately outside the walls.

The scores

How it rates for a moving family

Safety9
Infrastructure8
English6
Kids’ schools1
Integration1
Healthcare7
Residency path1
Tax10
Climate8

See and do

Top 10 in Vatican City

  1. St Peter's BasilicaRenaissance basilica over the apostle's tomb, with Michelangelo's dome.
  2. Sistine ChapelMichelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgment.
  3. Vatican MuseumsTwenty-plus museums along seven kilometres of galleries.
  4. St Peter's SquareBernini's colonnade enclosing an elliptical piazza.
  5. Raphael RoomsFrescoed papal apartments including the School of Athens.
  6. Vatican GardensTwenty-three hectares of formal gardens behind the basilica.
  7. Vatican NecropolisExcavated Roman cemetery beneath the basilica.
  8. Vatican Apostolic LibraryOne of the oldest libraries in the world.

Where to go

Weekend escapes

  1. RomeThe city entirely surrounding the state, a step outside St Peter's Square.
  2. Castel GandolfoPapal summer residence in the Alban Hills.
  3. Ostia AnticaRome's excavated ancient port, forty minutes away.
  4. TivoliHadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este fountains.
  5. TrastevereThe Roman quarter across the river from the Vatican.

Residency

Residence is restricted to clergy, members of the Swiss Guard and a small number of officials, and citizenship is granted on the basis of office rather than birth or investment. There is no route for investors.

Tax

There is no personal income tax and no corporate income tax. The Vatican has no general tax system, funding itself through donations, museum revenue and investment income. It uses the euro under agreement with the EU but is not an EU member.

Curious what you would actually pay? See the Vatican City tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →

Nearby

More of Western and Southern Europe

AndorraAndorra la Vella · Overall fit 8/10CyprusLimassol · Overall fit 8/10FranceParis · Overall fit 8/10GibraltarGibraltar · Overall fit 8/10LuxembourgLuxembourg City · Overall fit 8/10MaltaValletta · Overall fit 8/10

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to live in Vatican City?

There is no housing market and no residents in the ordinary sense. Costs are effectively those of Rome, immediately outside the walls.

Is Vatican City safe, and what is healthcare like?

In our index safety scores 9 out of 10 and healthcare 7 out of 10, where 10 is best.

What language and currency are used in Vatican City?

Italian and Latin. The currency is Euro (EUR).

What is the capital of Vatican City?

Vatican City.

How can a foreigner get residency in Vatican City?

Residence is restricted to clergy, members of the Swiss Guard and a small number of officials, and citizenship is granted on the basis of office rather than birth or investment. There is no route for investors.

What taxes does Vatican City charge?

There is no personal income tax and no corporate income tax. The Vatican has no general tax system, funding itself through donations, museum revenue and investment income. It uses the euro under agreement with the EU but is not an EU member.