Places
The best places to live in Italy in 2026
Updated September 30, 2026
What the rankings say (Trento, Bolzano, Udine, Bologna) and what expats love (Lecce, Palermo, the inland South).
What the rankings say
Il Sole 24 Ore's 2025 quality-of-life ranking put Trento first, followed by Bolzano, Udine and Bologna, with Milan 8th and Trieste 17th. The North wins on services, healthcare, safety and jobs.
What people moving there talk about
Community discussion tells a different story. Travelers keep falling for the inland South (Avellino, Benevento, Matera), places even Italians call off the beaten path, and for the baroque towns of Puglia and Sicily. Some locals guard smaller northern gems like Bergamo jealously.
Rent is the dividing line
- Milan: ~€1,504/month for a central 1-bedroom
- Rome: ~€1,112
- Bologna and Florence: ~€1,050–1,150
- Turin: ~€780
- Palermo: ~€658
- Southern villages: €400 or less
How to choose
- Need a local job? Milan, then Turin and Bologna.
- Remote income and want value? Lecce, Bari, Palermo or Catania.
- Want efficiency and nature? Trento, Bolzano or Udine (learn Italian).
- Retiring on a foreign pension? A southern town under 20,000 residents for the 7% flat tax.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change often. Verify with official sources, your consulate, a licensed Italian lawyer or a cross-border tax professional.