Best Places to Retire in Italy: 7 Top Regions for Affordable Dolce Vita

Best Places to Retire in Italy
Italy blends old-world charm with modern comforts, perfect for a rich retirement lifestyle.|©iStock/Balate Dorin

Italy offers more than just romantic ideals of fine wine, Renaissance art, and charming cobblestone streets. It’s a country where you can live well on a modest budget, enjoy an excellent healthcare system, experience deep-rooted culture and history, and be part of a vibrant and welcoming community.

From vineyard-draped hills to relaxed coastal towns and mountain villages steeped in tradition, Italy delivers a variety of lifestyles at a cost that may surprise you. Whether you’re drawn to the Mediterranean climate, the rich food culture, or the opportunity to enjoy a slower, more fulfilling pace of life, there’s a region in Italy that can meet your needs.

In this article, we explore some of the best regions to consider for retirement, places already popular with expats who appreciate Italy’s beauty, affordability, and high quality of life.

Puglia

Sun, sea, and savings: Southern Italy’s hidden retirement gem.
Sun, sea, and savings: Southern Italy’s hidden retirement gem.|©iStock/Michal Ludwiczak

Tucked away in Italy’s heel, Puglia is one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Known for its dry climate, whitewashed towns, and endless stretches of coastline, Puglia offers the quintessential Mediterranean lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of more famous regions.

The region is home to expat-friendly cities and towns like Lecce, often called the “Florence of the South” for its Baroque architecture, and Ostuni, a gleaming hilltop town with sweeping views of the Adriatic. Properties are incredibly affordable—one expat couple snagged a three-bedroom house in Ceglie Messapica for €50,000 (about $53,000). Rental prices are equally attractive, with options under $800 a month.

What makes Puglia especially appealing is its authentic, unfussy lifestyle. The pace of life is relaxed, but not sleepy. Small towns have vibrant morning markets, lively piazzas, and friendly locals who appreciate efforts to speak Italian. The food is rustic and fresh—handmade orecchiette, seafood caught that morning, and deep red wines poured liberally. Healthcare is accessible, especially in larger towns like Brindisi and Bari, and the region enjoys excellent rail and highway connections.

Tuscany

Art, wine, and countryside charm in the heart of Italy.
Art, wine, and countryside charm in the heart of Italy.|©iStock/Fani Kurti

If your vision of retirement includes rolling hills, golden light, and a glass of Chianti at sunset, Tuscany may be your dream come true. Despite its fame, Tuscany still offers affordable pockets—especially if you move beyond Florence.

The inland province of Arezzo stands out as a top choice for expats. It offers all the charm of Tuscany—vineyards, hilltop villages, Renaissance art—without the crowds and high costs of Florence or Siena. Expats can find apartments for under $600 a month, or buy stone homes in the countryside for well under six figures.

The city of Arezzo itself is both historic and modern, boasting excellent rail connections, hospitals, and shopping while still feeling deeply Italian. The surrounding Casentino Valley offers lush forests, medieval castles, and tight-knit communities. For retirees, this means having access to modern amenities and transportation while still enjoying the peace of small-town life.

Tuscany also benefits from a strong local food culture—think truffles, olive oil, and pecorino cheese—as well as a long tradition of hospitality. Many villages host weekly festivals, and the arts and crafts scene remains active year-round.

Le Marche

Tuscany vibes without the crowds—Le Marche blends culture, coast, and countryside charm.
Tuscany vibes without the crowds—Le Marche blends culture, coast, and countryside charm.|©iStock/Natalia SERDYUK

Often described as “Tuscany without the crowds,” Le Marche offers many of the same charms—winding hilltop villages, vineyards, Renaissance towns—at a more modest price point.

Expats have found dream homes here for shockingly low prices. One couple mentioned in the guide bought a home for €100,000 ($106,000) just 30 minutes from the beach. Towns like Urbino and Ascoli Piceno offer not only beauty and culture but a sense of community and calm.

The Adriatic coast adds another draw: you can live in places like Senigallia or San Benedetto del Tronto and enjoy a beachfront lifestyle with none of the sticker shock. The beaches are wide and golden, the seafood is fresh, and even coastal homes remain within reach of modest retirement budgets.

Beyond the coast, the region’s interior is marked by patchwork farmland, olive groves, and medieval villages. Public healthcare facilities are solid, especially in urban hubs, and transportation between towns is reliable. For retirees who want a balance between countryside calm and coastal fun, Le Marche delivers.

Abruzzo

From snowy peaks to sandy shores, Abruzzo offers nature, charm, and low-cost living.
From snowy peaks to sandy shores, Abruzzo offers nature, charm, and low-cost living.|©iStock/LucaLorenzelli

Abruzzo offers stunning natural diversity. In just a couple of hours, you can drive from snowy mountain peaks to sun-soaked beaches. This makes it one of the most visually spectacular, and underrated, regions in Italy.

For retirees, it’s the affordability that really stands out. Entire countryside homes can be found for under $50,000. A couple can live well on $1,800–$2,000 a month, and enjoy four true seasons without harsh extremes.

Cities like Sulmona and Lanciano offer culture and modern amenities, while hilltop towns like Rocca San Giovanni provide tranquility and incredible views. The Maiella National Park and Gran Sasso mountains make Abruzzo a paradise for nature lovers.

Expats appreciate Abruzzo’s strong infrastructure, regional airports, and good hospitals. Despite its low cost of living, it doesn’t feel “cheap.” The food scene includes hearty mountain cuisine—think saffron risottos and lamb skewers—as well as coastal specialties like brodetto fish stew. Abruzzo offers one of Italy’s best blends of affordability and quality of life.

Sicily

An island rich in history, flavor, and affordability—Sicily is a Mediterranean gem.
An island rich in history, flavor, and affordability—Sicily is a Mediterranean gem.|©iStock/NANCY PAUWELS

Sicily is more than just beaches and volcanoes. It’s an island of deep history, thriving local markets, world-class cuisine, and a surprisingly strong expat scene—especially in cities like Catania, Siracusa, and Ragusa.

The cost of living here is among the lowest in Italy. You can rent a furnished apartment in many towns for $500 or less. The climate is mild, fresh produce is cheap and abundant, and the island’s cultural offerings are rich—from Greek ruins to Baroque architecture.

Sicily also boasts an increasing number of “1-euro homes” programs, attracting expats willing to renovate abandoned houses in hill towns like Gangi and Sambuca. Even outside these programs, real estate is incredibly reasonable. Public healthcare is accessible and often excellent in larger cities.

Sicilian culture is warm and welcoming, and expats report quickly forming friendships. Despite some bureaucratic quirks and a slower pace, many retirees thrive here, enjoying the island’s blend of raw authenticity and Mediterranean indulgence.

Umbria

The “Green Heart of Italy” offers small-town charm, art festivals, and peaceful countryside.
The “Green Heart of Italy” offers small-town charm, art festivals, and peaceful countryside.|©iStock/bluejayphoto

Often overshadowed by Tuscany, Umbria offers similar landscapes, better prices, and fewer tourists. Known as Italy’s “Green Heart,” the region is dotted with vineyards, lakes, and medieval villages.

Towns like Todi, Spoleto, and Orvieto offer beauty, history, and active expat communities. Umbria is also well-connected by train and highway to Rome and Florence, making it easy to travel. Many retirees choose Umbria for its spiritual feel, lower cost of living, and genuine small-town friendliness.

Outdoor living is part of the lifestyle here. Many Umbrian towns host summer music festivals, open-air markets, and art events. Real estate is attractively priced, and farmhouses with land can still be found under €150,000. Expats appreciate the slower rhythm and chance to integrate into a local way of life that hasn’t been overrun by mass tourism.

Liguria

Beach promenades, mild winters, and pesto dinners—Liguria offers seaside elegance on a budget.
Beach promenades, mild winters, and pesto dinners—Liguria offers seaside elegance on a budget.|©iStock/Tatiana Krakowiak

For retirees who dream of sea views and sun-drenched promenades, Liguria is a strong contender. Stretching from the French border to Tuscany, it’s home to towns like Imperia, Chiavari, and Lerici—all more affordable than the famous Cinque Terre.

While prices here can be higher than in the interior, they’re still manageable in comparison to other Mediterranean hotspots. You can still find two-bedroom apartments for under $1,000 a month and enjoy beach access, charming villages, and stunning hikes along the coast.

What sets Liguria apart is its microclimate—winters are among the mildest in northern Italy, and summers rarely feel oppressively hot. Healthcare is excellent, especially in larger towns, and public transit makes car-free living easy. The region also enjoys a reputation for excellent food, from pesto to focaccia to fresh anchovies.

Finding Your Perfect Italian Region

Whether you’re drawn to the vineyards of Tuscany, the beaches of Sicily, or the rolling hills of Le Marche, there’s a region in Italy that fits your dream lifestyle—and your budget.

This isn’t just wishful thinking. The regions above are already home to hundreds of happy expats who enjoy a lower cost of living, better quality of life, and more adventure than they ever imagined possible back home.

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