Where to retire in Italy: Six affordable towns with big charm

Rome: For many people, retiring in Italy is the dream: Good weather, great food, and a slower pace of life. The challenge? Most daydreams point to places like Florence, Rome, or the Amalfi Coast — beautiful of course, but also pricey and overcrowded. Not to mention, being in constant vacation mode isn’t always practical for long-term living.

The good news is that Italy is full of smaller towns and mid-sized cities where your retirement budget stretches further without sacrificing the quality of life. Starting the search for a new home can feel overwhelming, no doubt — but here are six regions that balance affordability with charm, and could make for a much more realistic version of your Italian retirement dream.

For retirees looking for sunshine without the sticker shock of Tuscany, Lecce is an area worth checking out. Nicknamed the “Florence of the South,” the city’s ornate churches and whitewashed facades make it one of the most architecturally striking spots in southern Italy. Housing prices and daily expenses in Puglia remain below the Italian average, and the slower pace of life appeals to those wanting to settle down rather than rush around.

But beyond just affordability, Lecce comes with practical perks for retirees: the city is compact and walkable, has good rail and bus connections to the rest of Puglia, and Brindisi’s international airport is less than an hour away. Add in mild winters, easy access to nearby beaches, and a strong local food culture, and you’ve got a place that feels move-in ready.

Parma’s reputation for its cuisine may precede it, but Parmesan cheese and Parma ham are only the tip of the iceberg of what makes this mid-sized city so great. The daily pace of life is calmer than Milan or Bologna, yet both are only about an hour away by train, making it easy to tap into the resources that come with those larger cities.

Property prices in Parma are also more affordable, while still offering Northern Italy’s strong infrastructure, excellent healthcare facilities, and efficient public transport. Daily life in Parma revolves around opera, art, and food, which are all deeply embedded in the city’s identity. Retiring here means enjoying Emilia-Romagna’s celebrated cuisine without the crowds that often flock to Parma’s more tourist-heavy neighbors.

Often overshadowed by nearby Venice, Treviso is a hidden gem for retirees who want access to world-class culture without paying tourist premiums. You’ll find canals, cobblestone alleyways, and an exquisite food scene here too, but with a much lower cost of living and far fewer crowds. It has its own airport, excellent rail connections and reliable public services, checking many practical boxes for retirees.

Equally appealing is the sense of community among international residents who’ve chosen to settle here. Treviso offers the Venetian lifestyle — great food, history, and walkability — without the congestion and constant tourism of Venice itself. And with the Dolomites and Adriatic coast both within easy reach, it also makes for a convenient base for exploring.

Imagine the idyllic Tuscan lifestyle, but even more livable, and you’ve got Lucca. The small city is known for its still-intact Renaissance walls, which have been converted into a wide, tree-lined path for walking and biking — a daily ritual for many locals and a unique perk for retirees. The flat city center makes it easy to get around without a car, and there is a large expat scene that integrates well with the rest of the community.

On top of that, Lucca is located in the heart of an award-winning wine country, with easy access to many world-renowned producers of Chianti Classico. Retiring here means being surrounded by history, enjoying spontaneous concerts in piazzas, and the benefit of having some of Italy’s best wines practically in your backyard.

At the foot of the mountains of Calabria but not far from the Tyrrhenian Sea, Cosenza is a solid choice for retirees who want both coast and countryside. Property prices here are among the lowest in Italy, often a fraction of what you’d pay in the north. The community remains mostly local, which provides a more authentic, everyday Italian lifestyle than you’ll find in many of Italy’s more popular regions.

What also makes Cosenza appealing is that it’s still on the cusp. Infrastructure and connections are improving, with Lamezia Terme airport just over an hour away, but the city hasn’t yet been reshaped by mass tourism or expat enclaves like many other Italian cities have been in the last 10-15 years. Retirees who settle here are drawn to the fresh markets, mountain views, and medieval architecture, along with a lifestyle that favors tradition and simplicity over luxury.

Trieste is a city that feels distinctly different from much of Italy, influenced by its long history under Austro-Hungarian rule. For retirees, that cultural mix is part of the appeal — you’ll find coffeehouse culture, Central European architecture, and life on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Property prices here are generally lower than in Milan, Venice, or Bologna, making it an affordable option for northern Italy.

The city also has strong infrastructure and easy connections across Europe. And with the Slovenian and Croatian borders just minutes away, retirees will have an extended backyard to explore beyond Italy. Trieste offers an idyllic retirement lifestyle: mornings at a café, afternoons on the seafront, and weekends spent exploring the endless attractions nearby. It’s well-connected, culturally rich, and a great choice for retirees.

Choosing where to retire in Italy should come down to cost, comfort, and community more than trying to recreate the views from your last vacation. Cities like Lecce, Parma, and Trieste show that you can enjoy Italy’s culture and lifestyle in places that are more affordable and manageable for daily living, while Lucca, Treviso, and Cosenza highlight the advantages of choosing a slightly smaller locale. By focusing on destinations that balance livability with the qualities that drew you to Italy in the first place, retirees can make their Italian dream both enjoyable and practical.