Moving to and living in Como
A resort town on the famous lake by the Swiss border: beautiful, with a mild climate, but expensive and short on affordable housing. By the community it suits remote workers and well-off families; there is a noticeable Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking community, mostly around the English schools.
Updated: - permesso.love editorial team
In brief: city and relocation
- Region: Lombardia
- Cost level: very high cost
- Single-person budget, rough: 1245-2420 euro/mo
- Questura: permesso speed: medium (per community)
Housing and rent
Rentals are critically scarce, so prices are high. By the community anything decent instantly goes to frontalieri - Italians who work in Switzerland and live within 10 km of the border - and the rest goes to tourists. The affordable options are often only on the outskirts, far from the lake. Check current prices yourself.
Russian-speaking community
A noticeable Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking community: many teenagers who moved a year or two ago and attend English schools, plus Russian-speaking professionals and dentists. But the town has a retiree-and-tourist character, and there are few clubs or activities for children in Como itself.
Jobs
There is little local job market - it is more a town for remote work and for those who commute to Milano (about 40 minutes) or work in Switzerland. Remote IT and design, real estate, tourism and seasonal service are common.
Living budget: Como
- Single person, one-bed
- 1245-2420 euro/mo
- Family with kids, two-bed
- 2300-3780 euro/mo
Rough ranges: the community has few concrete rent figures here, so this is a price-tier estimate plus ARERA and ISTAT reference values. Check current numbers.
Build your own budget line by linePros
- Stunning nature: the lake, mountains, hiking
- A mild winter, it almost never snows in the town itself
- An established Russian-/Ukrainian-speaking community and English schools
- Close to Milano and Switzerland for trips and work
Cons
- Very expensive and scarce housing, the affordable kind is on the outskirts
- Little local work, the town is geared to tourism and retirees
- Few clubs and activities for children in the town itself
- Autumn and winter can be damp and rainy
Community voices
In Como rentals are critically scarce, hence the prices. It is the Swiss border here: anything decent instantly goes to frontalieri, and what does not goes to tourists.
There are many Russian-speaking teenagers here who moved a year or two ago, almost all of them in the English school. But clubs in town are a problem - the character is retiree-and-tourist.
Quotes are paraphrased and anonymized; subjective experience, not statistics.
FAQ
How much does living in Como cost?
Very expensive: rentals are critically scarce, and by the community anything decent instantly goes to frontalieri (people working in Switzerland) and tourists. Affordable options are often only on the outskirts, far from the lake. Check current prices.
Is there a Russian-speaking community in Como?
There is a noticeable Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking community, mostly around the English schools: many teenagers who moved a year or two ago, plus Russian-speaking professionals and dentists.
Is Como worth moving to?
By community experience - yes for remote workers and well-off families: the lake, mountains, a mild winter, Milano and Switzerland close by. Local work is scarce, the town has a retiree-and-tourist character, and children's activities in Como itself are few.
Documents and timing
Other cities in Lombardia
These are subjective community observations across different years, not a ranking or a promotion. Verify prices and conditions on the ground.
All cities for relocation