Moving to and living in La Spezia
In short
A port city of eastern Liguria at the gates of the Cinque Terre: a palm-lined promenade, mountain views, tidy streets and modern playgrounds. By the community the city is "not too touristy" - which is exactly why real Italian life shows through. It suits families and anyone wanting the sea without resort bustle.
Updated: - permesso.love editorial team
In brief: city and relocation
- Region: Liguria
- Cost level: medium cost
- Single-person budget, rough: 895-1770 euro/mo
Housing and rent
Against the rest of Liguria the market is surprisingly workable: by the community one newcomer rented a flat in three days, another within a week - the recipe is the same, walk into every agency around. Short-term central options flashed by at 900-1500 euro. After the ricevuta people have, by community experience, managed to register residence here - but comune rules shift, so verify. Check current prices yourself.
Russian-speaking community
There is no dense core of its own - the city lives on the Liguria-wide mutual-aid network: the Genova, Savona and La Spezia chats overlap, and the community lists include a Russian-speaking doctor for Liguria. Families with kids settle in fast; Lerici and Portovenere are next door for weekends.
Jobs
The local market is thin: the port and the navy base are their own closed world, and the tourist season feeds the Cinque Terre rather than the city itself. Newcomers mostly work remotely; tradesmen and builders find jobs across eastern Liguria.
Market now: La Spezia
- Asking rent, idealista.itSeptember 2026, -5.7% year on year
- 10.6 euro/m2 a month
- Asking rent, immobiliare.itAugust 2026, -0.1% year on year
- 10.30 euro/m2 a month
- A 50 m2 flat at these ratesrate x floor area, utilities excluded
- 520-530 euro/mo
- Asking sale price, immobiliare.itAugust 2026, +5.3% year on year
- 2,235 euro/m2
- Vacancies on it.indeed.com, the comune only, repeats and agencies includedas of 2 October 2026
- 620
The two portals' averages differ by 3% here: each has its own listings and method, and Immobiliare runs a month behind. Sources: idealista.it, report prezzo immobile (September 2026); immobiliare.it, mercato immobiliare (August 2026); it.indeed.com (2 October 2026). Refreshed monthly.
Living budget: La Spezia
- Single person, one-bed
- 895-1770 euro/mo
- Family with kids, two-bed
- 1700-2980 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
- The sea, the mountains and the Cinque Terre a couple of minutes away by train
- Rentals come faster than elsewhere in Liguria
- A non-touristy, well-kept city with kids' infrastructure
- A mild microclimate praised even on local radio
Cons
- A thin local job market - you need remote income
- Airports are far: you fly via Pisa or Genova
- In season transit crowds pass through towards the Cinque Terre
Community voices
A friend rented a flat in three days, I once managed within a week. One secret: walk into every agency around. After the search stories from other Ligurian cities it sounds like fiction, but here it works.
We moved in summer with our six-year-old: a palm promenade, tidy streets, mountain views and modern playgrounds. The tourists rush past towards the Cinque Terre while the city calmly lives its own life.
A car here is more of a burden: you park by the mall and do everything by train - the first Cinque Terre village is a couple of minutes away. And the radio claimed La Spezia has nearly the best microclimate, which I am ready to believe.
FAQ
How much does living in La Spezia cost?
Mid-range Ligurian costs: cheaper than the resort neighbours, short-term central housing flashed by at 900-1500 euro, and long-term is cheaper and found faster than elsewhere in Liguria. Check current prices.
Is there a Russian-speaking community in La Spezia?
No dense core, but the city sits inside the Liguria-wide mutual-aid network: the Genova, Savona and La Spezia chats overlap, and there is a Russian-speaking doctor for Liguria. Families with kids, by the reports, settle in fast.
Is La Spezia worth moving to?
By community experience - yes for families with remote income: the sea, the mountains, the Cinque Terre next door, a non-touristy well-kept city and a workable rental market. The downsides are a thin local job market and distant airports.
Documents and timing
Other cities in Liguria
These are subjective community observations across different years, not a ranking or a promotion.
All cities for relocation