Regions of Italy: where to move

Choosing a region in Italy comes down to four things: money (the north is more expensive, the south cheaper but with lower salaries), work, climate, and how fast the local bureaucracy and healthcare actually move. Italy is divided into twenty regioni, and that is twenty very different options for life: from Alpine valleys on the Swiss border to Mediterranean islands off the coast of Africa. Below is a broad map by macroregion (north, center, south, islands) with a breakdown of the key regions and who each one suits.

An important caveat right away: this is not a ranking of "where it is better" and not advice to buy or rent here specifically. Any assessments are subjective and gathered according to the community, and the numbers (price per square meter, number of tourists, number of compatriots, temperatures) are a guide that goes out of date. Verify the current details locally and for your own situation. There is no perfect region: it is almost always a trade-off between price, climate, work, infrastructure and how easy it is to fit in.

We ourselves thought about settling near Amalfi - it sounded like a dream. But we went, looked at it in person and realized: definitely not for us. In the end we were already looking at the north, because it is closer to the rest of Europe, and first settled in a mid-sized city - in season it turned out to be completely impossible to rent housing long-term. So do not choose a region by the pictures, live there for at least a couple of weeks.

How to read this overview: what to actually compare

Before diving into specific regions, keep in mind a few axes along which regions really differ - these are exactly what people relocating discuss most often.

• Climate. The north is continental: a cold foggy winter, a hot humid summer, real snow in the mountains. The center and the coasts are milder. The south and the islands have a Mediterranean climate with a hot dry summer (up to 40 in places) and a warm winter.
• Cost of living. Roughly: the south is cheaper than the north, sometimes by about thirty percent on rent. But the north gives more work and higher salaries, and Sardinia stands apart - it is expensive there. A detailed breakdown of expenses is in the guide on cost of living.
• Labor market. The north and the big cities of the center have more vacancies and higher rates. The south has less work, lower salaries, but sometimes more interesting tax regimes and it is easier to find seasonal side work in tourism.
• Russian-speaking community. Densest in Lombardy, then Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Tuscany, Campania. In the south and on the islands the diaspora is thinner.
• Healthcare and infrastructure. The bigger the city and the more northern the region, the more accessible doctors and services usually are. In the south and in small towns this can be harder - but the basic SSN and tessera sanitaria works everywhere.
• Speed of bureaucracy. Depends not so much on the region as on the specific questura - there is a separate block on this below.

A common thought repeated in the chats: the south is very specific, you will never become a local there, however beautiful it is; the smaller the budget, the further south it makes sense to aim and the further from big cities.

North: money, infrastructure and proximity to Europe

The north is the country's economic engine, the best salaries, dense infrastructure and maximum proximity to the rest of Europe. The price for this is higher prices and a climate with a full-fledged winter. People come here for work, convenient logistics and a strong Russian-speaking environment.

Lombardy (Milan)

The richest and most business-oriented region, Italy's financial center with the stock exchange in Milan. This is region number one by the number of Russian-speakers - there are more compatriots here than anywhere else. A high standard of living and salaries come bundled with expensive rent: in Milan renting housing is a noticeable budget item, and it is hard to economize. The climate is flatland, with clear seasons: a hot humid summer (sometimes above 35) and a cold foggy winter, while in the north of the region there are Alpine zones and the famous lakes Como, Garda and Maggiore. Locals are known for a businesslike manner and punctuality atypical of Italians. By the community's observations, Milan is very much about connections and the business environment: a sociable person can put together a small Russian-speaking community around themselves within a year and pick up the language at the same time.

Piedmont (Turin)

The "foot of the mountains": the beauty of the Alps plus dynamic Turin, one of the country's best cities in business and startup rankings. There are comparatively few tourists but many students - this keeps the cost of living and entertainment more moderate than in Milan. From anywhere in the region you can quickly reach France, Switzerland, Milan and Genoa. The climate is continental: in summer it can reach 35, in winter there is snow but rarely much colder than minus 5; the hills are famous for their fog and vineyards. A good option for those who need a big northern city but without Milan prices.

I have been living in a tiny town of about five thousand people in Piedmont for five years now. Calm - just what a family with a child needs.

Veneto (Venice, Verona)

Not just Venice: there is also Lake Garda, Verona and dozens of historic towns, plus the wine-growing province of Treviso (the "land of prosecco"). Developed industry and tourism make Veneto one of the leading regions by economy; Austria and Slovenia are nearby. On the plain the climate is continental with a hot humid summer and a cold winter with fog; on the coast it is milder thanks to the Adriatic. The Russian-speaking diaspora is medium-sized. Suitable for those who want to be more northern but closer to the sea and to Central Europe.

Emilia-Romagna (Bologna, Modena)

One of the most balanced regions for relocation: a strong economy, high employment, convenient transport, good quality of public services - and on top of that legendary cuisine (the birthplace of parmesan and bolognese) and the Motor Valley with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati. Bologna is a major university and business center, and on the coast there is the resort town of Rimini. By the number of Russian-speakers the region usually comes second after Lombardy. Summer is hot (often above 30, more intense inland), winter is cool. A strong candidate if you need the "work plus infrastructure plus community" pairing.

My husband and I are moving to Bologna, I got into a business school here for an MBA. We chose the city precisely as a balance: large, lively, with a university environment and good transport, but not as expensive and crazy as Milan. So far the feeling is that for studying and working the place is ideal.

Liguria (Genoa, Savona, Sanremo)

A favorite of many in the community: a Mediterranean climate, an elegant coastline, lively but not tourist-trampled towns - and yet the center of the north and the south of France are right nearby. Genoa is the only large city, the rest are small seaside towns. The climate is one of the mildest: winter is rarely below 10, snow is rare, summer is warm and dry, the heat is softened by the breeze. There is a Russian-speaking community in Genoa, Savona and La Spezia. The downside - in the high season it is hard to rent housing long-term.

We moved to Liguria, to Savona, a family of two adults and a three-year-old daughter. We were choosing between big Catania in the south and Genoa in the north: the south is noticeably cheaper, but the north is closer to the rest of civilization - in the end we chose the north. Originally we were even thinking about Amalfi, but we changed our minds. It is all very individual.

Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli, Valle d'Aosta

The northern "mountain fringe" - for lovers of the Alps and the borderlands. Trentino-Alto Adige (Trento, Bolzano) - stunning mountains, prosperity, Christmas markets and German as a second official language; the country's record GDP per capita and the most expensive real estate, a harsh climate, a real winter. Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Trieste, Udine) - a crossroads of Italian, Austrian and Balkan cultures, with Austria and the Balkans right nearby. Valle d'Aosta - the least populated region, "a slice of Switzerland", French as a second language, a ski paradise. There are few Russian-speakers here; this is a choice for a lifestyle rather than for the diaspora.

Center: history, balance and proximity to Rome

The center is the golden mean between the business north and the relaxed south: the climate is milder than in the north, prices are lower than in Milan, and Rome acts as a magnet for work, logistics and culture. People come here for a "truly Italian" way of life without sacrificing infrastructure.

Lazio (Rome)

The geographic and political center of the country. Rome is the Eternal City, a huge tourist and transport hub with excellent infrastructure, yet noticeably cheaper than Milan. From anywhere in the region it is no more than 200 km to the capital. By the number of Russian-speakers Lazio is steadily in the top three. The climate is Mediterranean: a mild rainy winter, a hot dry summer (inland, in Rome itself, it is especially baking). Beyond the ring road and in the region's small towns it is noticeably cheaper to live than in the center.

We live in Lazio, about twenty kilometers from Rome, in a village three hundred meters from the sea, a family of four. We spend roughly 2000-2500 a month. What surprised me: school and kindergarten are essentially free (a symbolic fee), the basic health card covers the basics for free too, many prescription medicines are two euro or even free. Housing - 500-700 for a decent apartment.

Tuscany (Florence)

The cradle of the Italian language and the Renaissance: majestic villas, olive groves, wine, cultural heritage - one of the most touristy and recognizable regions. Tuscany is an important hub of the Russian-speaking community (usually fourth place by the number of compatriots) and is conveniently located between the key cities of the north and the center. The climate is Mediterranean: a hot dry summer (often above 30) and a mild rainy winter, snow in the lowlands is rare. An additional bonus that people relocating note - a lenient local bureaucracy when it comes to residence registration.

I want to single out Tuscany on bureaucracy: I calmly registered my residence with a ricevuta, here they look at this sensibly and interpret it in the person's favor. Acquaintances in other regions had a much harder time with this. So if getting registered earlier matters to you - take a look at Tuscany.

Umbria and Marche

A quiet, green alternative to overhyped Tuscany. Umbria - the "green heart of Italy", picturesque hills and medieval towns, with many times fewer tourists than its neighbors, a climate milder than the center's average thanks to the mountains. Marche - a transition from continental to Mediterranean: a mild winter and a resort coast (Conero), a cool summer in the mountains, charming Urbino; there are few tourists, but by local standards a noticeable number of Russian-speakers. Both regions are about a calm rhythm and low prices, but with the caveat that infrastructure and work are more modest than in the big cities.

Abruzzo and Molise

The Adriatic backcountry near Rome. Abruzzo (Pescara) - the cleanest air, parks and nature reserves, the highest point of the Apennines and ski resorts, a mild coast; sparsely populated and quiet. Molise - almost the least visited and one of the most sparsely populated regions altogether: seclusion, fishing towns and ruins, close to both Rome and the Adriatic. There are very few Russian-speakers here. This is a choice for the most peaceful, authentic life, not for the diaspora and a career.

South and islands: sun, prices and trade-offs

The south and the islands are about a warm climate, low housing prices and a relaxed southern way of life. The flip side, which the community honestly warns about: the further south you go, the thinner the infrastructure, the access to doctors and services, and the stronger the local, "island" mentality feels. But this is exactly where the most open and warm people live.

The main thing to understand about the south: the further south you go, the worse the infrastructure is developed, and along with it the accessibility of everything. Hence the more closed, local mentality. Cheap and warm - yes, but you pay for it with convenience. Decide what matters more to you.

Campania (Naples)

The soul of Southern Italy: dynamic Naples (the country's third most populous city), distinctive Neapolitan culture, the island of Capri and the Amalfi Coast from the UNESCO list. Campania is in the top 5 by the number of Russian-speakers - one of the southern centers of the diaspora. The climate is mild: winter is rarely colder than 8, almost no snow, summer is hot and dry, on the coast the breeze saves you. You can choose life in a big city, on a prestigious coast or on an island - the range is huge. The downsides of the large south (infrastructure, everyday difficulties) are also present here.

Apulia (Bari, Lecce)

The "heel" of Italy and one of the most authentic southern regions: trulli houses with conical roofs, a rocky coastline, baroque Lecce (the "Florence of the South"). A truly Mediterranean climate: in summer often above 30, in winter rarely below 10, on the coast in Bari the sea softens the heat. The Russian-speaking community is noticeable by southern standards - bigger than in Umbria or in Sardinia. A good option if you want the real south but not in complete solitude among your own.

I left with my teenage daughter, we lived in Rome, in Naples, and in the end settled in Bari. It is pointless to explain the choice, everyone has their own. But what I definitely like: at least once a week I catch friendly signs of attention just like that, out of kindness - which there was none of at all in my previous place.

Sicily (Palermo, Catania)

The largest island in the Mediterranean: volcanoes, an ancient culture at the crossroads of Italian, European and Arab, magnificent beaches, and Palermo has more than once been named the capital of European street food. The climate is Mediterranean, in summer up to 40 on hot days. There is a fair number of Russian-speakers by southern standards. GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the country, but housing prices are also very affordable, and the economy is growing thanks to agriculture, winemaking and small business. A strategic position between Europe and Africa, with airports in Palermo and Catania.

Calabria and Basilicata

The far south of the "toe" of the boot. Calabria (Reggio Calabria) - a warm climate, old villages, "the most beautiful kilometer in Italy" on Reggio's waterfront and postcard-perfect Tropea; the lowest prices per square meter in the country, few tourists and few Russian-speakers. Basilicata - a tiny sparsely populated region with access to two seas at once (the Ionian and the Mediterranean) and mountains inside; there are almost no compatriots here. Both regions are about quiet, cheapness and nature, but with the thinnest infrastructure and diaspora.

Sardinia

The island stands apart. Turquoise water, wild nature, excellent ecology and the country's cleanest beaches; the Emerald Coast is one of the most prestigious resorts in Europe. Because of this, Sardinia is the exception to the "south is cheap" rule: the average price per square meter here is comparable to the north (around 2100 versus about 1300 in other southern regions). The climate is Mediterranean with a warm autumn. There are few Russian-speakers; international airports in Cagliari and Olbia connect the island with the mainland and Europe. An option for a beautiful and fairly expensive island life.

Speed of bureaucracy: it is about the questura, not the region

One of the most frequent questions is "where is the permesso made faster". The honest answer according to the community: speed depends not on the region as a whole, but on the specific questura and sometimes even on an individual employee. Somewhere fingerprints are scheduled within a bit over a month, somewhere several months pass between submitting the KIT and the plastic card. Large northern questure (for example the central offices in Milan) are not infrequently called brisk at the fingerprinting stage. It is convenient to compare benchmarks for specific cities in the questura processing times section - but these are people's observations, not a promise.

I submitted my fingerprints in Milan and waited just a bit over a month. And let me separately reassure those who worry about changing address: I applied at one address, then rented an apartment in a different district - at the questura they did not say a single thing about it, everyone understands everything just fine.

Another practical point: your case is handled by the questura at your future place of residence, and while you can move it from region to region, it is a hassle. So it is better to settle on a city before applying. How Italian bureaucracy works in general and why it is so unhurried is covered in detail in the guide Italian bureaucracy. If you are considering a calm mid-sized city as a base for relocation, take a look at the breakdown using one of them as an example - Parma: immigration and life.

Healthcare and daily life by region: what to expect

The basic logic is simple: the bigger the city and the more northern the region, the more accessible doctors, services and Russian-speaking specialists usually are. In the south and in small towns this can be harder - for example, the wait for a family doctor or a Russian-speaking doctor can stretch out, and clinics sometimes do not take new patients: the community describes cases where, after moving to a new city, a person could not register with a family doctor for a year and a half, because clinics refused and said they were not taking new patients. That is, access to healthcare strongly depends on the specific place, not only on whether it is north or south. At the same time the state SSN and tessera sanitaria itself works the same in principle across the whole country, only the local ASL organization and timelines differ.

And the last thing worth considering when choosing - everyday infrastructure: shops, deliveries and food prices also differ from region to region and between north and south. A basic guide to prices and chains is in the guide groceries and supermarkets, and a general breakdown of monthly spending with the north-south difference is in cost of living.

How to choose after all: a short checklist

Reducing everything to one "best" region is impossible - but you can narrow the choice. According to the community this train of thought works:

• Need a warm climate year-round? Look at the south, the islands and the mild coasts (Liguria, Campania, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia). Ready for a normal winter for the sake of infrastructure - the north.
• Is proximity to a big city, an airport and Europe important? The north and Lazio. Want quiet and seclusion - Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata.
• Is work remote or will you look for it locally? If looking locally - the north and big cities offer more vacancies and rates. If remote - you can afford the cheap and warm south.
• How important is a Russian-speaking environment? Densest in Lombardy, then Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Tuscany, Campania. In the far south and on the small islands the diaspora is thin.
• What is your ceiling on rent? The smaller the budget, the further south and further from big cities it makes sense to aim - except for Sardinia, which is expensive.

After this, leave two or three regions and, if you can, go there for at least a couple of weeks outside the high season. Very many admit that in person a region feels nothing like it does in the pictures, and the final choice differs from the original plan.

Related articles

• Cost of living in Italy - a monthly budget and the north-south difference.
• Parma: immigration and life - a breakdown using a calm mid-sized city of the north as an example.
• Groceries and supermarkets - prices and chains across the country.
• Italian bureaucracy - how the agencies work and why nothing is quick.
• SSN and tessera sanitaria - the state health card via the ASL.
• Russian-speaking doctors in Italy - how to find your own specialists locally.
• Questura processing times - where the permesso is processed faster, where slower.
• The regions of Italy - the catalog with data on every region; this guide answers how to choose, the catalog answers what a given region actually offers.
• Italian cities for relocation - city profiles with benchmarks for rent and the questura.
• Glossary - a single list explaining Italian terms.

Frequently asked questions

Where is it better for an immigrant to live in Italy - in the north or in the south?

According to the community there is no single answer, it is a trade-off. The north (Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria) is more expensive, but it is closer to the rest of Europe, the infrastructure is stronger, there is more work and a denser Russian-speaking community. The south (Campania, Sicily, Calabria, Apulia) is noticeably cheaper on rent and services, warmer and calmer, but infrastructure and access to doctors are weaker, and there are fewer salaries and vacancies. A common thought in the chats: the smaller the budget, the further south it makes sense to look. Choose not a region in the abstract but the income-minus-expenses pairing for a specific city - and ideally live there for a season first.

Which region of Italy has the most Russian-speakers?

According to figures cited by partners that match the community's sense of it, Russian-speakers are densest in Lombardy (Milan and its surroundings) - this is region number one. Next come Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Rome), Tuscany and Campania. In the south and on the islands, apart from a few spots, the diaspora is thinner: in Basilicata, Molise or Valle d'Aosta there are almost no compatriots. The numbers on how many Russian citizens hold a residence permit are a rough guide and go out of date, verify the current details, but the order of the regions holds.

Which region of Italy has the mildest climate?

According to the community many call Liguria the most comfortable: a Mediterranean climate, a mild winter rarely below 10 degrees, almost no snow, and a sea breeze that softens the summer heat. The coasts of Tuscany, Marche, Campania, Calabria and the islands are similarly mild. The downside of the south and the islands is that in summer it is often above 30, and in places up to 40 degrees. The north (Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto) gives clear seasons with a cold foggy winter and a hot humid summer, and in the Alps and the Dolomites - a real mountain winter. The temperature numbers here are rounded, the weather varies from year to year.

Where in Italy is the permesso made fastest?

According to the community speed depends not on the region as such but on the specific questura and even on an individual employee. Large northern questure (for example the central offices in Milan) are often called fast at the fingerprinting stage, some people waited a bit over a month. Elsewhere several months pass between submitting the KIT and the plastic card being issued. You can compare benchmarks for specific cities in the questura processing times section, but these are people's observations, not a guarantee.

Is it cheaper to live in the south of Italy and on the islands?

According to the community yes, rent and many services in the south are noticeably lower, by some estimates housing can be found around thirty percent cheaper than in the north. But there are nuances: Sardinia stands apart - there, because of the prestigious resorts, the price per square meter is comparable to northern prices. And remember that low expenses in the south usually go hand in hand with lower salaries and a thinner labor market. All the sums here are a rough guide according to the community, do the math from your own first paychecks.

How should I start choosing a region for moving to Italy?

According to the community it helps to first answer a few questions honestly: do you need a warm climate year-round or a normal winter, do you need proximity to a big city and an airport, do you have remote work or will you look for it locally, how important is a Russian-speaking environment and what is your ceiling on rent. Then narrow the list to two or three regions and, if you can, go there for at least a couple of weeks outside the high season. Many admit that they planned one thing (for example the Amalfi Coast) and, after living there, chose something completely different.

Related materials - Guides

• Cost of living in Italy: monthly budget
• Renting a flat in Italy: contracts, deposits
• 1 euro houses in Italy: how it really works
• Emigration stress: adapting in Italy

Next stepCost of living: 29-city budgetsPick a city, household and housing - a rough monthly budget with rent, utilities, groceries and transport, each line source-labeled.

Documents for this topic

• Contratto di Locazione per Studenti Universitari con traduzione russa - esempio, Novara
• Form «Comunicazione di Ospitalita» - notification of housing provision for a foreigner (art. 7 D.lgs 286/98)
• Document Checklist for Family Reunification (ricongiungimento familiare) - Patronato ACLI Turin, 2023