Italy
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 9 of 40, strongest on climate, softest on retiree visa.
- Healthcare 78
- Retiree visa 72
- Affordability 78
- Safety 76
- Climate 88
- Expat community 78
- Retirement visaYesElective Residence Visa (visto per residenza elettiva), a national long-stay Type D visaconslosangeles.esteri.it
- Min incomeMediumconsnewyork.esteri.it
- Monthly budget~$1,800-2,800/monumbeo.com
- HealthcareGooden.wikipedia.org
- SafetySafeen.wikipedia.org
- Top citiesLucca, Lecce, Bologna
Good to know
- Good healthcare accessItaly runs a universal public health service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), established in 1978, covering all citizens and legal residents. Outcomes are strong, with life expectancy among the highest in the OECD, though quality varies by region and public waiting times can be long.en.wikipedia.org
- Dedicated retirement visaElective Residence Visa (visto per residenza elettiva), a national long-stay Type D visaconslosangeles.esteri.it
- Low cost of livingA single person's estimated costs are roughly USD 1,000 per month excluding rent; a comfortable all-in retirement budget commonly falls in the USD 1,800 to 2,800 range depending on city and lifestyle.numbeo.com
- Safe for retireesItaly ranks 35th of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.712, placing it in the upper-middle tier for peacefulness. Petty theft and pickpocketing in tourist areas are the main day-to-day concern.en.wikipedia.org
- Comfortable climateCoastal regions and the south have a true Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, while the Alpine north and Po Valley interior are colder and more continental, with cold winters and hot summers.en.wikipedia.org
- Established expat communityItaly has a large and established foreign-resident and retiree community, especially in Tuscany, Umbria, and the lakes. English proficiency is moderate, scoring 513 (rank 59) on the EF English Proficiency Index, so English is more common in cities and tourist hubs than in rural southern towns.ef.com
Watch out for
No cautions from the verified data.
Visa & residency
Elective Residence Visa (visto per residenza elettiva), a national long-stay Type D visa
Consulates look for stable passive income commonly cited around EUR 31,000 per year for a single applicant (roughly EUR 2,600 per month), with more expected for couples; higher amounts and savings strengthen the application.
The Elective Residence Visa does not permit any work or employment in Italy. Applicants must prove steady, self-sustaining passive income not deriving from subordinate work, such as pensions, property rental income, or investment returns.
Healthcare
Italy runs a universal public health service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), established in 1978, covering all citizens and legal residents. Outcomes are strong, with life expectancy among the highest in the OECD, though quality varies by region and public waiting times can be long.
Legal foreign residents can register with the SSN; many non-EU retirees carry private insurance for faster access and to satisfy visa requirements, and costs remain well below typical US healthcare expenses.
Cost of living
A single person's estimated costs are roughly USD 1,000 per month excluding rent; a comfortable all-in retirement budget commonly falls in the USD 1,800 to 2,800 range depending on city and lifestyle.
Rent in Italy averages about 48.9% lower than in the United States, and overall cost of living including rent is about 23.5% lower.
Safety
Italy ranks 35th of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.712, placing it in the upper-middle tier for peacefulness. Petty theft and pickpocketing in tourist areas are the main day-to-day concern.
Climate
Coastal regions and the south have a true Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, while the Alpine north and Po Valley interior are colder and more continental, with cold winters and hot summers.
Community & language
Italy has a large and established foreign-resident and retiree community, especially in Tuscany, Umbria, and the lakes. English proficiency is moderate, scoring 513 (rank 59) on the EF English Proficiency Index, so English is more common in cities and tourist hubs than in rural southern towns.
Official language is Italian; some regions have co-official languages. English proficiency is moderate, so learning basic Italian is recommended for daily life outside major tourist areas.
Taxes
Foreign pensioners who become resident in a qualifying southern town (in regions such as Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise, and Puglia, with no more than 30,000 inhabitants since April 2026) can elect a 7% flat tax on all foreign-source income for up to ten years, versus standard rates of 23% to 43%.
Italy has a comprehensive network of double-taxation treaties, including with the United States, which generally prevents the same income from being taxed twice.
Popular retirement spots
Where retirees in Italy tend to settle, and the honest reason why. Each note shows its source.
Lucca
Walled Tuscan "city of art" whose intact Renaissance-era ramparts form a pedestrian promenade around a well-preserved historic centre.
Lecce
Baroque city nicknamed "the Florence of the South," on the Salentine peninsula at the heel of southern Italy.
Bologna
Emilia-Romagna's capital, a university city with 38km of UNESCO-listed porticoes sheltering a walkable historic centre.
Questions about retiring in Italy
Answered from the verified data on this page. Every answer shows its source; anything we have not confirmed says so plainly rather than guessing.
- Does Italy have a retirement visa?
Yes. Italy offers the Elective Residence Visa (visto per residenza elettiva), a national long-stay Type D visa.
conslosangeles.esteri.it- Do EU citizens need a visa to retire in Italy?
No. Under EU freedom of movement, EU citizens may live and retire in Italy. You can stay up to three months without registering, then register with the local authorities for longer stays.
europa.eu- How much monthly income do I need to retire in Italy?
As a guide: Consulates look for stable passive income commonly cited around EUR 31,000 per year for a single applicant (roughly EUR 2,600 per month), with more expected for couples; higher amounts and savings strengthen the application. Treat this as indicative and verify the current official figure before you rely on it.
consnewyork.esteri.it- Is healthcare good for expats in Italy?
Healthcare quality is rated good. Italy runs a universal public health service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), established in 1978, covering all citizens and legal residents. Outcomes are strong, with life expectancy among the highest in the OECD, though quality varies by region and public waiting times can be long. On cost: Legal foreign residents can register with the SSN; many non-EU retirees carry private insurance for faster access and to satisfy visa requirements, and costs remain well below typical US healthcare expenses.
en.wikipedia.org- How expensive is it to retire in Italy?
Lower than the US. A comfortable single-retiree budget is A single person's estimated costs are roughly USD 1,000 per month excluding rent; a comfortable all-in retirement budget commonly falls in the USD 1,800 to 2,800 range depending on city and lifestyle.
numbeo.com- Is Italy safe?
Safe. Italy ranks 35th of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.712, placing it in the upper-middle tier for peacefulness. Petty theft and pickpocketing in tourist areas are the main day-to-day concern.
en.wikipedia.org- What is the climate like in Italy?
The climate is Mediterranean, with alpine and continental variations in the north. Coastal regions and the south have a true Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, while the Alpine north and Po Valley interior are colder and more continental, with cold winters and hot summers.
en.wikipedia.org- Where do retirees live in Italy?
Popular retirement spots include Lucca, Lecce and Bologna.
en.wikipedia.org
Compare Italy with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
