Best cities to live in Italy (2026)
4 cities ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Migrant acceptance (2016)
Path to PR
Bologna
71/100Rome
70/100Florence
69/100Milan
68/100Compare cities in Italy
❓ Living in Italy — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in Italy?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Bologna ranks #1 in Italy with a score of 71/100, and city-centre rent from around $1130/month.
What is the safest city in Italy?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Rome is the safest city in Italy in our database, with a rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people.
Should I move to Bologna or Rome?▾
Bologna scores 71/100 on our Livability Score vs 70/100 for Rome. Rent is $1130/mo in Bologna vs $1355/mo in Rome. See the full comparison at the bottom of this page.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Italy?▾
Italy offers the Italy Digital Nomad Visa (moderate process). Duration: 1 year (renewable). Key requirement: Income ≥ ~€28,000/yr. 6+ months prior remote work experience. Health insurance required.. The process is moderate difficulty. Check individual city pages for full details.
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