Apartments are a great, affordable option for buying property throughout Italy, with the average price of a two-bedroom apartment in Italy around $152,000. You may be surprised that unlike in the United States, you’ll find apartments for sale in big cities, small towns, and tiny villages, with interesting architectural styles that can vary widely from one region to the next.
So, just how much does it cost to buy an apartment in Italy? We’ll take a look at the average prices of an average-sized 800-square-foot apartment, roughly equal to a two-bedroom apartment, in all 20 regions of Italy, break down the most expensive and affordable spots, and the cost of apartments in the largest Italian cities.
How much is an apartment in each of Italy’s 20 regions?
From region to region, the price will greatly fluctuate. In general, the further north you go, the more expensive the property is. That applies to apartments, homes, and land. It should come as no surprise that Trentino-Alto Adige, which borders the more expensive countries of Austria and Switzerland, tops the list.
Here’s how much it costs on average to buy an apartment in Italy by region, listed from the most expensive to the most affordable:
1. Trentino-Alto Adige $236,800
This region has a distinct Alpine character, with many homes featuring Tyrolean-style architecture. Houses are typically made of wood and stone, with steeply pitched roofs, while apartments are part of smaller low-rise buildings that follow the same regional style.
2. Aosta Valley $213,600
In this mountainous region, homes are also heavily influenced by Alpine styles. They are typically built with stone and wood, featuring steep roofs to handle heavy snowfall. The condition of these homes varies, with many well-preserved older structures alongside modern constructions.
3. Liguria $204,800
Known for its picturesque coastal towns like Cinque Terre, Liguria’s homes are often built on steep hillsides, with colorful facades and slate roofs. The style is typically Mediterranean, with narrow, multi-storied buildings.
4. Tuscany $194,400
Tuscany is renowned for its beautiful farmhouses (“casali”), often made of stone, with terracotta roofs and surrounded by vineyards. These homes are typically well-maintained and embody the quintessential Italian rural style. Apartments in Tuscany are concentrated in charming towns, like Lucca and Siena, with well-preserved Renaissance walls and the charming blend of Romanesque, Medieval, Baroque, and Renaissance styles.
5. Lazio $175,200
In Rome, apartments and residential buildings often reflect the baroque and renaissance styles. In rural areas, you’ll find simpler, more rustic homes, often well-preserved and in good condition.
6. Lombardy $175,200
In Lombardy, you’ll find a mix of styles, from modern apartments in Milan to traditional rural homes in the Alps and lakes region. These often feature stone and wood construction with steep roofs.
7. Emilia-Romagna $148,800
This region features a mix of architectural styles. In urban areas, you’ll find elegant medieval and renaissance buildings, while the countryside is dotted with farmhouses made of brick or stone, often in good condition.
8. Veneto $141,600
Venetian Gothic, a style unique to the region, is particularly prominent in Venice, characterized by its elegant blend of Gothic lancet arches with Byzantine and Moorish influences, often seen in palazzos along the canals. The region also showcases Palladian architecture, named after the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, whose designs reflect classical Roman principles and are seen in villas throughout the Veneto countryside.
9. Campania $130,400
The architecture here is diverse, from the baroque and renaissance influences in Naples to the cliffside homes of the Amalfi Coast. Many residential properties are in the Mediterranean style, with pastel-colored facades and tiled roofs.
10. Sardinia $130,400
Sardinian homes often feature simple, functional designs with influences from Spanish and Moorish architecture. Rural homes are typically built with local materials like granite.
11. Marche $124,800
The region’s architecture is influenced by its rural and coastal landscapes, with many homes made of brick or stone. The condition of apartments in Marche varies, with both well-maintained historic properties and more modern constructions.
12. Fruili-Venezia Giulia $116,800
The architecture here is a blend of Latin, Slavic, and Germanic influences, especially prominent in large apartment buildings. Residential properties often feature Austro-Hungarian architectural styles with colorful facades and ornate details.
13. Piedmont $103,200
The region’s architecture is influenced by its French and Swiss neighbors. Homes and apartment buildings here are often large and made of stone or brick, with a mix of medieval, baroque, and renaissance influences.
14. Puglia $100,000
Puglia is famous for its Trulli houses in Alberobello, characterized by their conical roofs. The region’s coastal areas often feature Mediterranean-style architecture with whitewashed walls and simple, elegant designs. Apartments are typical in Puglia’s cities like Lecce, Brindisi, Polignano a Mare or Ostuni, with charming renovated units in historic buildings in city centers or modern apartment buildings in the outer neighborhoods.
15. Abruzzo $98,400
Abruzzo’s residential architecture often reflects its rural and mountainous landscape, with stone houses prevalent in the mountainous areas. These homes typically feature thick walls and small windows, adapting to the colder climate. In coastal areas, you’ll find more Mediterranean-style homes with light-colored facades and terracotta roofs.
16. Basilicata $96,000
Residential architecture here is often rustic, with many homes built into the rock, especially in the ancient city of Matera. These cave houses, known as “Sassi,” are a unique feature of the region.
17. Umbria $88,000
Umbrian architecture is similar to Tuscany, with many character-filled stone-built rural homes. The region is also known for its medieval towns, where apartment buildings often feature characteristic stone facades, cool and dark interiors that keep heat out in the summer, but tend to be cold and damp in the winter.
18. Sicily $84,800
Sicilian architecture reflects its diverse history, with Greek, Arab, and Norman influences. Homes and apartment buildings often feature light colored-exteriors and ornate details, with baroque elements particularly common in cities like Noto and Catania.
19. Calabria $74,400
Calabria’s architecture displays Greek and Byzantine influences, with many homes featuring thick stone walls and terracotta roofs. The coastal towns often have brightly colored houses, often perched on cliffs, reflecting the Mediterranean style.
20. Molise $72,000
Molise’s residential architecture is modest and functional, often featuring stone houses in rural areas and small apartments in historic town centers. The condition of these properties varies, with some historic buildings needing restoration.
Keep in mind that although Lazio ranks fifth, the cost of apartments in Rome greatly increases the average prices of the region. You can find plenty of places outside the major city that have affordable homes.
Molise is the cheapest region of Italy, mostly due to its rough terrain and very little land available. However, the area is part of the one-euro home project meant to help battle depopulation in smaller Italian towns.
The most expensive cities in Italy to buy an apartment
The larger, more beautiful cities are always going to be the most expensive. Milan, as the country’s economic and fashion capital, is one of the most competitive real-estate markets in Italy. So you’ll be paying a steep price for any real estate here, apartments included.
With such little real-estate to offer, Venice is second on the list, but the average apartment price still drops $40,000 from Milan. Florence rounds out the 3rd most expensive.
The top 10 most expensive cities to buy an apartment in Italy
- Milan $407,200
- Venice $360,800
- Florence $336,000
- Bologna $284,800
- Rome $244,800
- Rimini $227,200
- Naples $215,200
- Salerno $204,000
- Verona $192,800
- Modena $188,800
The most affordable cities to buy an apartment in Italy
Now that we’ve covered the more expensive areas, we’ll move to the more southern areas of Italy to look at the cheapest cities to live. Cities at the bottom of the boot or in Sicily, the island off the “toe” of the southern coast, are the cheapest areas.
Reggio Calabria, a coastal town in the region of Calabria, ranks as the cheapest city, while Taranto, another coastal town, this time in Puglia, is a close second.
The top 10 cities with the cheapest apartments in Italy
- Reggio Calabria $72,000
- Taranto $77,600
- Messina $83,200
- Foggia $86,400
- Perugia $95,200
- Catania $98,400
- Palermo $108,000
- Genoa $113,600
- Ferrara $116,800
- Reggio nell’Emilia $151,200
