A retirement diary
My Italy Retirement Journey
Three shortlisted towns, one realistic plan
As an Australian couple approaching our sixties, we set firm criteria and went looking for the best towns to retire in Italy on a budget. Here is how Noto, Sulmona and Scalea measured up.
For our criteria — a town of 5,000-plus residents, near a larger centre, with rail or airport access, a purchase budget of around €100,000 and monthly costs of €2,000–2,500 — the three best towns to retire in Italy were Noto in Sicily, Sulmona in Abruzzo and Scalea in Calabria. Each is a proper, services-rich town in a region that can qualify for Italy’s 7% flat tax, and each makes a comfortable, affordable retirement genuinely achievable rather than aspirational.
Key takeaways
- We compared three towns to retire in Italy on a budget against fixed, practical filters — not looks alone.
- Noto, Sicily (~23,800 people) pairs Baroque heritage with services and reasonable connectivity to Syracuse and Catania.
- Sulmona, Abruzzo (~21,600–22,000) stands out for rare hourly rail access to Rome and Pescara.
- Scalea, Calabria (just over 10,000) offers the best coastal value while still functioning year-round.
- All three sit in regions where the 7% flat tax for eligible foreign retirees can apply.
- A ~€100,000 purchase and €2,000–2,500 monthly budget proved realistic in all three.
- Property prices, populations, transport times and tax eligibility are time-sensitive and must be verified.
Where we started
Why retirement in Italy stopped being abstract
Like many Australians approaching our sixties, we have reached the point where retirement is no longer a someday idea. After years of work and careful planning, we want a different pace and a new setting for the active years ahead. Italy has become the focus of that search — not only for its beauty and lifestyle, but because it offers realistic options that match what we actually need: a manageable budget, a proper town with services, good transport, and the feeling of being connected to something meaningful.
One of us has Sicilian family roots, which adds a personal layer to the decision. Even without that connection, though, the practical advantages of certain parts of Italy stand out clearly after months of research. We wanted a town of at least 5,000 residents, within roughly 30 minutes of a larger centre, with trains and airports for travel across Italy and Europe. We set a purchase budget of around €100,000 and expect monthly living costs of €2,000–2,500 for a comfortable retired couple. These are not arbitrary figures; they reflect what is genuinely achievable in parts of southern and central Italy.
To turn that wish list into a shortlist, we leaned on the Town Explorer and the Find Your Town quiz, then used Compare Towns to weigh the finalists side by side. If you are setting your own filters, our companion guide on the cost of living in Italy for retirees is a useful reality check on the monthly numbers.
Our shortlist logic
Why these three regions stand out
After exploring the Town Explorer and cross-checking current property data, transport links and cost-of-living figures, three locations consistently rose to the top: Noto in Sicily, Sulmona in Abruzzo and Scalea in Calabria. Each meets our core criteria in different but complementary ways, and each offers noticeably better value than northern or heavily touristed areas.
Northern Italy is generally beyond our budget. Average prices in desirable towns often exceed €2,500–3,500 per square metre, which puts a decent house or apartment well past €100,000. Very small villages under 5,000 people can be cheaper, but they frequently lack reliable services, healthcare access and public transport — trade-offs we want to avoid. The regions we shortlisted strike a better balance: lower property prices, solid mid-sized towns and practical transport, while still potentially qualifying for the 7% flat tax regime available to eligible foreign retirees in southern and certain central areas.
Please verify before deciding
The property prices, populations, transport times and 7% tax references on this page come from our 2026 research snapshot and can change quickly. Treat individual listings as examples, not live availability. Rules can change, so confirm current requirements with official sources or a qualified adviser before making decisions.
Town one · Sicily
Noto: heritage, scale and connectivity
Noto, a Baroque town in the Sicily region of southern Italy, stands out for its blend of heritage, scale and connectivity. With a population of around 23,800, it is large enough to support proper services, shops, restaurants and community life, yet it keeps a human scale. It sits within the Val di Noto and is roughly 25–35 minutes from Syracuse, satisfying our “larger centre nearby” requirement. Catania’s international airport is about 90 minutes by car via the A18 motorway, giving reasonable access for European travel. The town has its own train station with regional connections, though a car remains the most practical option for daily flexibility.
Property prices in Noto and the surrounding Val di Noto make €100,000 realistic for a standalone house. Recent listings included a 210 m² rustic casale right in the historic centre for €100,000. It needs renovation — common in Italy — but the size and location are exceptional value next to more famous Sicilian spots such as Taormina or Ortigia. Regional averages sit around €1,160–1,170 per square metre, so a well-chosen property in this range can deliver real space and character. Sicily also offers one of the lowest costs of living in Italy, aligning with our monthly target, and can qualify for the 7% tax regime.
Where to look: we browsed live Noto listings on property portals such as Idealista; for context and neighbourhood detail we kept returning to the Noto town profile and the wider Sicily region guide.
Town two · Abruzzo
Sulmona: outstanding transport and value
Sulmona, a town in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, excels on transport and value. With a population of roughly 21,600–22,000, it functions as a proper mid-sized town with its own services and healthcare access. It is set against the Majella National Park, offering four-season beauty without feeling remote. What makes it especially strong for our criteria is its place on the Rome–Pescara railway line: hourly trains make Rome (around two hours) and Pescara straightforward, and Pescara’s airport is only 30–45 minutes away for European connections. This level of rail access is rare in smaller Italian towns and directly answers our wish to travel without always relying on the car.
Property here is among the most affordable of the three. A recent independent house in a central location was listed at €43,000 for 99 m². Regional averages are around €1,380–1,400 per square metre, so €100,000 comfortably buys a character property with budget left for updates. Abruzzo can qualify for the 7% flat tax in eligible towns, and the lower cost of living supports our target monthly spend. For anyone prioritising connectivity and long-term ease of movement, Sulmona is one of the strongest matches we have found — so much so that we wrote up a closer look in our guide to retiring in Sulmona, Abruzzo.
Hourly trains to Rome and Pescara from a town of just over twenty thousand people — that combination is rarer than it sounds.
On why Sulmona surprised us
Town three · Calabria
Scalea: coastal value with year-round living
Scalea, a coastal town in the Calabria region of southern Italy, delivers the best seaside value while still meeting our size and access requirements. It has a permanent population of just over 10,000 and works as a proper year-round community with shops, services and infrastructure — not just a summer resort. It has its own station on the coastal line and reasonable road access. Lamezia Terme airport, which offers international flights, is under an hour’s drive. While not as rail-connected as Sulmona, it still satisfies the “close to transport hubs” need when paired with a car. Larger centres such as Paola or Cosenza are within a practical drive for bigger shopping or services.
Property prices in Scalea and along the broader Calabria coast remain among the lowest in Italy, with regional averages around €950–1,050 per square metre. Recent examples of standalone houses and villette in the 80–95 m² range have appeared between €95,000 and €109,000, often with outdoor space. That leaves meaningful room in a €100,000 budget, especially for properties that need renovation. Calabria offers very low living costs, strong 7% tax eligibility, and that classic southern Italian rhythm — sea air, fresh food and a relaxed pace — without the premiums attached to better-known spots such as Tropea.
Side by side
Quick comparison of the three towns
Here is how Noto, Sulmona and Scalea align with our key retirement criteria. Figures are from our 2026 research snapshot and should be verified before any commitment.
| Criterion | Noto, Sicily | Sulmona, Abruzzo | Scalea, Calabria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | ~23,800 | ~21,600–22,000 | ~10,000+ |
| Distance to larger centre | ~25–35 min to Syracuse | ~1 hr 20 min to Pescara | ~30–45 min to Paola / Cosenza area |
| Key transport | Regional train + A18 motorway | Hourly Rome–Pescara trains | Coastal train line + good roads |
| Airport access | Catania ~90 min | Pescara ~30–45 min | Lamezia Terme < 60 min |
| €100k property example | 210 m² rustic casale in historic centre | 99 m² independent house (recently ~€43k) | 80–95 m² house/villetta with outdoor space |
| Cost of living fit | Excellent (very low) | Very good | Excellent (very low) |
| 7% tax eligible | Yes (Sicily) | Yes (Abruzzo) | Yes (Calabria) |
| Best for | Heritage, Baroque charm, Sicilian roots | Transport connectivity & mountain setting | Coastal lifestyle & best value per euro |
Bringing it together
What the shortlist taught us
These three places were not chosen for aesthetics alone. We selected them because each satisfies the practical filters we set: town size, proximity to a larger centre, transport for travel, and realistic pricing within €100,000. They also sit in regions where the cost of living supports a comfortable retirement on our planned budget and where the 7% flat tax can apply.
Noto brings heritage and vibrancy with solid connectivity. Sulmona offers outstanding transport links and exceptional value. Scalea provides coastal living at a price point that still allows a proper house with outdoor space. Together they represent the best balance we have found between emotion and practicality. The next steps will involve more detailed property research, site visits and navigating the Italian buying process. Renovation will likely be part of the picture, which we see as an opportunity rather than a drawback — the goal is a home with character that we can make our own while staying within budget.
Practical next steps
01
Re-run the filters
Use Find Your Town and Compare Towns to pressure-test your own must-haves before booking flights.
02
Check the money
Read the cost of living for retirees guide and the
03
If you are relocating from the southern hemisphere, our notes on retiring in Italy from Australia cover visas and logistics. Official residency information sits on the Visa for Italy portal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Esteri.it).
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the best towns to retire in Italy on a budget?
Based on our criteria — a 5,000-plus town near a larger centre, rail or airport access, a ~€100,000 purchase budget and €2,000–2,500 monthly costs — our three best towns to retire in Italy were Noto in Sicily, Sulmona in Abruzzo and Scalea in Calabria. Each is a services-rich town in a region that can qualify for the 7% flat tax.
Can you really retire in Italy on around €100,000 for a property?
In the regions we shortlisted, yes. Regional averages ranged from roughly €950 per square metre in Calabria to around €1,400 in Abruzzo, and we saw real listings — such as a 99 m² house in Sulmona around €43,000 and an 80–95 m² coastal home in Scalea between €95,000 and €109,000 — within or near a €100,000 budget. Renovation is often part of the picture, and prices are time-sensitive, so verify current listings.
Which of the three towns has the best transport links?
Sulmona, thanks to hourly trains on the Rome–Pescara line (Rome in around two hours) and Pescara airport 30–45 minutes away. Noto relies more on the A18 motorway with Catania airport about 90 minutes away, and Scalea combines a coastal train line with a car and Lamezia Terme airport under an hour away.
Do Sicily, Abruzzo and Calabria qualify for Italy’s 7% flat tax?
All three regions include towns where the 7% flat tax for eligible foreign retirees can apply. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and the specific town, so confirm current rules with official sources or a qualified adviser. See our 7% flat tax regime guide for context.
Narrow your own Italian shortlist
The same tools that built our three-town shortlist are free to use. Set your budget, town size and transport must-haves, then compare the matches side by side.
Town Explorer
Browse Italian towns by size, region, transport and cost of living.
Find Your Town
Answer a short quiz and get towns matched to your retirement criteria.
Compare Towns
Put your finalists side by side, the way we compared Noto, Sulmona and Scalea.
Rules can change, so confirm current requirements with official sources or a qualified adviser before making decisions.
A passion project sharing one couple’s search for a realistic retirement in Italy.
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