English For our “What People Think About Living In” series, this time we’re focusing on Bolzano, a city of around 100,000 inhabitants in Trentino-Alto Adige.
If you’ve come across this city, it’s probably because the region is known for being super efficient and ahead of the curve in Italy, especially when it comes to environmental sustainability.
So what’s living in Bolzano really like? We’ve gathered insights from locals and data to give you a realistic picture.
Life in Bolzano: What People Say
We usually imagine mountain towns as tiny villages, but Bolzano’s definitely not small. It offers all the perks of a bigger city, while being surrounded by the amazing Dolomites.
“Living here means having countless options if you love nature and outdoor sports. Job opportunities are plentiful, and its strategic location makes it easy to explore other beautiful destinations throughout South Tyrol and the Dolomites.” – Barbara P.
If you want a place with an international feel, Bolzano could be a great choice. You can really feel the Austro-German influence, and the city’s officially bilingual, with both Italian and German widely spoken. However, just keep in mind that living here isn’t cheap, especially when it comes to housing.
“I was born and raised here. Life can be pricey, but salaries are usually a bit higher than in other parts of Italy, though it depends on the job (like doctors make a lot more here). The city’s clean and well-run, and thanks to the university, it feels pretty international.” – Lisa T.
Transport and Connectivity in Bolzano
Bolzano has a great mix of public transportation options, from city and regional buses to trains and even cable cars, making it easy to get around and explore the nearby areas. You can easily check the timetable online on the Alto Adige Mobilità website.
“It’s a fairly quiet and well-maintained city, especially in terms of infrastructure – bike lanes and buses can get you just about anywhere.” – Michele S.
The city is easily walkable and bike-friendly, thanks to an extensive system of cycling paths and sustainable transport options. That said, having a car can come in handy if you’re planning weekend trips to the mountains or need to get to airports outside the city. Verona’s airport, for example, has way more flight options than the small one in Bolzano. Still, if you’re flying out of Bolzano, it’s super easy to reach, just hop on a bus or train from the center, and you’ll be there in about 30 minutes for less than €5.
Train connections from Bolzano are excellent too. Regional and high-speed trains run frequently: you can get to Trento in under 40 minutes, Verona in about an hour and a half, and Milan in around three and a half hours.
Where to Live in Bolzano: Housing & Cost of Living
While it’s true that living in Bolzano is expensive (typically 20-30% higher than in the rest of Italy), salaries are generally higher too, especially if you work for a German-speaking company.
Still, one of the biggest challenges if you’re thinking of moving here is finding a place to live, especially at a reasonable price. In fact, it’s quite difficult to find a livable home for under €300,000. For many, Bolzano feels better suited to retirees with a comfortable budget, or even better, for families with children:
“The hardest thing is finding a place to live. Prices are insane and demand is extremely high. Most people who own property in Bolzano either inherited it or have a very high purchasing power.” – Marco T.
For a 70 m² apartment in the city center, you can expect to pay around €380,000 to buy, or about €1,000 per month to rent, with prices gradually decreasing the farther out you go.
| Area | Sale (€/m²) | Total Sale Price (70 m²) | Rent (€/m²) | Monthly Rent (70 m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro, Piani, Rencio | €5,523 | €386,610 | €14.30 | €1,001 |
| Oltrisarco Aslago, Colle | €4,107 | €287,490 | €11.43 | €800 |
| Europa Novacella, Don Bosco, Firmiano | €4,370 | €305,900 | €13.97 | €978 |
| Gries San Quirino, San Maurizio | €5,072 | €355,040 | €15.13 | €1,059 |
Data elaborated from Immobiliare.it
To get around this problem, you could consider living in neighborhoods just outside the city center, which are well connected and offer good public services:
“Sure, real estate in Bolzano is expensive. But if you live just outside, in places like Mezzocorona, Mezzolombardo, or San Michele, you can commute to the city in 20-25 minutes and find reasonably priced homes.” – Andrea N.
Challenges of Living in Bolzano
As mentioned earlier, one of the cons of living in Bolzano is the high cost of living. According to some residents, to live comfortably without too many compromises, you need at least €2,000 per person per month:
“I think the minimum to live comfortably alone is around €2,000 per month; for a couple, about €3,000. Below that, it’s still doable, but you’ll need to be careful with your spending and avoid expensive sports or hobbies. If you don’t speak the language but have solid skills, try looking for a job in a medium-to-large German company in the area. They tend to pay significantly better than local Italian companies.” – Claudio T.
This naturally raises the question: Do I need to speak German to work here? The answer is yes and no. You can get by in daily life without knowing German, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a job without it. If language is a barrier, you might want to check out other nearby areas in Veneto, where living costs and housing are cheaper, or Trento, which is more affordable and doesn’t have the same language barrier.
Some people also complain about traffic, especially during rush hours, and others about the climate, although there are plenty of ways to escape the heat:
“It gets scorching hot in summer and freezing in winter, though, to be fair, temperatures have risen everywhere by now. The problem here is that you don’t really have a cool place to escape to, whereas in Bolzano you always have the option to head up to the mountains!” – Gabriele A.
Bolzano by the Numbers: Key Data
- Quality of Life: Very good (89/100)
- Air Quality: Excellent (90/100)
- Internet Speed: Not the best (average of 37 Mbps)
- Rent: ~ €1000 (70 m²)
- Transport: Good. If you live in the city center, you can easily get around on foot or by bike.
For more detailed information about Bolzano and its services and infrastructure, visit the Magic Towns city profile.
Is Bolzano Right for You?
✅ Choose Bolzano if you’re looking for:
- Top-quality healthcare services
- Clean and fresh air
- Low unemployment, even though knowing German definitely opens more doors
- Well-connected public transport
- Lots of outdoor activities if you love nature and sports
❌ Think twice if:
- You want an affordable city with prices below average
- You have little time to move and need to find a home quickly
- You need super-fast internet
- You don’t think you can handle scorching summers and freezing winters
Final Thoughts
By now, you might be feeling a bit torn. On one hand, Bolzano offers excellent services, efficiency, and diverse job opportunities; on the other, there are high costs and a language barrier. But is it really as daunting as it seems?
To wrap things up, here’s the perspective of a local who was born and raised here and considers it his good fortune:
“If I had grown up anywhere else in Italy, I seriously doubt I would have been able to buy my own home at 23. I wouldn’t be earning €45,000 a year without a university degree, I wouldn’t speak three languages, and I definitely wouldn’t know what it’s like to be just five minutes by car (or 15 by bike) from untouched nature.
Living in South Tyrol or Trentino isn’t perfect, no place is. But is it really surprising that these two provinces consistently top every national ranking, no matter the category?”
Visit Our Town Explorer and Find Your Magic Town!
If Bolzano hasn’t fully convinced you and you’d like to explore other options, we recommend using the filters and search bar to browse over 1,500 towns and cities across Italy. You can refine your search by amenities, infrastructure, and lifestyle factors to find the city that’s the perfect fit for you.
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