What People Say About Living in Biella

When people think of Italy, they often picture the famous cities or the sunny south. But tucked at the foot of the Italian Alps in Piedmont, there’s a small city that’s been quietly catching the attention of expats and retirees: Biella.

This city has around 43,000 inhabitants and sits about an hour from Turin and an hour and a half from Milan. Known for its textile industry, Biella offers a great combo: low property prices, great connectivity and infrastructure.

But the real question is: what’s living in Biella actually like year-round? To find out, we combined our data with the experiences of the people who actually live here.

Life in Biella: What People Say

According to residents, Biella is a good place to live, especially if you’re looking for tranquility without sacrificing access to nature and nearby cities. In fact, if you love the mountains, Biella makes an excellent base. The area offers walking trails for every level, and it’s perfect for cycling and motorcycling. Plus, you’re just an hour from Valle d’Aosta, the beautiful Lake Orta, and a couple of hours from the sea, giving you the best of both worlds:

“It’s a small city surrounded by mountains. Tucked at the foot of the Italian Alps, Biella is about an hour from Turin and an hour and a half from Milan. There are beautiful hiking mountains right behind the city, and Courmayeur the world renowned ski area is only 1h30 min drive away. The Cinque Terre is two hours from here.”

The historic center is particularly well-maintained, clean, and perfect for leisurely walks. According to one resident Biella has everything in terms of daily infrastructures, included internet connectivity:

“The city is very well served, there’s all the infrastructure – hospitals, supermarkets, schools, affordable homes, and the area is fully served by fiber optics. Nature is wonderful, the Biellesi are very elegant and polite. At first they’re quite reserved, but when they start to get to know you, they give you their heart. The city is very clean and peaceful.”

The city isn’t what you’d call “worldly” or bustling with nightlife, but if you’re after a super tranquil lifestyle with excellent air quality and surrounded by nature, Biella delivers exactly that. In fact, many residents describe it as a paradise for retirees.

Transport and Connectivity in Biella

The most convenient airports to reach Biella are Turin Airport and Milan Malpensa, about 1h drive away. Having one of the biggest airports of Italy that nearby is a huge pro, as you’ll probably find direct long distance flights for most destinations.

The city is well-served by infrastructure, with good road connections, though you’ll need to drive about 15 km on state roads to reach the A4 highway at Carisio.

From the main train station, “Biella San Paolo”, you can reach with regional trains places like Chivasso in 40 minutes, Turin and Novara in just one hour and Milan in 1h 50 minutes. Unfortunately, high-speed trains do not stop at this station, but it’s still well-served for nearby areas.

Public transport exists but can be infrequent, particularly in the smaller towns around Biella. So, for day-to-day life, having a car is pretty much essential, especially if you want to explore the surrounding towns or venture into the mountains. You have a wide choice: a few hours drive, you have: Valle D’Aosta (which is absolutely beautiful, both for ski and history lovers, as there are plenty of medieval castles nearby), Switzerland, France and more.

Where to Live in Biella: Housing & Cost of Living

Housing in Biella is incredibly affordable. For around €80-90,000, you can buy a 100 m² home in the city center, not to mention the surrounding areas, where with even €50,000 you can find one.

Data elaborated from Immobiliare.it

The city center is very livable and perfect for those who are moving with children, as there are many schools nearby, from kindergarten to high schools:

“Biella city itself is very livable and suitable for a family with small children who will grow up and have all schools available. Internet is present in practically all neighborhoods and property values are very favorable.”

But if you prefer even more tranquility, want even more affordable options and possibly some extra outdoor space, consider Strona, Vigliano Biellese, Valdengo, Candelo, Cossato, and Cerreto. These towns are very close to Biella yet still well-served.

“We moved to Strona, it has kindergarten and elementary schools, pharmacy, supermarket, green areas, beautiful trails, children’s playground. Less than 1,000 inhabitants, life is very good and you reach Biella city in 15/20 minutes. Oh, we also have fiber optics!”

Challenges of Living in Biella

The main challenge of living in Biella is that it’s genuinely quiet – this is a pro for some, but if you’re looking for vibrant nightlife, diverse entertainment options, or a faster pace of life, you might find it too slow. Plus, public transportation in the surrounding towns can be limited, making a car necessary rather than optional.

“It depends only on your lifestyle… If you’re a calm person without particular social expectations, who likes being in extremely peaceful and livable areas, the quality of life here is very high“

Climate-wise, there are some considerations depending on where you settle.

“The climate is excellent, but be careful if you go to areas too far south because in summer you’re in the middle of rice fields (so endless insects and humidity). In winter, cold is not excessive, but it’s quite windy because the air comes down from the pre-Alps. If you go to areas too far north, they’re usually small mountain villages with less services.”

Even though the infrastructure can be considered pretty efficient – especially hospitals (according to our data, they are really good, especially on treating severe cardiac conditions promptly), some expats note that there isn’t much choice in terms of international schools. And there isn’t a big expat community, so the language barrier might also make things a bit harder.

Biella by the Numbers: Key Data

• Quality of Life: Good (89/100) – taking into account air quality, amenities, economy, and infrastructure
• Air Quality: Excellent (86/100)
• Healthcare: Ospedale degli Infermi (14 minutes)
• Internet Speed: Excellent (average of 200 Mbps download)
• Transport: Car essential for daily life and exploring the province; public transport can be infrequent
  • Airports: Turin Airport (1h), Milan Malpensa (1h), Linate, Milan (75 min.)
  • Railway Stations: Stazione di Biella San Paolo (12 min.), Stazione di Candelo (16 min.), Stazione di Cossato (20 min.)

For more detailed information about Biella and its services and infrastructure, visit the Magic Towns city profile.

Is Biella right for you?

✅ Choose Biella if:

• You’re a retiree or someone seeking a peaceful lifestyle in a quiet city with excellent air quality
• You’re looking for incredibly affordable housing – some of the lowest prices in Italy considering its size and amenities
• You value being close to a big airport, with lots of options for long-distance flights
• You value high quality healthcare services and a good internet connectivity
• You love outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and skiing or want to be close to both mountains (Val d’Aosta, Courmayeur) and the sea (Cinque Terre)

❌ Think twice if:

• You’re seeking vibrant nightlife and diverse entertainment options
• You rely heavily on public transportation – a car is a must outside the city center
• You’re looking for international schools nearby for your children
• You don’t speak Italian at all – this is a really “Italian” city, so do not expect everyone to speak English

Final thoughts

So, Biella is definitely a good option if everything you’re looking for is a quiet and safe place, near nature, served with all the infrastructures you might need for daily life nearby. Healthcare facilities are really efficient, internet connectivity is good, property prices are affordable, and you’re close to one of the biggest airports of Italy.

However, this is definitely not a place for those seeking excitement, nightlife, or urban energy. It’s a paradise for pensioners and nature lovers, but it might feel too quiet for younger people or those who thrive on social activities and entertainment.

If you’re experiencing difficulties with your relocation process, become a member and get a one-hour FREE private consultation to help you navigate it smoothly.

Want to explore more options?

If Biella hasn’t fully convinced you and you’d like to explore other options, use our search tools to explore over 1,500 towns and cities in Italy. You can filter by cost of living, transport, healthcare, and other lifestyle factors – making it easy to find the perfect place for you.

Discover our article on the 7% tax town benefit, and sign up for our newsletter to get our guide to every town covered by this incentive.