English With the Olympics in full swing, I think most of us have caught ourselves watching all these stunning mountain locations and thinking how amazing it would be to actually live there year-round. Waking up surrounded by nature, in one of those little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney, getting something warm ready before heading back outside… a bit romanticized, maybe.
But jokes aside, there are plenty of towns in or around the Italian Alps where you can actually relocate – affordable, liveable all year, and close enough to the most popular areas without paying resort prices. We used our Town Explorer to put together what we think are five great options.
Aosta (Valle d’Aosta)
Aosta is the regional capital of Italy’s smallest region, and it’s probably the most complete town on this list in terms of daily life. Around 34,000 people live here, which is enough to have everything you’d expect – a hospital (11 minutes away), shops, schools, restaurants, bars and a great internet connection if you need to work remotely (around 193 Mbps).
What makes it special is the location. You’re sitting at the foot of the Alps in every direction, in a valley that’s ringed by some of the highest peaks in Europe. For skiing, you’re definitely in a good position. The Pila ski area is right above the city (20 minutes by cable car); Courmayeur and Monte Bianco are 25–30 minutes by car, while Cervinia and La Thuile are around 40-50 minutes away.
One of the main pros of living here is that Milan Malpensa, one of Europe’s best-connected hubs, is just 1h 25min away. Public transport within the valley exists, but you definitely need a car for day-to-day life.
Properties average around €2,125 per square meter. A 100 sqm apartment would run roughly €212,500 – significantly less than what you’d pay in Courmayeur just 25 minutes up the road.
Sondrio (Lombardy)
Sondrio is the capital of the Valtellina valley. Small (around 21,000 people), quiet, surrounded by terraced vineyards and mountains, it was ranked the best Italian city for raising children in 2024 by the Sole 24 Ore quality-of-life study.
The town has everything you need for daily life, from health clinics, to supermarkets, cafes, and even a hospital which is just 12 minutes away. Plus, there’s also a train station where you can reach places like Milan in about 2 hours, and Tirano (for the Bernina Express to St. Moritz) is 30 minutes. The nearest airports are all Milan’s options: Linate at 97 minutes, Bergamo Orio al Serio at 103 minutes, Malpensa at 106 minutes.
On the ski side, Aprica is 45 minutes, Bormio is 1h 10 minutes, Madesimo is 1h 30 minutes, and Livigno is 2 hours. But despite this, properties prices are definitely affordable: they average around €1,400 per square meter — a 100 sqm home is roughly €140,000.
Pergine Valsugana (Trentino Alto-Adige)
Pergine Valsugana is just 15 minutes from Trento, has around 21,000 residents, and sits between two lakes, Caldonazzo and Levico.
Here as well the services don’t miss. There are lots of restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, and even gyms and cinemas nearby. The healthcare in the area is really strong, and the nearest hospital (Santa Chiara in Trento) is just 18 minutes away.
For skiing, you’re well placed. Alpe Cimbra (Folgaria/Lavarone) is 40 minutes, the Dolomites of Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme are about an hour away, and the popular Madonna di Campiglio is 1h 30min – doable for a day trip.
The town is well connected: you’re an hour away from Verona’s airport, and 50 minutes from Bolzano’s one. The local train station connects directly to cities like Trento (30 min.) and Bassano del Grappa (around 1h 50 min.).
Properties average around €2,430 per square meter – so a 100 sqm home costs roughly €243,000. You’re paying a slight premium over some alternatives, but you’re in Trentino-Alto Adige, which consistently ranks as Italy’s top region for quality of life.
Brunico / Bruneck (Trentino Alto-Adige)
Brunico is South Tyrol’s other main town (after Bolzano). The language is German as much as Italian (it’s officially bilingual), and this reflects in everything.. from the architecture to the organization of the town itself. It has around 17,000 residents and the quality of life shows in everything from the streets to the hospital. In fact, on the healthcare front, Brunico scores 90/100 (the highest on this list) and the hospital is just 5 minutes away.
The ski situation is almost unreasonably convenient. Plan de Corones / Kronplatz, which is a serious ski mountain with over 100 km of slopes, is right on the doorstep. So you can ski in the morning and be back for lunch.
The train station connects to cities like Trento (about 2 hours), Bolzano (1h 30 min), and Verona (3 hours). Bolzano Airport is 55 minutes (limited routes, mainly seasonal), and Verona is 1h 46min for more options.
Properties in Brunico average around €5,200 per square meter, so a 100 sqm home runs roughly €520,000. It’s the most expensive town here, but Alto Adige real estate carries a premium everywhere.
Asiago (Veneto)
Asiago is technically a pre-Alpine town, but we decided to include it anyway because it remains close to several popular points of interest while being more affordable. This small mountain village of around 6,300 people has everything you need within reach: hiking trails, shops, restaurants, all at reasonable prices. You’re 1h 40min from San Martino di Castrozza and can reach Cortina d’Ampezzo in under 3 hours.
The area has several ski slopes and hiking trails, but it’s also known for its cheese and jam, both of which carry the town’s name. What we really love about this place, though, is how well-organised everything is. The local council runs events throughout the year – from night snowshoeing under the stars with telescope sessions to snowmobile tours – which makes it a great option for families too.
Healthcare quality in the area is high, and the nearest hospital is 25 minutes away. In terms of connections, the nearest airports are Verona and Venice, both around 1h 30min by car. One important note: you’ll need a car to live here, as the town has no train station.
Properties average around €2,600 per square meter, putting a 100 sqm home at roughly €260,000.
Want to explore more options?
If these towns haven’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.
And if you’re experiencing difficulties with your relocation process, you can always become a member and get a FREE one-hour private consultation where you can explain all your problems and doubts to us and we’ll find a solution together.
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