Was die Leute über das Leben in Lecce sagen

If you’ve travelled a bit around Italy, chances are you’ve fallen in love with Puglia, a region people associate with the whitewashed trulli of Alberobello und die beautiful coastlines. But in the heart of the Salento Peninsula, there’s a medium-sized city that’s been quietly winning over expats and retirees: Lecce.

Often called the “Florence of the South” for its stunning architecture, and known for its proximity to some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches, Lecce seems to be the perfect place to live thanks to its affordability, climate and position.

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

Life in Lecce: What People Say

According to residents, what makes Lecce so unique is that it’s a city where you can breathe that “holiday” energy year round. Let me clarify: it’s a place that’s full of people during the summer months for obvious reasons (its proximity to the beaches, the lovely architecture, good restaurants etc), but at the same time, it does not empty out like many other places.

“Coming from California, I decided to retire here, without knowing the language at all. I love the architecture, the fact that you have lots of beaches nearby, the cost of living is low and people here are really nice. This isn’t a huge city, but definitely has all you would need for daily life. I found a local lawyer who speaks English, so he helped me with all the paperwork and within a few weeks I had my visa.”

Being a university hub, the city is full of students, so the cultural scene is another highlight. Lecce has plenty of pubs and restaurants that attract both locals and people from neighboring towns. According to residents, nightlife is quite good here, so you’ll find no shortage of places to try.

“I was personally undecided between Ostuni und Lecce. Both aren’t directly on the sea, even if it’s near. Ostuni is closer to other popular towns like Martina Franca, Alberobello and Polignano a Mare, but Lecce definitely has more things to do overall.

Transport and Connectivity in Lecce

The nearest airport is Brindisi, just 30 minutes away by car. However, flight options can be limited, so depending on where you’re coming from, you might find yourself flying into Bari Airport instead, which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Lecce.

The city itself is quite begehbar, especially in the historic center, and local buses cover both the city and surrounding areas – though with somewhat limited schedules. So while you can definitely manage daily life in Lecce without ein Auto if you’re centrally located and working remotely, having your own vehicle will significantly improve your quality of life, particularly if you want to explore the Salento coastline and nearby towns:

“The local transport system isn’t always the best, especially the connections to other towns. If you work or study remotely and find a home in a strategic location, living without a car is feasible – even if you’ll be somewhat limited. But if you have a family with children, a car is a must.”

Lecce’s train station is well-connected by both regional and high-speed trains, making it easy to reach nearby cities: Brindisi in 20 Minuten, Bari in 1 hour 20 minutes, and Taranto in about 1 hour 30 minutes. This means that if you don’t have a car, you can take the train to Bari and then catch a shuttle bus to the airport – a solid alternative.

For reaching bigger cities in central or northern Italy, flying is usually your best bet. The regional rail infrastructure isn’t always the most modern, and journey times can be quite long. For example, reaching Rom by train takes around 6 hours (whereas a comparable distance in the north – like Padua – would take about 3 hours and 30 minutes).

Where to Live in Lecce: Housing & Cost of Living

Being a city with high demand due to the influx of students and its favorable location, property prices are medium-high, but still cheaper than other popular choices like Ostuni (€2,580/m²). For a 100m² home in Lecce, expect to pay around €166,000, or €880 for renting an apartment.

However, if you have a car and are willing to move just outside the city center, prices can drop significantly. For example, in smaller towns like Cavallino und Lizzanello (around 10-15 minutes drive away), you can easily find houses for €100,000-€115,000.

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Beyond the historic center (which is obviously beautiful but also the most expensive) some of the most popular choices are the Mazzini and San Lazzaro areas, ideal if you want to live just steps from the center in well-served neighborhoods. San Lazzaro in particular is a very green zone, appreciated by families because there are several schools nearby.

Alternatively, there’s the east zone (Salesiani), a growing area with more modern housing and green spaces – perfect for those who prefer contemporary living. There are also the Aria Sana, Stadio, and Castromediano areas, which offer larger properties at more accessible prices. These are very quiet areas, away from traffic but still well-connected to the center. If you’re interested in a long-term investment, the University area is obviously always in high demand and it’s the most lively.

“I moved here from the US, but I’m thinking of going north, somewhere less known. The city is beautiful, but really hard to get anywhere. Plus, prices here have skyrocketed fro housing as many people want to rent out to tourists."

Challenges of Living in Lecce

The main challenges of living in Lecce center around practicality rather than lifestyle. The city is definitely beautiful, lively, and well-served for everyday life, but as previously mentioned, everyone drives to reach areas slightly outside the city center – especially during the summer months, when the heat is intense and everyone goes to the beach. So expect a lot of traffic and difficulty finding parking:

“Lecce is stunning: the cost of living is really low, the climate is good, there are many things to do and it’s near the sea – a huge plus if you have a car. Otherwise, you might feel stuck in the scorching heat of the city. However, for such a small city, so much chaotic traffic and zero parking.”

Another important thing to consider is healthcare efficiency. Nach unsere Daten, in this area healthcare services fall slightly below the national median. Cardiovascular treatment demonstrates efficiency, particularly in the timely response to severe heart attacks, and readmission rates post-heart attack are commendably low. Conversely, the management of bone fractures and breast cancer surgeries indicates the need for further improvement.

In Bezug auf Sprache, while Lecce is a tourist city and you’ll definitely find some English speakers in shops, having at least some Italian will make daily life significantly easier, especially for integrating into the community. However, there’s a wachsende Expat-Gemeinde, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it! Another thing to consider is that Arbeitsmöglichkeiten are limited, so Lecce is more suitable if you’re im Ruhestand or have a remote job (you can find some co-working spaces):

“It’s a nice city, with a lot of life, also during winter. Also the surroundings are nice. Finding a job is a bit challenging, I think it could be more suitable if you have a remote job.”

Lecce by the Numbers: Key Data

• Lebensqualität: Gut (83/100) – taking into account air quality, amenities, economy, and infrastructure
• Luftqualität: Ausgezeichnet (84/100)
• Gesundheitswesen: “Vito Fazzi” Hospital (13 min.)
• Sicherheit: Moderate to Low Earthquake risk
• Transport: Car recommended; manageable without one if centrally located
  • Flughäfen: Brindisi Flughafen (30 Min.), Bari Flughafen (1h 20 min.), Lamezia Terme Flughafen (around 3 hours)
  • Bahnhöfe: Bahnhof von Lecce (13 min.), Bahnhof von Trepuzzi (15 Min.), Die Station Squinzano (15 min.)

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

Is Lecce Right for You?

✅ Wählen Sie Lecce wenn:

• Sie möchten in einer lively city near the sea with a medium-low cost of living
• You’re working remotely or retired und keine lokale Beschäftigung benötigen
• You’re conscious of the fact that ohne Auto, you’re definitely limited
• You speak at least some Italienisch or are willing to learn
• You want to live in a place with a pretty big expat community (something that you know, helps psychologically a lot when moving)

❌ Denken Sie zweimal nach, wenn:

• You rely heavily on efficient öffentliche Verkehrsmittel
• One of your priorities is living in a place with super-efficient healthcare – there’s definitely room for improvement
• You don’t want to struggle with traffic and parking Herausforderungen
• You have high expectations regarding local education facilities (international schools etc.)

Abschließende Überlegungen

So, Lecce is definitely a good option if you’re looking for a lively city with a vibrant cultural scene, and easy access to some of Puglia’s most beautiful beaches. The cost of living is reasonable, the climate is Mediterranean and warm, and there’s a growing expat community that makes integration easier.

However, this isn’t a place where you can rely solely on public transport – a car really makes the difference here, especially if you want to fully enjoy the coastline and surrounding towns. Traffic and parking can be frustrating, job opportunities are limited, and healthcare services could be better.

It’s a paradise if you’re retired or working remotely and want that perfect blend of city life and beach proximity, but it might feel too isolated or challenging if you’re looking for local employment or need frequent, efficient connections to other parts of Italy.

If you’re experiencing difficulties with your relocation process, become a member and get a one-hour FREE private consultation um Ihnen zu helfen, sie reibungslos zu durchlaufen.

Möchten Sie weitere Optionen entdecken?

Wenn Lecce hasn’t fully convinced you and you’d like to explore other options, use our “TOWN EXPLORER“ 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 a retiree considering the region, you might want to explore other nearby towns that qualify for Italy’s 7% flat tax scheme. This could significantly reduce your tax burden while still allowing you to enjoy everything Puglia has to offer.