Italian Tuscany is a wonderful place. We don’t need to spell that out. Rolling vineyards, small hilltop towns where traditions are still genuinely local, a slow pace of life that all of us have romanticised at least once.
It’s no coincidence that it’s become the region everyone thinks of first when Italy comes up in conversation abroad – at this point, it’s basically a brand. But as we all know, that always leads to one thing: prices going up.
The thing is, there are thousands of places like this across Italy, still largely unknown outside the country, where you can live well – often with better services than Tuscany actually offers (airport access, for one, isn’t exactly Tuscany’s strong suit) – and pay a quarter of what you’d pay there.
As an Italian born and raised here, here’s a list of five towns worth considering if you have Tuscany vibes in your head, but want to move in Italy somewhere authentic and more affordable.
Farra di Soligo (Veneto)
Farra di Soligo is a small town of around 8,500 inhabitants in the Treviso hills, right in the heart of an area where one of the most famous Proseccos in Italy is made. This is definitely one of the most scenic wine landscapes in Italy, so much so that the hills have UNESCO recognition.
Despite being a pretty small town, it has all the amenities you might need for daily life, and most of all a great hospital at just 20 minutes away. It is great for families, retirees, and remote workers alike, as the connettività internet is pretty good (74 Mbps average). And it’s definitely the ideal choice if you’re a nature lover, as there are around 20 hiking trails, the popular beaches of Jesolo are just one hour away, and Santa Croce Lake is just 40 minutes away.
Property prices average around €1,100/m² at median, so expect to pay around €110,000 for a 100 sqm house, which is pretty good for waking up every morning with these views.
One small consideration: there’s no train station in town itself (the nearest stations are 15-20 minutes by car). That said, you’re 50 minutes away from both Venezia and Treviso airports, and 1 hour 45 minutes from Verona.
Nizza Monferrato (Piedmont)
Nizza Monferrato is a town of around 10,170 residents, which is completely surrounded by the rolling hills of the Monferrato area (another UNESCO World Heritage Site), with vineyards in every direction.
Beyond this, the town is ben servito: you can find everything from cafés, gyms and a weekly Friday market with fresh produce. The ospedale is literally 2 minutes away, which is a stat that doesn’t get talked about enough when you’re thinking about where to live long-term. Plus, there’s a stazione ferroviaria in town where you can easily find direct train connections to Torino (about 1h 12m), Asti (35m), and even Milano.
Property prices here average around €992/m² at median, so expect to pay circa 100.000 euro for a 100 sqm home.
Internet speeds are on the slower side, so remote workers might want to check before committing. But if you’re looking for an authentic, affordable base in the Italian countryside, this is a really good option.
Atri (Abruzzo)
Atri is a medieval town perched on a hill in Abruzzo, about 25 minutes from Pescara airport.
Questo è il most affordable option on the list, in fact property prices sit at a median of around €900/m² (90,000 for 100m²). This place as well is great for those who love nature, as both beach and mountains are within an hour: the Adriatic coast is just 12 minutes away, the Gran Sasso mountain resort is 50 minutes and there are dozens of hiking paths.
Add in the saffron, arrosticini, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine, and a food culture that includes some of the most underrated produce in Italy, and as we say in Italy…“avete fatto il colpaccio” (= you hit the jackpot)!
Il qualità dell'assistenza sanitaria in the area could definitely improve, internet is modest, and Abruzzo as a whole is also less internationally connected than northern Italy. But if you’re after somewhere beautiful, genuinely affordable, and mostly off the tourist trail – Atri is worth a look.
Fumane (Veneto)
Fumane is a small town in the Valpolicella wine zone, about 25 minutes away from Verona. This place could be a great compromise if you want to live in the middle of the countryside, while still being super close to a bigger city with lots of events during the year – as well as diversi aeroporti nelle vicinanze.
Properties sit at a median of around €1,177/m² (117,700 for 100m²), which is more than Nizza Monferrato but still very reasonable given where you are and what you’re getting. Verona is close, the Dolomiti aren’t far, and Lago Garda is basically on the doorstep.
But most of all, the area has literally everything you might need for everyday life, whether it’s gyms, pharmacies, health clinics, restaurants, etc.
The main trade-off is that it’s not super walkable in the sense of having everything within a five-minute walk – you’ll need un'auto to explore the area. But apart from that, the lifestyle is genuinely good.
Todi (Umbria)
Todi is a medieval hilltop town in Umbria, surrounded by beautiful countryside. It was even named one of the most liveable small cities in the world by a US university study back in the 90s, and that reputation has stuck; in fact, it’s attracting a growing expat community.
The town is genuinely beautiful and has enough of a tourism presence to support good restaurants and services, without being overrun. Property prices average €1,164/m², so expect to pay around €116,000 for a 100m² house.
Here, you’ll also need un'auto outside of the town itself, but you’re well connected in terms of airports. Rome Fiumicino, one of the biggest airports in Italy, is just 70 minutes away by car, while Perugia airport is just 25 minutes.
However, you should know that assistenza sanitaria scores are on the lower side, public transport is limited, and internet speeds are modest. But if you want a small, affordable, and livable town with a Tuscany feel and a non-Tuscany price, Todi is a good option.
Volete esplorare altre opzioni?
If these towns haven’t fully convinced you and you’d like to explore other options, use our search tools to explore oltre 1.500 città in Italia. È possibile filtrare in base al costo della vita, ai trasporti, all'assistenza sanitaria e ad altri fattori legati allo stile di vita, per trovare facilmente il luogo perfetto per voi.
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