What People Say About Living In Crema

For our series “What People Say About Living in…”, this time we’re focusing on Crema, a town of about 34,000 people located in Lombardy, in northern Italy.

If you’re drawn to this part of Italy for work opportunities but want a strategic home base, a place with a high quality of life and all essential services, then this town might be just what you’re looking for.

So what is it really like living in Crema? We’ve gathered insights from locals and combined them with our data to give you a realistic picture.

Life in Crema: What People Say

Crema is a relatively small, provincial town. If you’ve seen the film Call Me By Your Name, you already have a visual sense of its atmosphere..peaceful, surrounded by nature, and a place where you can truly embrace a slower lifestyle. But at the same time, it’s far from isolated, with easy access to major cities.

“I moved to Crema because it’s quieter, a better place to raise kids, but I work in Milan. The town is nice, much safer than Milan and it has everything you need. The only downside is the climate… the humidity is insane, both in winter and summer.” – Federico R. 

Residents say that one of the biggest factors contributing to Crema’s high quality of life is the welcoming local community, which isn’t always the case elsewhere: 

“I grew up in the Langhe, spent a few years in Milan, some time in Lodi, and I’ve now been living in Crema for two years. In my experience, people here are much more open than elsewhere, and the town itself is quite pleasant. The only downside is the hot, humid weather — but that’s just part of life in the Po Valley.” – Sharon G.

Transport and Connectivity in Crema

When it comes to airport connections, Crema is actually in a pretty strategic spot. It’s less than an hour away from both Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio airports. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer trip, you can also reach Milan Malpensa (the largest airport in northern Italy) and Verona Airport in about 1h30.

Train-wise, it’s a bit more limited. There are no high-speed trains passing through Crema, but it is served by regional trains. They’re slower and sometimes require a change, especially if you’re heading to more distant cities. That said, you can get to Milan in about an hour — a big plus if you work there or have kids planning to study at university. You can also reach Cremona in 40 minutes, or in about two hours, Desenzano del Garda or Sirmione — two real gems in the region.

“Crema is a convenient and fairly safe city, with a very provincial feel. However, it’s not great when it comes to train connections.” – Damiano D.

There are local buses connecting Crema to nearby small towns, but honestly, public transport within the city itself is almost unnecessary. Crema is small and very walkable. In fact, cars aren’t really practical in the historic center and there are many cycling paths nearby.

And that’s actually a big win, because you can walk to everything: parks, pharmacies, supermarkets, even the hospital, which is right in town. Still, if you’re thinking about moving here, having a car is definitely a must for getting around the region.

“Crema really has everything — nothing is missing. There’s even a hospital, which you hope you’ll never need, but it’s definitely convenient not to have to travel far. I think there’s a market three times a week… It’s truly a charming place.” – Maria G.

Where to Live in Crema: Housing & Cost of Living

While Crema may be a small town, prices, especially in the historic center, can be a bit higher than average. Obviously, the closer you are to the center, the more you’ll likely pay. That said, as you move toward the outskirts, prices gradually drop.

Still, it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind: you’re in a peaceful, well-connected area, close to airports and within reach of major cities. That quality of life definitely counts for something. Here’s a quick look at average property prices in different parts of the town:

Data elaborated from Immobiliare.it

According to Vittorio, a local born and raised here, the best place to live in is Pergoletto area:

“Life here is great, with excellent services! All the areas are peaceful, but for me, the quietest one is the Pergoletto area.” – Vittorio F.

Challenges of Living in Crema

Like any place, Crema has its downsides, and for many locals, the climate is at the top of the list. Summers here, as in much of Lombardy, can get extremely hot and humid:

“Crema is beautiful! Small, people-friendly, and very lively. Unfortunately—like the rest of the world—it’s becoming a bit less safe, but it’s still a great place to live. The only downside is the summer weather: hot and humid… typical of the Po Valley. Other than that, I love it and I live here very happily.”
— Paola V.

Another common comment is that it is far from the sea, and even the nearest lake, Lake Garda, is about an hour and a half away by car:

“It depends on what you’re looking for in a city. That said, Crema is a small town with all the main services, it’s people-friendly, has a lively town center, and a strategic location for reaching the main cities in Lombardy. But it’s far from the sea, mountains, and lakes. You can’t have everything, though.”
— Olivia B.

And of course, Crema is still a small town — charming and active in its own way, with events held throughout the year — but if you’re someone who thrives on big-city energy, it might not be the right fit:

“It’s a fairly lively town, though definitely not like Milan… So if you’re from there, used to its chaos and you like it, Crema might feel boring.”
— Ilaria C.

Crema by the Numbers: Key Data

• Quality of Life: Good (81/100)
• Air Quality: Good (76/100)
• Safety: Moderate to Low Earthquake Risk
• Healthcare: Ospedale Maggiore (4 min.)
• Internet Speed: Good (average of 175 Mbps)
• Rent: ~ 700 (70 m²)
• Transport: Pretty good
  • Airport: Linate, Milan (11 min.), Orio al Serio, Bergamo (43 min.), Montichiari, Brescia (50 min.)
  • Train Stations: Stazione di Crema (2 min), Stazione di Casaletto Vaprio (11 min), Stazione di Capralba (12 min.)

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

Is Crema Right for You?

✅ Choose Crema if you want:

• A quiet atmosphere, away from crowded tourist destinations
• An affordable cost of living compared to larger Italian cities
• Excellent healthcare facilities with accessible services nearby
• Well-connected transportation options for easy regional travel — plus four airports close by (though Milan Malpensa, the biggest one, is about a 1h30 drive away)

❌ Think twice if :

• You don’t handle heat and humidity well during the summer
• You need fast or high-speed train connections (Crema mainly has regional trains)
• You’re looking for a vibrant nightlife scene
• You want to send your kids to international schools (there are some in Lombardy, but they’re quite far from Crema)

Final Thoughts

Crema is a little town that offers a peaceful lifestyle with all the essentials close at hand. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a quieter and more affordable alternative to Italy’s big cities, but without sacrificing access to good healthcare and transport connections. Sure, the weather might not suit everyone, and you won’t find the nightlife buzz of a larger city, but for many locals, that’s exactly what makes Crema special. If you appreciate calm, convenience, and a genuine sense of community, it just might be your magic town.

Want to explore more options? 

If Crema 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.