English After our recent article about the 7% tax towns in Calabria – places where retirees can benefit from a 7% flat tax for up to ten years if they move to a town with less than 20,000 inhabitants – lots of people have been asking us what it’s actually like living in some of those towns.
So this time, we’re zooming in on Soverato, a coastal town near Catanzaro in southern Italy that’s known as the “Pearl of the Ionian.” It’s got around 8,400 people, stunning beaches, and quite affordable property prices.
But here’s the thing – it’s mostly known as a summer destination, which makes a lot of people wonder: is it one of those ghost towns that empties out come September? To find out what living in Soverato is actually like year-round, we combined our data with the experiences of the people who actually live here.
Life in Soverato: What People Say
According to some residents, Soverato is a good place to live if you’re looking for a coastal town that doesn’t completely shut down off-season. It’s well-served, full of restaurants and shops, from supermarkets to pharmacies, and there’s a hospital right in town. The kind of place that’s well-suited for expats and retirees seeking consistent warmth throughout the year, as temperatures range from 30 °C down to a minimum of 9 °C.
“Soverato is a town you can live in all year round. The town center is full of little bars and restaurants, but the best part is the promenade, which fills up in summer and where it’s always beautiful to have a walk. Same for winter, the bars and streets are still pretty busy.”
The town is perfectly sized – not too big, not too small. You can actually walk around without needing a car for your daily stuff, which is the reason why many people prefer to get around on foot or by bike:
“If you want to live in a town where you don’t need a car, then Soverato is fantastic. You can walk comfortably from one place to another if you need something (groceries, whatever) or just use a bike or scooter.”
Transport and Connectivity in Soverato
The most convenient airport is Lamezia Terme International Airport, which is about 40 minutes away by car. It’s a pretty small airport, so don’t expect lots of flights, but still, it’s a good hub and offers both domestic and international flights. Otherwise, Sant’Anna Airport in Crotone is about an hour away.
For sure, public transportation in Calabria could improve a lot. In fact, don’t expect to reach other regions that quickly as in other places, at least not with the trains. To give you an idea, reaching Naples takes almost 5 hours with two stops, while a comparable distance in the north, like Venice–Rome can be covered in around 3h 30 minutes nonstop. However, nothing is impossible if you have a car or are willing to take flights. From Soverato’s railway station you can reach cities like Catanzaro Lido (20 minutes), Lamezia Terme (1h), and Reggio Calabria (2h).
“It could improve in terms of public transportation, but if you have a car there’s the highway, so you can reach other places easily, including the bigger city of Catanzaro, which is about 30 minutes’ drive away.”
Soverato has a strategic location for exploring other beautiful spots along the Ionian coast. From here, you can easily visit charming villages like Stilo, Locri, Gerace, Badolato, and Squillace. There’s even the Calabria Coast to Coast walking route that starts from Soverato and reaches Pizzo.
Where to Live in Soverato: Housing & Cost of Living
Considering its position, the fact that it’s right on the coast, property prices in Soverato are pretty affordable, especially compared to Tropea – we’re talking €1,910/m² for buying (around €191,000 for 100 m²) vs. the average of €3,075/m² in Tropea.
But if you have a car and are open to moving to the surrounding towns, while still being around 15 minutes from it, you should consider: Petrizzi (around €131,500 for 100 m²), Satriano (€103,100 for 100 m²) and Gagliato (€90,500 for 100 m²).
“During the summer, expect a lot of noise, even at night. I always suggest moving to Soverato Superiore or slightly outside the town, as it tends to remain much quieter, even during the peak summer months.”
| Area | Sale Price (€ / m²) | Avg. 100 m² Home (€) | Rent Price (€ / m²) | Avg. 100 m² Rent (€ / month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soverato | €1,910 | ~€191,000 | €20.49 | ~€2,050 |
| Petrizzi | €1,315 | ~€131,500 | €4.89 | ~€490 |
| Satriano | €1,031 | ~€103,100 | €17.92 | ~€1,790 |
| Gagliato | €905 | ~€90,500 | €4.90 | ~€490 |
Data elaborated from Immobiliare.it
What residents love about living here is exactly the fact that it stays in the middle in terms of influx:
“Soverato is beautiful for the sea, the sandy beaches, and the nightlife during summer, even though it remains a small town. It’s like a mini-Rimini, but with much better water quality, tourism that’s somewhere between typical Calabria and the Amalfi Coast.“
Challenges of Living in Soverato
As previously mentioned, the main pain point is public transportation, which is limited. If you’re going to other parts of Italy, you’ll have to take a flight, while if you’re going to explore the region, a car will be 100% necessary.
Second point: healthcare. According to our data, the local facilities aren’t always the best, something to consider if this is a priority for you. They handle post-treatment care well and have good results with heart failure patients. But if you break a bone or need emergency heart treatment, response times are slower than in other parts of Italy.
Third point: summer brings crowds. If you’re considering a town like this, this is probably something you’ve already considered, but it’s a reality. The beaches get packed, prices often go up and traffic and parking can be frustrating. But still, it’s a much more manageable situation compared to Tropea, for example.
So who is more likely “good” for Soverato? Probably retirees or remote workers (internet connectivity averages 139 Mbps), definitely not people looking for local employment. For families with school-age kids, there are other considerations, as educational facilities are somewhat limited. There are primary schools and kindergartens, but if you need secondary education or specialized programs, you might be looking at nearby towns.
Soverato by the Numbers: Key Data
- Quality of Life Score: Good (70/100) – taking into account infrastructure, economy, and amenities
- Air Quality: Excellent (84/100)
- Healthcare: Basso Ionio-Pronto Soccorso (3 minutes)
- Safety: High Earthquake Risk
- Internet Speed: Excellent (average of 139 Mbps download)
- Transport: Car recommended for exploring the region
- Airports: Lamezia Terme (41 min.), Sant’Anna Crotone (67 min.), Reggio Calabria (98 min.)
- Railway Stations: Stazione di Soverato (5 min.), Stazione di Squillace (13 min.), Stazione di Catanzaro Lido (20 min.)
Is Soverato Right for You?
✅ Choose Soverato if:
- You want a coastal town that’s pretty lively year-round, without crazy property prices
- You want to be within walking distance of amenities without needing a car for daily tasks
- You value a town with a good mix of locals and summer visitors, plus a growing expat community nearby
- You’re a retiree or remote worker seeking a relaxed lifestyle and slower pace of life – the climate is amazing and the internet connectivity is good for remote work
❌ Think twice if:
- You rely heavily on public transportation – it’s not as frequent or reliable as larger cities
- You’re seeking local job opportunities – employment is scarce and better suited for retirees
- You need extensive educational facilities for school-age children beyond primary school
- You expect the same level of healthcare infrastructure as in other parts of Italy (quality varies)
- You’re not a fan of crowded places – during the high season, expect difficulties in finding parking or traffic
Final Thoughts
So, Soverato is definitely a good option if you’re looking for a place by the sea, with a great climate year round and good internet connectivity. Property prices are reasonable, beaches and the surrounding area are beautiful, and most of all the town doesn’t become a ghost town off-season.
However, this is definitely not a place for those seeking local employment or excellent healthcare and public transport connections. It’s a great choice for retirees and digital nomads, but for families with school-age children, it might feel a bit limited.
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Want to explore more options?
If Soverato 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.
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