Move to Southern Italy: What Life Is Really Like
Get a glimpse into life in the
heel of the boot!
The idea usually arrives quietly. In the middle of a busy life. In a moment of stillness. Often long before there is a plan.
This page is for those who find themselves returning to the same question:
What would it really be like to move to southern Italy and live there, not just visit?
Not on pause.
Not on holiday.
But inside ordinary life.
Here you’ll find a grounded look at what that path actually asks of you — and what it gently gives back.
Most people don’t suddenly decide to move to Italy.
Why people feel drawn to
Southern Italy
Southern Italy attracts people who are no longer chasing more speed.
Life here is shaped by rhythm rather than optimisation. Coffee is taken standing at the bar. Shops close in the afternoon. Evenings unfold outdoors. Children and elders share the same public spaces. Time is not something to manage so much as something to inhabit.
People choose to move to southern Italy because they want:
a slower pace
walkable towns
daily life outside
food that reflects the seasons
community that feels close rather than curated
It isn’t about escaping life. It’s about entering it more fully.
Is Southern Italy Actually Affordable?
In many regions, yes — especially compared to major cities elsewhere.
Southern Italy often offers:
lower rent
affordable property
cheaper groceries
minimal transport costs
low-cost dining
What matters is the exchange.
Affordability here exists because systems are slower. Bureaucracy takes time. Convenience is limited. You trade immediacy for space. Control for adaptability.
For the people who stay, that exchange usually feels fair. Find out more about the cost of living in Salento here.
Where people choose to live
Southern Italy is not one lifestyle; it is many.
Puglia draws those who love sea air, white towns and a growing international presence. Read more about Salento here.
Sicily suits people who can live with contrast, scale and intensity.
Calabria attracts those seeking simplicity, coastline and very low living costs.
Abruzzo appeals to mountain lovers and quieter lives.
Basilicata remains one of Italy’s most undiscovered regions.
There is no single right place to land. There is only the place that matches who you are now.
Can you legally move to southern Italy?
Yes — but only through the correct visa or citizenship pathway.
Common routes include:
residency through independent income
student visas
citizenship by descent
employer sponsorship
digital nomad visa
Every option involves documentation, proof and time. Italy does not rush decisions. The people who settle well here are usually those who stop trying to rush Italy. Read more about each route to southern italy here.
Working and earning in
southern Italy
This is the most important reality check.
Most people do not move to southern Italy to grow their income. They move to change how their days feel.
There’s no sugar-coating it. Local wages are low. Many foreigners who live well in the south rely on:
remote work
freelancing
savings
pensions
online businesses
Southern Italy offers depth of life more readily than financial expansion, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about a move here. But if you have a business or can work remotely, it’s the ideal option. Live comfortably, affordably and travel more!
Are you a freelancer? Read all about the digital nomad visa and how you can apply for it here.
Why Italy & Back exists
Italy & Back began because I needed somewhere to place the questions that come with changing your life across borders. It grew alongside my own learning curve of living between Italy and elsewhere.
It’s for people who feel that same quiet pull and want to meet it honestly, without rushing themselves into an idea of what it should be.
What’s shared here is lived, not packaged. View our Letters from Salento blog to find out more about life in Italy.
If You’re considering this path..
You do not need to decide everything today. You don’t need all the answers yet.
If the idea of moving to southern Italy has been quietly persistent in you, that’s enough to pay attention to for now.
You’re welcome to read, reflect, and take your time with the question.
And if, one day, you feel ready for grounded, personal guidance — that support exists quietly here too. Check out our Relocation Page here.