Italy’s Top 5 Cities for Gay Retirement
Is Italy really the golden, Aperol-spritz-soaked dream Instagram wants you to believe… or is the truth a little more complicated for LGBTQ+ retirees?
This week on Queer Money® we’re ranking the Top 5 cities in Italy for LGBTQ+ retirement — from Renaissance beauty to progressive university towns to sun-drenched coastal havens. We break down the queer vibe, cost of living, rent, language barriers, expat community strength, visa rules, and, of course, the Queer Money Retirement Rating for each city.
Italy may have pasta, Pride, and men in Speedos, but will any city snatch the crown from Portugal or our global frontrunner, Valencia? Time to find out.
What You’ll Learn Today:
- The top 5 best Italian cities for LGBTQ+ retirees
- Where Italy shines — and where rising conservatism complicates things
- How much you’ll pay for rent, healthcare, and daily life
- Which cities have thriving queer communities (and which don’t)
- Whether you could qualify for Italy’s Elective Residency Visa
- Why Italy still can’t take Portugal’s crown 🌈👑
Takeaways:
- Italy is gorgeous — but rising conservatism affects LGBTQ+ protections
- Rent ranges dramatically: from ~$850 in Lecce to ~$1,800 in Rome
- Cost of living is lower than Chicago in every city analyzed
- Florence & Rome: big vibe, big price
- Turin & Bologna: underrated, affordable, queer-friendly gems
- Lecce: the surprise #1 — stunning, coastal, and affordable
- Italy’s visa requires true passive income (no remote work allowed)
- Portugal remains the gold-standard for LGBTQ+ retirees
RELATED EPISODES TO LISTEN NEXT
- Portugal’s Top Cities for LGBTQ+ Retirement (our reigning champion)
- Spain: Valencia & Beyond — The Fab Frontrunner
- Greece LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings
- New Zealand LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings
- Taiwan LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings
✨ Want to know if YOU can retire in Italy (or anywhere abroad)?
Get the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc
Mentioned in this episode:
Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here!
Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.