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:

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