Ski season in Italy always creeps up fast, and for some people, a week on the slopes isn’t enough. Living full‑time in an Italian ski resort means fresh snow on your doorstep, cool summers in the mountains, and a very different rhythm to city life. There's a steady interest in mountain homes, both from second‑home buyers and from people looking to base themselves in the Alps or Dolomites all year round.
A house in the Alps, how much does it cost?
The average cost per square metre for buying a new or renovated home in a major Italian mountain resort now ranges from about €3,720 per m² in Sestrière to around €12,963 per m² in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Italy still tends to be cheaper than the most exclusive Alpine areas in Switzerland and France, where average prices often match or exceed the very top Italian markets.
- In St. Moritz, the few single‑family houses that come onto the market usually start at around CHF 36,000 per m² (roughly €38,000 per m²), while properties in prime locations with a luxurious construction standard can reach CHF 50,000 per m² or more.
- In Gstaad, apartments average about CHF 22,496 per m² (around €24,095 per m²), with a range from roughly CHF 11,363 to CHF 34,482 per m².
- In Courchevel in France, the lowest price per square metre for properties is around €10,408 per m², the average is €19,153 per m², and the highest is about €39,000 per m².
Mountain homes: how to choose the right ski property
In the higher end of the market, with sale prices starting from around €10,000 per m² and upwards, buyers tend to be picky about both comfort and tech. There’s strong demand for high‑tech, energy‑efficient homes with good broadband for remote working, plus things like:
- locations close to ski lifts or in the village centre
- covered parking spaces
- shared or private gym and spa areas
- ski and boot storage rooms
- fireplaces for proper winter evenings
- terraces and balconies with views
A house in the mountains in Italy: how much does it cost today?
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Cortina d’Ampezzo, often called the "Queen of the Dolomites", remains one of the priciest places to buy in the Italian mountains. Prices continue to soar in Italy's most exclusive Alpine market.
As of December 2025, the average price for property for sale is around €12,963 per m². Many listings start from roughly €520,000, and most homes in central or premium locations are comfortably over €1,000,000.
Back in 2021, the average price per square metre was given as €11,000 per m², with up to €14,000 per m² in the very centre and about €17,200 per m² for the most exclusive chalets.
Courmayeur
In Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc, chalet‑style houses and new builds with mountain views are still the most sought after. As of December 2025, average prices are around €8,383 per m² for property for sale.
Val Gardena
The Val Gardena resorts remain popular with people who care more about long ski days and the feel of proper alpine villages than about nightlife and designer shopping.
In Val Gardena, the last available detailed figures are from 2021, but they still give a useful idea of how the three villages compare with each other in price terms. Average property prices in Selva Val Gardena were €8,700 per m², with top values around €10,200 per m². In Ortisei, the average was €8,100 per m², with top values up to €12,000 per m², and Santa Cristina had prices of around €7,300 per m².
More affordable Italian ski resorts
At the more accessible end of the market, Bormio and Sestrière are still interesting for buyers who want skiing without millionaire‑level budgets, yet are still acknowledged as two of Italy's most beautiful snowy villages.
- In Bormio, average prices have risen to around €5,503 per m² as of December 2025.
- In Sestriere, the price per square metre is about €3,720 per m² in December 2025.
- The cheapest municipality in Aosta province is Châtillon, where average prices are about €1,165 per m² in December 2025.
The cost of living in an Italian ski resort
Overall, the cost of living in an Italian ski resort still varies hugely by location. Cortina d’Ampezzo and Courmayeur are now sitting in a price bracket closer to big‑name Swiss and French resorts, while places like Bormio, Sestriere, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Champoluc give you regular access to the snow at a much lower entry price.
Even in Cortina, though, everyday costs are not on a St. Moritz level. According to Numbeo, in 2025, a simple main course at an inexpensive restaurant in Cortina d’Ampezzo is around €20, while a three‑course meal for two at a mid‑range place comes in at roughly €90. A beer out is usually €5–7, and a cappuccino or coffee at a café is about €1.90.
Basic utilities for an 85 m² apartment sit at around €238 per month, which is higher than many Italian towns but still generally less punishing than in ultra‑luxury Swiss resorts. Property is the big upfront cost, but day‑to‑day expenses in Italy are usually gentler on the wallet than in skiing spots in France and Switzerland.
Visiting or moving to Italy’s ski areas
Italy’s sought-after ski resorts sit in some of the most scenic corners of the Alps and Dolomites, and it’s not just skiers who have noticed. Italy’s mountains are among the world’s best travel destinations for 2026, showing how these nature‑rich valleys now attract winter travellers, hikers and food lovers as much as hardcore downhill fans.
If you’re toying with the idea of buying, the market really splits in two. At the top end, there are winter destinations for luxury home buyers in Italy where you’re paying for sleek chalets, private wellness areas and access to the most prestigious slopes in the country. At the more budget‑friendly end of the scale, there are plenty of cheap mountain homes for sale in Italy in less showy villages, where you still wake up to snow‑dusted peaks but pay much closer to small‑town prices.
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