Every year, official figures from Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) are used to draw up a ranking of the richest municipalities in Italy, based on declared personal income tax (IRPEF).
What often surprises people is that the places topping the list are not the big urban heavyweights. Instead, it’s frequently tiny municipalities, with very small populations and only a handful of taxpayers, that come out ahead. These rich hotspots report higher average declared incomes than cities such as Rome, Milan or Naples.
What is the richest municipality in Italy?
Based on personal income tax data declared in 2025, the richest municipality in Italy is Maccastorna, in the province of Lodi. Tucked away in the Po Valley, this tiny community counts just 76 taxpayers, yet reports an average declared income of €72,685 per person.
That figure puts it firmly at the top of the national ranking of Italy’s richest municipalities, ahead of far better-known names such as Portofino and Forte dei Marmi.
What's it like to live in Maccastorna?
Maccastorna is one of the smallest municipalities in Italy, set in the open countryside of Lombardy, well away from any major city. It has the feel of a small rural village, with a very limited population and a simple urban layout.
Despite the remarkably high average income on paper, this is not a glossy seaside resort. It’s a modest town with few local services, and residents typically rely on nearby towns or larger centres in the province for everyday amenities.
Life here is defined more by peace, open space and distance from traffic than by luxury or high-profile living.
The 10 richest municipalities in Italy
If you scan the list of the richest municipalities in Italy, a clear pattern appears. Most are in the north of the country, particularly in Lombardy. They range from tiny rural comuni with a handful of residents to polished seaside resorts and well-heeled commuter towns.
Here are the top 10, based on average declared income:
- Maccastorna – €72,685, the highest average per capita income in Italy.
- Lajatico – €69,476, a small town in Tuscany.
- Portofino – €61,617, long associated with luxury tourism in Liguria, with an economy closely tied to high-end property and affluent visitors.
- Basiglio – €53,687, home to Milano 3 and popular with high-earning families seeking quality housing within easy reach of the city.
- Cusago – €43,404, another municipality within the wider Milan metropolitan area.
- Torre d’Isola – €42,785, combining a quiet rural setting with proximity to the economic centres of Pavia and Milan.
- Pino Torinese – €40,538, set in the hills above Turin, historically a prestigious residential area for professionals and executives working in the city.
- Forte dei Marmi – €40,249, an established seaside resort, long linked to elite Italian and international tourism.
- Milan – €40,237, the only major metropolis in the top 10, driven by its concentration of managers, professionals and high-value businesses.
- Segrate – €40,204, in the Milan hinterland, with a strong presence of offices, services and well-regarded residential districts.
Taken together, the ranking highlights how northern Italy, and especially the orbit around Milan, continues to dominate in terms of declared income levels.
Where are the main capitals located?
When looking at the ranking of the richest municipalities in Italy, the big provincial capitals sit much further down the list. That’s largely because large cities have vast and varied populations.
High-earning professionals live alongside salaried employees, students at the start of their careers, pensioners and lower-income households. With such a broad mix, the average income naturally levels out. As a result, provincial capitals rarely appear near the very top of the ranking. For example:
- Bologna ranks 115th, with an average income of €31,448, placing it among the wealthiest provincial capitals in the country.
- Rome sits in 124th place, with an average income of €31,223.
- Florence comes in at 209th, reporting an average income of €30,016, reflecting its solid economic base.
- Turin is further down in 353rd place, with an average income of €28,859.
The richest regions in Italy
Looking beyond individual municipalities, the regional picture tells a similar story.
- Lombardy ranks first among Italy’s regions for average per capita income, at around €30,200.
- Much of this is linked to the concentration of high-income municipalities in and around Milan, as well as several nearby prosperous provinces.
- Close behind is Trentino-Alto Adige, with an average income of €28,553.
- The region’s strong economic structure, high employment levels and well-developed public services all contribute to its position near the top of the ranking.
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