The annual survey by the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore on the quality of life in various Italian cities and provinces has recently been published. The well-being felt by residents and the services offered greatly influence the livability of an Italian city and its province. So, here’s where you can live best in Italy in 2024 and going into 2025 and which indicators were considered to compile the ranking. These are the Italy quality of life ranking for 2024/2025.
The criteria for the Sole 24 Ore ranking
The 2024 Quality of Life ranking, compiled by Il Sole 24 Ore since 1990, is based on six macrocategories, each containing 15 indicators. In total, 90 aspects are evaluated across the following categories:
- Wealth and consumption
- Business and work
- Environment and services
- Demographics, society, and health
- Justice and security
- Culture and leisure
The data used by the economic newspaper comes from official sources, institutions, or research institutes. In some cases, the sources are certified entities within their respective sectors.
Italy quality of life survey 2024
The survey by the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore has revealed that Bergamo ranked first for quality of life in 2024, with Trento and Bolzano securing the second and third spots, respectively. Here are the details of the top 10 best cities to live in Italy when it comes to quality of life:
Bergamo
For the first time, Bergamo tops the quality of life ranking. Compared to last year, the city of Bergamo has made significant progress, climbing four positions from the previous year. This improvement is mainly attributed to better scores in justice, security, and demographics. Indicators related to culture and leisure have also seen substantial growth.
Bergamo ranks third in Italy for environment and services, and also takes first place for hospital migration. However, the macrocategories showing a decline include wealth, consumption, business, and work.
Trento
Trento continues to hold a prominent position in the 2024 ranking, strengthening its reputation as one of the most liveable cities in the country. In the past, the city has ranked in the top 10 three times.
Trento ranks nearly at the top for environment and services, reaffirming its status as one of the greenest cities in Italy. It also performs very well in demographics and society. Finally, it's worth noting the significant success in justice and security, with the city climbing an impressive 35 positions in just one year.
Bolzano
Just below Trento is Bolzano, which remains one of the best places to live in Italy in 2024 and moving into 2025, thanks to a quality of life that continues to improve year after year. The city has climbed an impressive ten positions in just one year, particularly standing out in the "demographics and society" macroarea, where it ranks first in Italy.
Bolzano also performs well in business and work, but significant progress has been made in the areas of the environment, services, and justice. However, the cultural and leisure offerings have seen a decline.
Monza-Brianza
An incredible recognition also goes to the province of Monza-Brianza, which has gained a prominent position in the ranking, thanks to a significant improvement in living conditions compared to last year. The province is known for its excellent healthcare services and safety.
There has also been a notable increase in environmental and public services: the province has climbed an impressive 56 positions in just one year, primarily due to the expansion of online services and the efficiency of electricity and water distribution.
Cremona
For the first time, Cremona has entered the top ranks of the quality of life ranking, with 626.33 points, climbing thirteen positions to reach the Top 5. The city and its province are ranked third nationally for wealth and consumption. Notable improvements have also been made in culture, leisure, demographics, society, justice, and security.
On the other hand, however, the city that was once home to the Visconti family has dropped in the areas of services and the environment, eventually ranking fifty-fifth for business and work.
Other cities in the top 10
In addition to Cremona, other Italian provinces have stood out in the 2024 quality of life ranking. The others completing the top 10 are:
- Udine: After ranking first in the 2023 ranking, it drops five positions, earning 625 points.
- Verona: The city of Verona ranks seventh, climbing three positions compared to the previous edition.
- Vicenza: Vicenza has seen significant improvement, particularly standing out for its environment and services.
- Bologna: A city that has been awarded multiple times in the past, it now ranks ninth, especially due to factors related to demographics, wealth, and consumption.
- Ascoli Piceno: The province of Ascoli Piceno has performed excellently, rising by an impressive seventeen positions.
Where do Italy's major cities rank?
Many of the cities and provinces at the top of the Sole 24 Ore 2024 quality of life ranking are medium-sized, but what is the situation in the metropolises?
- Rome: The capital ranks fifty-ninth, losing many positions compared to the previous edition.
- Milan: The Lombard capital performs well, ranking twelfth, although it has fallen from last year’s position.
- Naples: Ranking second to last, the city of Naples loses one position compared to the previous year.
- Turin: The city of the Mole loses 22 positions, placing it in fifty-eighth place.
- Palermo: Ranked one hundredth, it loses five points compared to last year.
