The picture-postcard image of the Amalfi Coast is one of the world's most recognisable. Pastel-coloured villages clinging dramatically to cliffs that plunge into the glittering Tyrrhenian Sea. But making a life here, in this celebrated stretch of the Campania region, offers a very different experience from a summer holiday.
The reality of living on the Amalfi Coast is a study in contrasts. It means balancing the immense, year-round beauty of the landscape with some unique practical challenges. Getting to grips with the true cost of setting up a home and the logistics of simply getting around are all part of the journey.
What is life like on the Amalfi Coast?
From Easter until October, the entire area is alive with a vibrant, international buzz, with heaps of things to do along the Amalfi shoreline. The roads are choked with traffic, the beaches are full, and every restaurant and bar is open. As the weather cools, life slows to a different tempo. The crowds disappear, and the towns revert to small, close-knit communities where the local dialect is heard more than English. It’s in these quieter months that you experience the coast’s more traditional side, with local life revolving around the sea and long-standing events like the festival of Sant'Andrea in Amalfi.
The Amalfi Coast is generally considered a very secure place to live. Serious crime is rare, and the main thing to be aware of is the risk of petty theft, like pickpocketing, in the most crowded tourist spots. The more immediate, day-to-day safety concerns are more practical, revolving around navigating the hairpin bends of the coastal road and the steep stone stairways that characterise most villages.
Pros and cons of living on the Amalfi Coast
Life on this famous coastline comes with some incredible highs and a few considerable challenges.
Some of the pros of life on the Amalfi Coast include:
- Unmatched surroundings: waking up to views of the sea, having access to world-class hiking trails, and being surrounded by historic architecture is a daily privilege.
- A world-class food scene: the local gastronomy is built on incredible produce like the giant sfusato lemons used for everything from salads to limoncello, and seafood straight from the bay. Local dishes like scialatielli ai frutti di mare are a staple, and historic cafes like Pasticceria Pansa have been serving delights for centuries.
- A genuine escape: outside of the tourist season, the slower pace of life is a genuine antidote to the rush of a big city. There’s a strong sense of community, and the quiet allows you to connect with the area’s culture on a much deeper level.
A couple of cons to consider:
- Intense seasonality: the summer crowds can be overwhelming, making simple errands like going to the supermarket a logistical challenge. Conversely, in winter, many restaurants, shops, and transport services shut down entirely.
- Difficult infrastructure: the geography that makes the coast so beautiful also makes it difficult to live in. The main Strada Statale 163 is a narrow, winding road that is often gridlocked. Everything from weekly food shops to getting furniture delivered becomes more complicated and expensive.
Is it expensive to live on the Amalfi Coast?
The global reputation of the area means the cost of living on the Amalfi Coast is high, especially when compared to nearby Naples or other parts of southern Italy. The price of almost everything is influenced by tourism and the simple fact that space is limited. However, this doesn't stop foreigners from settling here, with the Amalfi Coast increasingly popular, especially among Americans since Trump's reelection.
When eating out, prices vary wildly depending on whether a restaurant is on the main tourist trail or has a sea view. You can expect to pay around €20 for a main course in a standard trattoria, but this can easily climb to €40 or more in a more upmarket spot. A simple bottle of beer will likely set you back at least €5. The average monthly cost of living for one person in the town of Amalfi could be around €1,600, including rent; however, this can vary a lot depending on your living situation and lifestyle.
Amalfi Coast homes for sale
Housing is, without a doubt, the biggest expense. While you might find small properties inland in need of complete renovation for as little as €45,000, these are rare finds. For a decent place on the coastline itself, you will be looking to spend a minimum of €250,000. To put it in perspective, as of July 2025, property prices in the nearby city of Salerno averaged around €2,587 per m², and you should expect the figures for prime locations on the coast to be significantly higher. However, Amalfi remains one of the top Italian coastal towns for buying holiday homes.
Long-term rentals are also costly and can be difficult to find. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre of Amalfi, for example, could cost over €1,000 per month.
- Property for sale on the Amalfi Coast
- Long-term rentals on the Amalfi Coast
- Holiday rentals on the Amalfi Coast
Where to live on the Amalfi Coast
Choosing where to settle on the coast depends entirely on your budget, lifestyle, and tolerance for crowds. Each town has a distinct personality, and what works for one person might not for another.
Positano
This is the village everyone pictures: a cascade of colourful houses tumbling down to the sea. It's undeniably beautiful, but also the most expensive and impractical place for year-round living. A small, resilient community does remain, but many have been priced out by the tourism industry. In winter, the town becomes extremely quiet, with many businesses closing completely.
Amalfi
As the coast's historic heart and namesake, Amalfi feels more like a functional, lived-in town. It has a larger year-round population, a slightly flatter central area, and serves as the main hub for buses and ferries. While still very busy in summer, it retains more of its local character through the off-season than Positano does.
Ravello
Perched high in the hills above the sea, Ravello offers a different kind of coastal experience. It’s known for its refined, peaceful atmosphere, classical music festival, and the magnificent gardens at Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. This is the place for someone seeking tranquillity and culture rather than a life centred around the beach.
Maiori and Minori
These neighbouring towns offer a more down-to-earth and affordable alternative. Maiori has the longest continuous beach on the coast and a flat seaside promenade, making it a popular choice for families.
Minori is smaller but is famous for its pasta-making history and its pastry shops, including the well-regarded Sal De Riso.
Vietri sul Mare
Known as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, Vietri sul Mare is famous for its brightly coloured, hand-painted ceramics. Its biggest advantage is its proximity to the city of Salerno, which has a major train station with high-speed connections, a large hospital, and more extensive services. This makes it one of the most practical and well-connected towns for year-round living.
Getting around the Amalfi Coast
How you get from A to B is one of the most significant daily considerations when living on the coast. The geography is stunning, but it doesn't make for an easy commute.
Driving in Amalfi can be quite difficult as the coastal road, the Strada Statale 163, is famously narrow, with countless hairpin bends. In the summer months, it becomes incredibly congested with tourist cars, rental scooters, and large SITA buses. Parking is extremely limited and very expensive, with daily rates in towns like Positano being particularly high.
To manage the traffic, authorities implement an 'odd-even rule' in Amalfi. Known locally as targhe alterne, this rule restricts road access during the busiest periods. It means that cars with number plates ending in an odd number can only drive on the road on odd-numbered days of the month, and cars with plates ending in an even number can drive on even-numbered days. This system is typically in place during peak season from around April to September and applies to all cars.
Given the challenges of driving, many residents rely on public transport. The SITA bus network connects all the towns along the coast, but be warned, they get extremely crowded in high season. A more scenic and often more relaxing option is the ferry service, with companies like Travelmar running regular routes between towns.
Lifestyle and leisure on the Amalfi Coast
Life on the coast is intrinsically linked to the outdoors, and your leisure time will likely reflect that. The food culture is about seasonal produce and hyperlocal specialities. In the small fishing village of Cetara, for example, life revolves around tuna and anchovies, producing a revered amber-coloured anchovy sauce called colatura di alici.
When it comes to Amalfi Coast nightlife, it's important to adjust expectations. The scene is generally more sophisticated and relaxed than wild. Evenings are typically about enjoying a leisurely aperitivo at a bar with a sea view, followed by a long dinner. While there are a few exceptions, like the famous Music on the Rocks club built into a cave in Positano, late-night clubs are not a major feature of the coast.
The beaches here are beautiful, but they are typically small, pebbly coves (spiagge) rather than long stretches of sand, and many of the most scenic spots are only accessible by boat or via long flights of steep steps. An extensive network of ancient mule tracks and footpaths crisscrosses the hills, offering some of the most rewarding hiking in Italy.
How to avoid crowds in Amalfi
Finally, a key skill for any resident is learning how to avoid crowds in Amalfi. Visiting popular spots early in the morning, before the tour buses and ferries arrive, is one of the best strategies. Another is to explore the quieter, higher-altitude villages like Furore and Tramonti. Embracing the shoulder seasons of May, June, and September will also allow you to enjoy the best of the coast with a little more breathing room.