Thinking about buying a home in Italy? Property prices can vary enormously depending on the region, with major cities and tourist hotspots often reaching sky-high values. According to the latest data from July 2025, resale home prices across Italy have risen slightly by 0.3%, bringing the national average to €1,833 per square metre.
But there is good news for property hunters: in 15 Italian provincial capitals, the average asking price is below €1,000 per square metre. And in total, 59 cities have property prices lower than the national average — making them particularly attractive to foreign buyers looking for a first or second home in Italy. These are the cheapest cities to buy property in Italy in 2025.
Where are the cheapest places to buy a house in Italy?
Out of 102 provincial capitals analysed, these are the most affordable in 2025:
- Caltanissetta (Sicily) – €674/m²
- Ragusa (Sicily) – €712/m²
- Biella (Piedmont) – €772/m²
- Reggio Calabria (Calabria) – €793/m²
- Isernia (Molise) – €864/m²
- Taranto (Apulia/Puglia) – €927/m²
- Vercelli (Piedmont) – €947/m²
With the exception of Biella and Vercelli in northern Italy, most of the cheapest provincial capitals are located in the south of Italy, where the cost of living and property values are generally lower.
Cities with property prices below the Italian national average
If your budget is more flexible but you’re still looking for good value, many Italian cities offer homes for sale at prices well below the national average of €1,833/m².
- In Abruzzo, the most affordable city is Chieti (€950/m²).
- In Lazio, home to Rome, the cheapest provincial capital is Frosinone (€1,042/m²).
- In Sardinia, property in Nuoro costs on average €1,112/m².
- In the Veneto region, the most accessible market is Rovigo (€1,137/m²).
- In the Marche region, Macerata (€1,171/m²) is the most affordable.
- In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, it’s Gorizia (€1,192/m²).
- In Umbria, a popular destination for foreign buyers, Perugia offers property at €1,202/m².
Moving north, in Lombardy, the first city to appear in the ranking is Cremona (€1,316/m²). For buyers considering Liguria, known for its stunning coastline, Genoa is surprisingly the most affordable provincial capital at €1,421/m².
In Emilia-Romagna, two cities stand out with similar prices: Ferrara (€1,557/m²) and Forlì (€1,593/m²). And in Tuscany, a region beloved by international buyers, the first city to feature is Arezzo (€1,684/m²).
Why these cities may interest foreign buyers
For international buyers considering a move to Italy, or simply a holiday home investment, these cities present opportunities to purchase property at a fraction of the cost of Florence, Milan, or Rome. Lower prices can mean larger homes, properties with outdoor space, or charming historic apartments in authentic Italian towns — all without the premium of the country’s most famous destinations.
Whether you’re dreaming of retiring in southern Italy, investing in a rental property in a university town like Perugia, or simply finding a second home by the sea in Sicily, the data shows that Italy still offers affordable options for every type of buyer.
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