Bucine vs Castrocaro (Terra del Sole): Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?

Bucine is a small Tuscan town of 10 thousand where rents of $845/mo for a one-bedroom city center apartment sit awkwardly against a local net salary of $1,391/mo, so remote workers and retirees on outside income get far more out of it than locals do. The retiree score of 76/100 and safety index of 73/100 make it a sensible base, and Florence airport is just 6 km away, though the digital nomad score of 58/100 and limited English proficiency mean you should arrive with Italian and a remote job already lined up. At $247/mo for utilities and $31/mo for internet, daily costs stay manageable, but the $2,895/mo income floor for the Italy Elective Residence Visa is steep for a town this size.

Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole is a tiny, safe, affordable town that punches far above its weight for retirees, with a retiree score of 84/100 and a crime index of just 15/100. At $571/mo for a one-bedroom in the center, it is cheap enough that even the comfortable tier lands at $1,432/mo, though the $2,895/mo income floor for the Italy Elective Residence Visa is a steep hurdle for a town this small. Digital nomads should look elsewhere: a 48/100 nomad score and 13 Mbps internet will have you tearing your hair out. Come here to retire cheaply and quietly, not to run a startup.