Biella, Italy

Biella sits in the foothills of the Alps in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, at 420 m above sea level, with a subtropical climate and the Europe/Rome timezone. The city holds about 43 thousand residents, and expats who settle here tend to gravitate toward Centro Storico, the historic core where daily errands, cafes, and local life unfold on foot. The expat community is small, and English proficiency is limited, so newcomers who make the move often find that learning Italian pays off quickly in everyday interactions.

Housing is the clearest argument for Biella. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center rents for $420/mo, while the same outside the center drops to $364/mo. Three-bedroom units run $691/mo in the center and $560/mo outside it. Utilities average $194/mo, internet $27/mo, and a mobile phone plan $8/mo. A monthly public transport pass costs $38/mo and a gym membership $67/mo. An inexpensive restaurant meal runs $17 per person, a mid-range three-course meal for two is $67, and a cappuccino at a restaurant costs $2. Excluding rent, a single person spends around $950/mo and a family of four around $3,150/mo. Budget-tier living for a single adult, rent included, comes to $673/mo, mid-range to $1,054/mo, and comfortable to $1,296/mo. Against that, the average monthly net salary locally is $1,859/mo, and the cost of living index sits at 61/100 with New York City as 100.

Safety is a strong point, with a safety index of 75/100 and a crime index of 25/100, where lower is safer. Air quality registers 45 on the index, where lower is better. Healthcare quality is rated Good, giving residents a dependable baseline for routine care and referrals. Average internet speed reaches 60 Mbps, enough for remote work, streaming, and video calls without strain.

For longer stays, Italy offers the Italy Elective Residence Visa, which requires a minimum monthly income of $2,895/mo, and the Italy Digital Nomad Visa, which requires $2,615/mo. The nearest airport is TRN, 8 km away, making arrivals and departures straightforward. With an overall expat score of 73/100, a FIRE score of 75/100, a retiree score of 64/100, and a digital nomad score of 66/100, Biella suits budget-conscious renters, early retirees, and remote workers who want low costs, calm streets, and a small, close-knit expat scene in Centro Storico.