Lucca, Italy

Lucca sits in Tuscany at just 19 m above sea level, within the Europe/Rome timezone, and its humid subtropical climate brings warm, dry summers from June through August and mild, wet winters from December through February. That Mediterranean rhythm makes the city pleasant year-round, whether you are sipping a $2 cappuccino in a piazza or cycling the Renaissance walls. Expats tend to settle in two areas: Centro Storico, the walled heart where daily life unfolds among churches and cafes, and San Marco, a quieter choice just beyond the historic core. With a population of 89 thousand, Lucca stays intimate enough that you recognize faces, yet it draws a medium-sized expat community that keeps things social without feeling crowded.

Renting a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center runs $784/mo, while the same outside the center drops to $672/mo. Families or sharers looking at 3-bedroom units pay $1,456/mo in the center or $1,008/mo outside it. Beyond rent, a single adult spends about $1,050/mo on everything else, and a family of four faces roughly $3,500/mo excluding rent. Utilities average $336/mo, internet $32/mo, and a mobile phone plan $12/mo. A monthly public transport pass costs $35/mo and a gym membership $67/mo. Meals out range from $20 per person at an inexpensive restaurant to $81 for a three-course mid-range dinner for two. The overall cost of living index sits at 67/100 against New York City, and budget, mid-range, and comfortable tiers for a single adult come to $1,073/mo, $1,611/mo, and $1,944/mo respectively. Local average net salary is $1,778/mo, so many residents pair modest wages with a slower pace rather than big-city earnings.

Safety is a strong point: the safety index is 81/100 and the crime index is 19/100, with lower numbers meaning less crime. Air quality registers 45 on an index where lower is better, and healthcare quality is rated Good. Those factors help explain why Lucca feels manageable for retirees and remote workers alike, though English proficiency is limited, so picking up some Italian goes a long way. Internet speeds average 73 Mbps, enough for video calls and streaming, and the city's compact layout means you are rarely far from a pharmacy, market, or cafe.

For longer stays, Italy offers the Elective Residence Visa for retirees, requiring a minimum monthly income of $2,895/mo, and the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers, requiring $2,615/mo. The nearest airport is PSA, just 3 km away, which keeps arrivals and departures simple. Lucca scores 65/100 overall for expats, 67/100 on FIRE, 57/100 for retirees, and 66/100 for digital nomads. It suits those who want a walkable Tuscan city with a medium expat community, solid safety, and living costs that sit well below New York City, provided they can meet the visa income thresholds or earn remotely.