Property prices in Italy didn’t take off in the same way as they did in the United Kingdom or USA after the financial crisis and the pandemic. Indeed, in some places thet are still lower than in 2008. So you can generally buy a property in Italy for considerably less. But the evidence is that โ powered by a growing economy while others falter โ prices are picking up. So why wait?
The average price for a home in the UK is ยฃ273,000 and in the USA is $364,000. At the current rate of conversion that is around โฌ300,000.
But, what sort of property is for sale in Italy for โฌ300,000?
If we had stayed in the UK, we couldnโt have afforded a countryside house with land, like we have in Italy
We know that if we had stayed in the UK, we couldnโt have afforded a countryside house with land, like the one we have in Italy. Especially, one just five minutes from a town and 30 minutes from an airport, the sea and a city. Yet even in Puglia, our increasingly popular area of Italy, โฌ300,000 can buy a two-bedroom villa with land around it.
To get a prime location you may need to compromise on that extra guest bedroom and drive a little further to the airport, shops and visitor attractions. But, there are some wonderful places just a few kilometres from the tourist hotspots, that are just as beautiful and youโll get more house for your money.
Choose an area
You may have already decided what type of area you want to live in: city, seaside, mountains or countryside. But be prepared for falling in love with something completely different.
It happens all the time โ a countryside villa when you initially thought you wanted a sea view apartment, a smart new-build when you thought you were an “old and beautiful” sort of person.
In cities that attract business people and tourists you might only find a small apartment for your budget. So, consider looking outside the city or explore less well-known towns. So, let’s look at properties for sale in Italy for โฌ300,000 and where you will get the most house for your money?
Seaside property in Italy for โฌ300,000
There are places in Italy where you can still find property with a sea view for โฌ300,000. Mostly they will be in regions less well known to foreign tourists and some distance from an airport. Away from the bustling tourist towns they offer peace and panoramic views. Italy has a lot of Coastal highlights. ย
To get a seaside home in Italy for โฌ300,000, you may need to compromise on some of your wish list. Therefore, think carefully about what would really suit your needs best:
- A villa with a panoramic sea view in an elevated position, but not an easy walk to the beach.
- A villa without sea views, but a short walk to the beach.
- An apartment with sea views nearer to the sea and a village.
Where to find a home with a sea view
If you want a house or villa with a sea view, try looking along the coast between Ancona (Marche) and Pescara (Abruzzo), or around Calabria. Here you might find a countryside house with a sea view, but back from the shoreline. Other regions where you might find a sea view property within your budget are:
Southern Sardinia
In southern Sardinia itโs possible to find new two-bedroom villas with a sea view for โฌ300,000. However, the compromise is that they are 90 minutes from Cagliari airport. Currently there are properties for sale in Calasetta, which is on a small island connected to Sardinia by a road bridge.
Sicily
You are most likely to find houses for โฌ300,000 along the northern coast of Sicily, although there are some in the Siracuse area of southeastern Sicily too. When available, โฌ300,000 could buy you a modern holiday villa with sea views. However, they might be over an hourโs drive from Catania airport. On the plus side, Siracuse is a sizeable city, with all the year-round facilities for a population over 115,000. It is also rich in history and charm in the beautiful Ortigia part of the old town
Further south near Marina di Ragusa you can also find two-bedroom villas coming up for sale. Not necessarily with a sea view, but within walking distance of the sea.
Puglia
The small towns of Mola di Bari, Polignano a Mare, and Monopoli are on the coast between Bari and Brindisi airports. They are all becoming popular with foreign property buyers, due to their proximity to transport links, the sea and two cities. Even if you canโt find a house right on the waterfront, the sea is generally a short walk from the historic centre, where you can find houses and maisonettes come up for sale for around โฌ300,000. Some even have sea views from their roof terrace.
The southern part of the Puglia region is called Salento. Here the sea and beaches are reminiscent of those in more tropical locations. For example, the marina near the village of Salve is often referred to as the โMaldives of Salentoโ and Punta Prosciutto beach, is nicknamed the โCaribbean of Salentoโ. In the seaside town of Gallipoli you can find two-bedroom apartments with a sea view and in the far south you sometimes get villas come up for sale with a distant sea view.
Country property in Italy for โฌ300,000
Countryside properties tend to offer more house for your money, even those that are just a few minutesโ drive from a town. Character houses with a โฌ300,000 price tag, which are large and in a good location, will probably need some renovation. Even newer villas might need a new kitchen. So, this will have to be costed into your budget. That said, you can also find cheap two-bedroom villas for around the โฌ100,000 mark.ย ย
Where to find countryside houses in Italy
Abruzzo
Among the low rolling hills inland of Pescara, you can find large three-bedroom detached houses for around โฌ300,000. The further inland you go into the mountain areas the more house you will get for your money.
Piedmont
In Piedmont itโs possible to find large farmhouses for sale with as many as six bedrooms and a barn, particularly around Alessandria. Head up into the hills and they get even cheaper.
Tuscany
In Tuscany you can find hamlets and farm estates that have been split into smaller units. Itโs possible to find one-bedroom houses and apartments in these small complexes. Some even have shared gardens and a swimming pool, making them ideal for relaxing countryside holidays. The countryside around Volterra, has several houses for sale like this.
Check out properties for sale in Tuscany for around โฌ300,000
There are also some large farmhouses that the owners have divided into two properties in order to sell one of them. In lower priced areas, such as around Siena, you might even be able to afford a whole building which has already been converted into two apartments. Creating the opportunity to make some rental income. Budget or Bling, there’s a home in Tuscany in your price range.
Get more for your money in Tuscany
The more affordable areas of Tuscany are Lunigiana in the north, Pistoia, Arezzo, Grosseto and rural areas above Lucca. In the province of Pisa there are farm houses needing major renovation, but when finished they could have six to eight bedrooms. Just be aware, that cheaper areas will have less to attract tourists and be further from amenities. ย ย
There are some inexpensive areas that are a short drive from an airport. For example, Peccioli is only around half an hour from Pisa airport. From there you can fly to major European cities including many airports in the UK.
Umbria
In the province of Perugia, Umbria you might find a sizeable farm house needing renovation. Particularly in the Citta della Pieve area.
Check out properties for sale in Umbria for around โฌ300,000
Puglia
In the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce you can buy countryside villas for โฌ300,000, with a big garden. There are even some which have a traditional trullo, with the conical shaped stone roof. In this area, most countryside homes are within 35 minutes drive of the sea.ย
Village property in Italy for โฌ300,000
In Italian villages, you often find maisonettes on the first and second floor, which are above shops in the historic centre. Typically, they are in period buildings with their own entrance and internal staircase.
Your first impression maybe just of a big door on an old street. But they can have impressive entrance halls, large rooms, and may also be hiding outdoor space, such as balconies, roof terraces or an inner courtyard. Those on the edge of hilltop villages may even have countryside views. ย
Where to find village homes for โฌ300,000
You can buy a village house for โฌ300,000 in many Italian regions, especially in the rural areas of Puglia, Umbria, Le Marche, Tuscany, and Sicily. Regions with the lowest prices include Calabria and Abruzzo.
Tuscany
โฌ300,000 could buy a maisonette in a Tuscan village, or a two bedroom apartment in the historic centre of a popular village such as Cortona or Montepulciano.
Puglia
Around the Puglia coast there are villages that come alive just in the summer. But, if you simply want a holiday home you can sometimes find small houses near the sea for โฌ300,000. There are also many villages inland around Lecce with good prices.
Check out properties for sale in Puglia for โฌ300,000
Umbria
In the historic centre of a village, such as Orvieto, you could buy a 90m2 apartment for โฌ300,000. If you expand your search to one village across, such as Ciconia, itโs possible to get a house double the size.
City property in Italy for โฌ300,000
In a city well known for tourism and business, โฌ300,000 might buy you a small apartment. For example, near the Duomo in Florence you could buy an apartment of about 65 square metres.
However, in the seaside city of Brindisi in Puglia, prices are 69% cheaper (source: numbeo.com). You can currently buy a spacious apartment in a historic building with star vaulted ceilings at this price. Even new build apartments of 115m2 are priced around the โฌ300,000 mark.
Where to find city property
Milan is a popular choice for those who love the buzz of city life, business, stylish shopping, and fine dining. The districts of Brera, Isola, and Porta Venezia are good neighbourhoods for English speaking buyers and Porta Nuova appeals to young professionals. In Porta Venezia, โฌ300k will buy a modern one bedroom apartment (30m2) near a park and the metro.
Realistically, โฌ300,000 will only buy you a one bedroom apartment in most Italian city centres, with Milan, Venice, Florence, Bologna and Rome giving you the smallest apartments for your money. But then if you plan on spending your time out and about in a vibrant city with lots to see and do, the size isnโt so important.
If you spread your search to the suburbs or to a city in the south you could get more space for your money.
Which Italian cities are most popular with foreign buyers?
Bologna
An efficient city with a young vibe, that is good for workers and digital nomads. Its very walkable, with flat streets and porticoes for shade. โฌ300,000 can buy an 80m2 apartment in the centre.
Rome
Large expat community. A city rich in history with good healthcare. โฌ300,000 gets you a one bedroom apartment in a block with the bed on a mezzanine.
Turin
Beautiful buildings, good quality of life and healthcare, with lower living costs than Milan. Plus itโs near the Alps and Langhe wine growing area. There are one-bedroom apartments in grand old buildings in the centre.
Cities with property prices below the national average include Chieti in Abruzzo, Frosinone in Lazio , Rovigo in Veneto, Macerata in Marche and Gorizia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Mountain property in Italy for โฌ300,000
Mam perople fin dit surprising that you can ski in most areas of Italy, including as far south as Sicily. There are even Ski homes in Italy: where you can ski in the morning, and swim in the afternoon.
However, anyone looking for regular snow for a reasonable part of the year will find mountain property โฌ300,000 in the regions of Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta, Abruzzo and parts of Tuscany.
Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta
Known for its stunning alpine scenery, here you can still find very cheap stone houses in hamlets in the mountains. If you follow the road around the Gran Paradiso National Park youโll find many houses for sale for around โฌ300,000. You can get chalet style houses of around 200m2, and mountain houses with stone roofs. ย ย
Check out properties for sale in Piedmont for โฌ300,000
Dolomites
Although Cortina d โAmpezzo (soon to host the Winter Olympics) may be out of your price range, there are many other small villages and mountain houses not too far away. You can still find stone houses to renovate under โฌ100,000, plus two-bedroom apartments and village houses for around โฌ300,000.
Check out properties for sale in Trentino-Alto Adige for โฌ300,000
Abruzzo
A very affordable option with extensive forests and mountains. In the famous ski resort town of Roccaraso you can buy a three-bedroom apartment right in the centre for less than โฌ300,000.
Check out properties for sale in Abruzzo for around โฌ300,000
Tuscany
If you head towards the mountains north of Lucca, its possible to find three- and four-bedroom houses with views of the mountains for less than โฌ300,000. Look around the villages of Bagni di Lucca and Barga, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and Camporgiano. Abetone Ski Resort is less than an hour drive from Bagni di Lucca.
Liguria
The Savona area is well known for rock climbing. A small two-bedroom village house here costs around โฌ300,000.
To conclude
Property prices vary greatly across Italy, even within one region, or town. But, in general with a โฌ300,000 budget you could buy a two-bedroom countryside home or an apartment in a town or village in the southern regions and islands.
Even in the most popular tourist regions, if you go off the beaten track, there are large farmhouses and village houses waiting for a buyer to make them into a home. Particularly in Piedmont, Umbria, Marche, Tuscany and Puglia.
In the centre of one of Italyโs popular historical cities you could snap up a one-bedroom apartment. Alternatively, in Lecce, nicknamed โthe Florence of the southโ, you may find yourself sunbathing on the roof top of a four-bedroom apartment with a view of beautiful carved stone churches.
