Best Cities in Italy
BolognaBologna, Milan, Rome, Florence, and Verona form a five-city comparison across affordability, safety, healthcare, career, culture and food, and public life. Bologna has the broader all-round edge, and Milan sets the pace on career. The best fit depends on which relocation priorities matter most.
How they compare
- Bologna
- Milan
- Rome
- Florence
- Verona
Objective 0–100 scores from source-backed CrossBorders data. Green marks the category leader; gold is the overall leader.
Category by category
Which city is the most affordable?
Verona has the lowest open-market one-bedroom rent on a new lease in this group, at about €499 per month; Milan has the highest, at about €978. Against one typical employee's mean net pay, Verona has the lightest burden at roughly 24% (manageable solo), while Milan has the heaviest at roughly 44% (tight alone).
Which city is the safest?
Verona is the clear safety leader (79), well ahead of the rest of the field, which clusters tightly between Rome and Florence (69 each) and Bologna and Milan (68 each). The shared weak spot across all five is petty theft and pickpocketing rather than serious crime.
Which city has the best healthcare?
Bologna tops healthcare (66), Emilia-Romagna's well-run regional system showing through, with Milan close behind (65). Florence and Rome tie at the back (61) — solid mid-tier care everywhere, but English-speaking clinics are hit-or-miss across the whole country.
Which city is best for your career?
Milan takes the lead (64 to 58), with a solid local market and strong fit across finance, fashion and design. Professional networks help, but English-only and remote roles are less abundant than at the biggest international hubs, and local pay is solid rather than exceptional.
Which city has the best food and culture?
Bologna leads on food and culture (74), its trattoria tradition and student-fueled arts scene the best in the set. Milan, Florence and Rome tie just behind (71 each), each formidable in its own way — design, Renaissance art, and monuments respectively. Verona trails (61), solid but quieter than its larger peers.
Which city has the best public life?
Bologna leads public life too (67), its porticoed streets and Piazza Maggiore built for outdoor living. Florence and Verona tie next (64 each), both tourist-worn but cared-for. Rome trails the field (58), its glorious piazzas offset by chronic litter and patchy upkeep.
The verdict
Bologna offers the broadest all-round balance, with Milan strongest in career. Rome, Florence, and Verona remain alternatives where their category strengths match your priorities. Use the category trade-offs and local rent burden to narrow the field.
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