Moving to Italy in 2026? Here are the cities with the worst living conditions

Planning to move to Italy in 2026? Before you pack your bags, it's worth taking a look at the actual data on quality of life in Italy's provinces.

The latest survey conducted by ItaliaOggi, Ital Communications and Rome's Sapienza University paints a very clear picture: not all cities are the same, and some destinations are definitely to be avoided.

The analysis is based on 9 key factors that have a concrete impact on daily life: employment opportunities, environmental conditions, quality of education, demographic composition, safety, income levels, social protection, healthcare efficiency and cultural offerings.

The South pays the highest price

The worst data comes from the Mezzogiorno (Italy's southern regions), where the situation seems structurally critical. The last five places in the ranking are all occupied by southern provinces (...).

Caltanissetta unfortunately comes last, followed by Crotone and Reggio Calabria. Foggia and Agrigento complete the bottom of the ranking. But the list doesn't end there: major cities such as Naples, Palermo and Catania are also at the bottom of the list, highlighting the difficulties faced by the main urban centers of the South.

The gap with the rest of Italy remains striking: inadequate infrastructure, insufficient health services, limited employment opportunities and a fragile economic fabric characterize these regions. Of all the provinces in the south and on the islands, only L'Aquila manages to stand out from the most critical group, ranking 56th out of a total of 107 provinces.

Rare exceptions in the south

The Mezzogiorno is not uniform, however. Two 'oases' are emerging and show that it is possible to reverse the trend: Lecce and Cagliari are above the southern average, thanks to targeted investments in culture, tourism and urban quality of life. Unfortunately, they remain isolated cases in an otherwise very difficult landscape.

Italy divided in two

Experts point out that, by 2025, only 60 out of 107 provinces achieved quality of life standards considered good or acceptable. This means that almost half the country is living in problematic or inadequate conditions.

The overall improvement recorded for certain indicators, such as health care, is not enough to close the gap that has opened up over the years. Many provinces are slowly improving, but are starting from such a low place that progress is not translating into a real change of perspective.

5 cities to avoid

If you're thinking of moving, here are the 5 Italian provinces you should definitely cross off your list:

• Caltanissetta (last in the ranking)
• Crotone (penultimate)
• Reggio Calabria (103rd)
• Foggia (104th)
• Agrigento (105th)

So, which locations to choose?

On the other hand, those looking for opportunities and a good quality of life should look to the north and center: Milan tops the ranking, followed by Bolzano and Bologna. The provinces of Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Lombardy consistently top the list, offering efficient services, real job opportunities and modern infrastructure.

• Milan
• Bolzano
• Bologna
• Florence
• Monza
• Trento
• Padua
• Verona
• Parma
• Reggio Emilia

In 2026, Italy will still be a two-speed country, where quality of life will depend heavily on geography.

Source : Italia Oggi

(MP/©GreenMe.it/Translation and adaptation: The Global Money/Pic: Unsplash))