Our just-released 2025 Overseas Retirement Index has named Pisa as the best place to retire in Italy.
Here’s just some of the reasons why…
Pisa is rich in historical and architectural heritage, a delight for leisurely strolls with landmarks around every corner. It is of course most famous for its Leaning Tower, but the Piazza dei Miracoli, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where the tower is located, is also home to other iconic buildings like the Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery.
There’s a timelessness to Pisa… Narrow medieval streets spill out onto vibrant piazzas where people gather to socialize, enjoy meals, or chat over coffee.
Pisa also has a youthful buzz thanks to the high proportion of students that come here to study.
Education is deeply ingrained in Pisa’s identity. The University of Pisa is one of Italy’s most prestigious schools. Scholars from around the world make their way here and broaden the range of cultural offerings, from live music to art exhibitions to theater performances.
Pisa is a small city of about 90,000 people, but it strikes the ideal balance between a village atmosphere and an urban one. The pace of life is slow, and there’s a community feel, yet there are also excellent medical facilities, diverse shopping options, and a well-connected public transportation network. This includes an international airport that makes trips around Europe easy and a train system that can connect you to Florence, Rome, and beyond in hours.
Pisa provides a connection to nature. The Arno River wends gracefully through town, providing scenic walking and cycling paths. It’s surrounded by the best of Tuscany—soft hills and valleys covered by rows of grapevines, olive groves, and centuries-old cypress trees. And when you need a dose of sunshine, Mediterranean beaches are only a 20-minute drive away.
With its cultural richness, historical charm, and modern amenities, Pisa is far more than just a place to visit—it’s a great place to put down roots and enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle.
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A couple can live comfortably in Pisa on a budget of about $2,000 per month. Remember that this is a university city, so prices for many things—
accommodation, restaurant meals, entrance fees, etc.—are aimed at that demographic. Retirees should find Pisa easy on their pockets.
One budget item that stands out as more expensive is the cost of utilities, which can run from $100 to $300 per month. There are a few reasons for this—
limited local energy generation, taxation and fees (Italy tacks extras like TV tax onto your electric bill), and seasonal demand. Electricity costs go up significantly during winter months.
Pisa has four seasons, with cool winters (around 38°F or 3°C from December to February) and hot summers (around 85°F or 29°C from June to August). It gets most of its rainfall in summer and autumn. Snow is rare.
Italy’s health care system is one of the world’s best, so you should feel confident having your medical needs taken care of here. In Pisa, public health care facilities are available through the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). This is the national health care system, which provides affordable and comprehensive care to residents.
Cisanello Hospital and Santa Chiara Hospital are public hospitals that provide specialized care and emergency care. You can also find private facilities in Pisa if you need faster appointments. Facilities in Pisa are modern and well-equipped, and medical professionals are highly trained.
Pisa offers a fairly wide selection of outdoor recreation opportunities. The city is mostly flat, making it ideal for cycling, and trails slice through the surrounding countryside.
Pisa is only a 20-minute drive to the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and several beaches where you can sunbathe, swim, or do water sports. In town, you find gyms, parks, and facilities for tennis, soccer, and other sports. Nearby in Tirrenia, there’s an 18-hole golf course set against picturesque Tuscan scenery.
The Arno River flows through Pisa and provides opportunities for boat rides and water sports like kayaking and canoeing.
In town, there are several museums where you can take in the region’s history and culture. You can view classical works of art at the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo or contemporary ones at the SMS Centro Espositivo.
There’s a lively performing arts scene hosted at famous venues like Teatro Verdi, an opera house that hosts opera, ballet, and classical music performances, as well as small theaters and cultural centers.
Pisa hosts festivals throughout the year, such as Luminara di San Ranieri in June, which lights up the Arno River with thousands of candles. It also hosts regattas, book festivals, and other unique events.
Italians are friendly, welcoming people, and they’ll do their best to accommodate you in English… but you should plan to learn Italian to better integrate into the community and make day-to-day life easier.
Italy offers an independent means visa known as the Elective Residency Visa that many retirees use to live in the country long-term.
The basic requirement to qualify is proof of passive income (pensions, dividends, royalties, rents, etc.) of 32,000 euros per year (about $33,765 annually or $2,815 monthly). This grants you a one-year residence permit that is renewable.
Sincerely,
Sophia Titley
Editor, Overseas Living Letter
