Investment property in Italy: what to buy and what it costs
Apartments for sale in six cities with minimum prices, yields, taxes on buying and owning.
In 2026 a square metre in Rome costs about $4,300 at asking prices, about $5,400 in Florence and about $6,400 in Milan, while in the south prices are several times lower. An apartment in central Palermo or by the sea in Bari starts from $96,000. When buying from a private seller, the registration tax is calculated on the cadastral value, not on the deal price, and Italy does not give residence for a purchase.
Below are seven apartments for sale now, from $96,000 in Palermo and Bari to $349,000 in Milan, prices by city and district, rental yields, taxes on top of the price and how your own home helps with a visa. A manager will confirm what is for sale today and the exact price.
The market in brief
Prices and rules as of 2026.
What properties investors buy in Italy
Seven apartments for sale in Italy now, from $96,000 to $349,000: the south, Turin, Rome, Florence and Milan. The price, area, floor and condition are the seller's; a manager will send the documents, the floor plan and similar options to the chat.
An 85 m² two-bedroom apartment with balconies 100 metres from Via Maqueda
from $96,000
An 85 m² apartment on the top floor of a small three-storey old building in the historic centre of Palermo: a living room, two bedrooms with balconies, a kitchen with a small balcony, a bathroom with a window and a storeroom. It needs a full renovation, so it is priced at the bottom of the district. Via Maqueda is 100 metres away, in a centre with heavy tourist traffic. After renovation such apartments rent from $970 (€860) a month, about 12% a year on the purchase price before renovation costs.
A newly renovated one-bedroom apartment a few steps from the seafront
from $96,000
A 50 m² apartment on the 3rd floor in the Madonnella district of Bari: a living room, a kitchen, a large bedroom and a new bathroom. It is fully renovated, ready to live in or let right away. The seafront is a few steps away, with the university, shops and transport nearby. The building has no lift. Such apartments rent from $650 (€570) a month, about 8% a year.
A one-bedroom apartment with a terrace by Valentino Park
from $118,000
A 55 m² apartment on the 1st floor of a well-kept building with two lifts and a concierge on Via Ormea: an entrance hall, a separate kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom with a window, a small terrace and a storeroom. The apartment is in excellent condition and no major building works are planned. The metro and Valentino Park are nearby. Such apartments in San Salvario rent from $820 (€730) a month, about 8.3% a year.
A one-bedroom apartment with a storeroom and cellar near Metro C
from $168,000
A 47 m² apartment on the 1st floor of a building without a lift on Via della Marranella in Pigneto: an entrance hall, a living room with kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. A 12 m² storeroom and a 21 m² cellar come with the apartment. It needs renovation and costs less than any similar apartment in the district. Metro C is a few minutes' walk away. Such apartments in Pigneto rent from $930 (€820) a month, about 6.6% a year.
A one-bedroom apartment with a mezzanine in a handsome old building
from $253,000
A 46 m² apartment on the raised ground floor of a handsome old building on Via Marconi: a living room with kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom with a window, a mezzanine and a large cellar. The windows face the courtyard, so it is quiet, and it was recently renovated. Campo di Marte is a lived-in district of Florence with everything close by. Such apartments rent from $940 (€830) a month, about 4.4% a year.
A renovated three-room apartment by Trastevere station
from $304,000
A 75 m² apartment on the raised ground floor above a garage on Via Giovanni da Castel Bolognese: a living room with an open kitchen, a bedroom, a second room for a child or a study, a bathroom with a window and a storeroom. A recent renovation: new systems, double glazing, air conditioning and an armoured door. Trastevere station is nearby, and the historic centre is a tram ride away. Such apartments in Trastevere rent from $2,050 (€1,820) a month, about 8% a year.
A furnished apartment with a balcony in the heart of Isola
from $349,000
A 50 m² apartment on the 1st floor on Via Porro Lambertenghi in Isola: a living room with an open kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, a balcony and an attic storeroom. Sold furnished, in excellent condition, with its own heating and energy class A1. Isola and Garibaldi metro stations are nearby. Such apartments rent from $1,240 (€1,100) a month, about 4.3% a year.
The price is the seller's price in 2026, in dollars rounded up to the thousand, in euros in brackets. Each apartment costs no more than the lowest price of similar apartments in the district plus 10%. The monthly rent comes from long-term rental listings for similar apartments in the district. The floor follows the Italian count in the listing. We check the cards monthly and replace a sold apartment with one of the same type and price.
How much an apartment costs in Italian cities in 2026
In 2025 Italy sold 766,757 apartments and houses, 6.4% more than a year earlier, and the average home sold was 107 m². Milan is the most expensive, followed by Florence, Rome and Bologna, while in the south the average apartment costs less than a third of a Milan one.
| City | Average apartment sold |
|---|---|
| Milan | ~$500,000 |
| Florence | ~$320,000 |
| Rome | ~$310,000 |
| Bologna | ~$310,000 |
| Naples | ~$230,000 |
| Turin | ~$210,000 |
| Palermo | ~$150,000 |
| The south | ~$140,000 |
| Italy on average | ~$190,000 |
Data for 2026: the average deal value in 2025 from the Italian tax agency; dollars at 2026 exchange rates.
| District from the cards | Price per m², asking | 50 m² apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Milan, Isola | ~$8,400 (7,500 euros) | ~$420,000 |
| Rome, Trastevere | ~$7,900 (7,000 euros) | ~$395,000 |
| Florence, Campo di Marte | ~$5,400 (4,800 euros) | ~$270,000 |
| Rome, Pigneto | ~$4,300 (3,800 euros) | ~$215,000 |
| Turin, San Salvario | ~$2,800 (2,500 euros) | ~$140,000 |
| Bari, Madonnella | ~$2,600 (2,300 euros) | ~$130,000 |
| Palermo, historic centre | ~$1,500 (1,300 euros) | ~$75,000 |
Data for 2026: the average asking price of apartments in the districts where the apartments in the cards are for sale.
What yield renting out gives
The gross yield from long-term rent in Rome is about 7.1% a year before tax. In the south and in Turin entry is cheaper while rents hold up: the apartments in the cards in Bari, Turin and Trastevere rent at 8-8.3%. In Milan and Florence the yield is lower, about 4.3-4.4%, but rental demand runs all year round.
| Tax | Rate |
|---|---|
| Long-term rent | a flat 21%, or 10% for agreed-rate contracts |
| Short-term rent | 21% for the first apartment, 26% for the second and further ones |
| Sale within 5 years of purchase | tax on the gain or a flat 26% through the notary, if it was not your main home |
| Annual municipal tax on a second home | 0.86% of the cadastral value, the comune can raise it to 1.06% |
Data for 2026: the yield is the Rome average; countries are compared in the rental yield table.
In 2023 Russia suspended the main articles of its double tax treaty with Italy, so tax on rent is paid in Italy. Rates and examples are on the page taxes in Italy.
What costs to add to the property price
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration tax when buying from a private seller | 2% of the cadastral value for a first home, 9% for a second |
| Two fixed taxes | $57 (€50) each |
| Buying from a developer | VAT of 4% for a first home, 10% for others, instead of the registration tax |
| Notary | a scale fee based on the price; the notary also withholds the taxes and registers the title |
| Italian tax code | free at the tax agency or a consulate |
Data for 2026. A non-resident gets the first-home relief by registering residence in the same comune within 18 months. A manager calculates the total for a specific apartment.
In Italy the apartment is checked against the cadastre before the deposit
Mistakes cost more than the tax: a layout that does not match the cadastre, so the notary refuses to certify the deal; an apartment let to tenants or sold as bare ownership; a lost first-home relief. Murblz support removes these risks: we find a property for the budget and goal, check the title, encumbrances, cadastre and building permits and take the deal at the notary through to registration of title.
The cost of support depends on the purchase budget and the goal - investment or relocation; a manager calculates it in the chat.
Does buying give a residence permit
Italy does not give residence for buying a home. Your own apartment meets the housing requirement of the elective residence visa, while stable income not from employment, about $34,800 (31,000 euros) a year, is proved separately. You cannot work on this visa.
The investor visa is granted for investments in government bonds, shares of Italian companies, startups or projects of public interest, and property is not on the list. You can buy an apartment without residence: EU citizens buy on equal terms with Italians, citizens of other countries on the principle of reciprocity. All routes are in the article how to get Italian residency.
How we find a property
- Budget and goal: investment, a home for relocation on a visa, or both. The manager clarifies the city, district and how you will pay.
- A selection of real properties: apartments with the seller's price, floor area, condition and a yield calculation.
- Checks: title, encumbrances, match with the cadastre and building permits, existing leases with tenants.
- A remote deal by power of attorney: tax code, preliminary contract with a deposit, the deed at the notary and registration of title.
The manager sends the selection to the chat, with sellers' prices on the date of the selection.
Options in other countries
Investment property in other countries:
- Investment property in Turkey: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in the UAE: what to buy in Dubai and what it costs
- Investment property in Serbia: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in Brazil: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in Georgia: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in Spain: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in Bulgaria: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in Cyprus: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in Montenegro: what to buy and what it costs
More on buying in this country:
- Buying property in Italy: rules, taxes and the deal
- How to buy an apartment in Italy
- Italy residence permit: all routes
- Taxes in Italy
- Rome: what to see and whether to move there
- Milan: what to see and whether to move there
All countries and budgets compared - on the page Investment property abroad.
FAQ
How much does an apartment in Italy cost in 2026?
Can foreigners buy property in Italy?
Does buying an apartment give residence in Italy?
What yield does letting an apartment in Italy give?
What taxes apply when buying an apartment in Italy?
What taxes does an apartment owner pay in Italy?
Where to buy an apartment for investment in Italy?
Can I buy an apartment in Italy remotely?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we shortlist properties for your goal, run legal checks and support the deal through to registration. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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