Located in the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna is a city of real substance. With a population of just under 400,000, it feels lively and important without the intense tourist crowds you might find in Florence or Rome. The city is famously known by three nicknames that perfectly capture its spirit: La Dotta (the Learned), for its ancient university; La Grassa (the Fat), a nod to its status as Italy’s undisputed food capital; and La Rossa (the Red), for its beautiful terracotta-tiled roofs. This all combines to create a unique atmosphere, making living in Bologna a brilliant option for anyone wanting to experience an authentic slice of Italian life.
What is Bologna known for?
You can get a real sense of Bologna’s character through its three historic nicknames, each one pointing to a different part of its identity. First, there’s La Dotta (the Learned). The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in the Western world, and its presence gives the city an energetic, intellectual atmosphere. This history is physically woven into the city through its famous porticoes, which stretch for over 40 kilometres.
Next is La Grassa (the Fat). It’s no exaggeration to say Bologna is the culinary heart of Italy. This is the home of classic Northern Italian pasta dishes that have become famous worldwide. Think rich, slow-cooked tagliatelle al ragù (the authentic version of what many call bolognese), delicate tortellini in brodo, and silky mortadella. To see this in action, just wander through the ancient food market of the Quadrilatero district, where the little streets are packed with stalls selling cheese, pasta and cured meats.
Finally, the city is known as La Rossa (the Red). This refers partly to the warm, red-tiled cityscape you can see from the top of the Asinelli Tower, one of the city’s iconic Two Towers. It also nods to Bologna’s historic reputation for left-leaning politics, which has shaped its culture of social consciousness and debate.
What is living in Bologna like?
Life in Bologna strikes a brilliant balance. People work hard, but they also make time for a proper lunch break or a relaxed aperitivo with friends in the evening. Students studying in Bologna also give the place an exciting, fresh feel. It’s a city that feels both productive and pleasantly unhurried.
One of the defining features of daily life here is how incredibly walkable it is. The historic centre is compact, and thanks to the endless porticoes, you can cross most of it on foot without ever worrying about the weather.
Beyond the student life in Bologna, the cultural scene is rich and always on. There are independent cinemas, fantastic bookshops, and a packed calendar of events and festivals. The city’s main opera house, the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, offers world-class performances, while smaller venues host live music and local theatre.
Pros and cons of living in Bologna
Bologna is a city that doesn’t hide its true colours, and life here comes with plenty of high points as well as a few quirks to be aware of.
Here are some of the pros of life in Bologna:
- An unbeatable food culture: food is woven into the fabric of daily life in Bologna, and there’s a deep sense of pride in the quality and tradition of the regional cuisine.
- A strategic location for travel: you can easily hop on a high-speed train and be in other major Italian cities in no time. High-speed trains from Bologna Centrale can get you to Florence in under 40 minutes, Milan in an hour, and Rome in two.
- A vibrant and authentic atmosphere: Bologna feels much more like a living, breathing city than a tourist theme park. It has a large student population and a strong local identity.
And a couple of the cons:
- The challenging climate: summers are often hot and very humid, while winters are frequently cold, damp, and shrouded in thick fog.
- A competitive housing market: finding a good place to live can be a challenge. The high demand from a large student body and professionals means the Bologna real estate market is competitive.
Cost of living in Bologna
When it comes to finances, the cost of living in Bologna is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s certainly not as expensive as Milan, but it’s a prosperous city, and prices reflect that.
Housing will be your biggest outlay. If you’re looking to buy, Bologna real estate prices averaged around €3,525 per m² in June 2025. For renters, the average rental price in Bologna across the city was about €17.8 per m² in the same month. This rises in the most desirable areas, with prices in the historic centre hitting around €20.4 per m². To put that in perspective, a typical 80m² apartment in the centre could cost you roughly €1,600 per month. For those on a tighter budget, it’s worth noting that studio flats in Bologna can start from around €650 per month, though you’ll need to be quick to snap one up.
As for day-to-day expenses, according to Numbeo, a cheap and cheerful meal at a trattoria will set you back about €20, while a more substantial dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant is likely to be in the region of €70. A coffee at the bar is usually under €2, and a beer is about €5. Even everyday basics add up, with a loaf of bread costing on average €2.50. On top of your rent, you should also budget for utility bills, which for gas, electricity and internet can come to around €200 a month.
Best neighbourhoods in Bologna
Finding the right spot to live in Bologna depends entirely on what you’re looking for, whether it’s historic charm, a bohemian buzz, or quiet residential streets.
Centro Storico
If you want to be right in the middle of the action, the historic centre is the place to be. Living here means having beautiful medieval architecture on your doorstep and being able to walk everywhere. The downside is that it’s the most expensive part of the city, can be noisy, and is mostly a ZTL (Restricted Traffic Zone), making car ownership impractical.
Bolognina
Just north of the train station, Bolognina (which means ‘little Bologna’) is the city’s edgy, up-and-coming district. It’s a real melting pot of cultures, known for its vibrant street art, independent workshops, and diverse food scene. It’s more affordable than the centre and has a distinctly bohemian vibe, making it popular with young professionals and creatives.
Murri / Toscana-Savena
Located to the southeast, these residential areas are perfect for those wanting a bit more peace and quiet. They are green, spacious, and popular with families thanks to the proximity of parks like the beautiful Giardini Margherita. You get more apartment for your money here, but you trade the central buzz for a calmer, more suburban pace of life.
Porta Saragozza
This is one of the most elegant and sought-after residential areas just outside the city walls. It has a refined, well-to-do atmosphere and is famous for the long portico that begins here and leads all the way up the hill to Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It offers a perfect balance of being close to the centre while feeling a world away from its busiest streets.
Living in Bologna as an expat
If you’re thinking of relocating, it’s worth knowing that the Bologna expats community isn’t as large or as visible as in other major Italian cities. You won’t find big “expat bubbles” here. Instead, the community is more integrated and often connected to the city’s core industries: academia, thanks to the university, and the high-tech automotive sector in the surrounding “Motor Valley”.
For anyone living in Bologna as a foreigner, and especially for Americans: learning Italian is not just a recommendation, it’s essential for a full life here. While you’ll find English speakers in the university and tourist-heavy areas, for day-to-day tasks like navigating bureaucracy or shopping at the local market, a good grasp of Italian is vital.
For families, the International School of Bologna offers an English-language curriculum, which can be a great anchor point for meeting other international families. For others, finding your community might mean joining online groups like InterNations or specific Bologna expat Facebook pages. University cities are also brilliant for language exchange evenings, often called a tandem, which are a fantastic way to practice your Italian and meet locals.
Is Bologna a good place to retire?
Bologna can be a wonderful place to retire, but it’s best suited to a certain kind of retiree. If you’re active, culturally curious, and value quality of life over guaranteed sunshine, it has a tremendous amount to offer.
- One of its strongest advantages is healthcare. The public health service in the Emilia-Romagna region is consistently ranked as one of the very best in Italy.
- The city itself is also wonderfully flat and walkable. Thanks to the miles of porticoes, you can get around easily on foot, sheltered from the elements, which is a significant plus for daily life.
- The wealth of museums, theatres, and libraries provides endless opportunities to stay engaged.
- The biggest hurdle for many is the climate. The hot, sticky summers and damp, foggy winters of the Po Valley are not for everyone, especially if you’re dreaming of a retirement filled with year-round sunshine.
- While the cost of living is more manageable than in other major Italian cities, it’s not a budget destination either, and housing costs can be a considerable part of a retirement budget.
Is Bologna or Florence nicer?
The two cities offer two very different Italian experiences. Florence is the undisputed queen of the Renaissance, an open-air museum of breathtaking beauty. Bologna, on the other hand, is Italy’s gritty, intellectual, foodie heartland.
The atmosphere in each city is worlds apart. Florence is undeniably spectacular, but its lifeblood is tourism. The city centre can feel incredibly crowded, and daily life often plays out against a backdrop of tour groups. Bologna feels more like a city for the people who live there. This difference is also reflected in the cost of living. Your money will definitely go further in Bologna. As of June 2025, property prices in Florence averaged a steep €4,492 per m², while rental prices stood at around €22.4 per m².
