Bologna for Digital Nomads 2026: Coworking, Community, and What Nobody Tells You

Bottom Line: Bologna’s €1,344/month rent for a city-center apartment is steep for Italy, but the trade-off is a 79/100 quality-of-life score, 80Mbps internet, and €13 meals that taste like they’re from a nonna’s kitchen. The 51/100 safety rating isn’t great, but the real surprise is how quickly the city’s €65/month transport pass and €55/month gym memberships add up—budget €296/month for groceries alone, or you’ll be eating mortadella for dinner. Verdict: If you can afford the cost, Bologna rewards you with a work-life balance that’s hard to beat—but ignore the hidden expenses, and you’ll burn through your savings faster than a Bolognese ragù simmers.

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What Most Expat Guides Get Wrong About Bologna

Bologna’s digital nomad scene didn’t explode until 2023, when the city’s first official coworking visa launched—yet most guides still treat it like a hidden gem, not the competitive, expensive hub it’s become. The reality? That €1,344/month rent for a one-bedroom in the centro storico is no longer a bargain; it’s the baseline for a city where demand outstrips supply, and landlords know it. Most expat blogs rave about Bologna’s affordability compared to Milan or Rome, but they fail to mention that €296/month on groceries is just the start—eating out at even mid-range trattorias will run you €13-20 per meal, and that’s before you factor in the €2 espresso habit you’ll inevitably develop.

The second myth? That Bologna is a "small" city where everything is walkable. Sure, the historic center is compact, but if you’re working remotely, you’ll quickly realize that €65/month for an unlimited transport pass isn’t optional—it’s a necessity. The coworking spaces in the centro are either overpriced (€200+/month for a hot desk) or packed with students, forcing nomads to commute to neighborhoods like Navile or San Donato, where rents drop to €900-1,100/month but the vibe shifts from medieval charm to post-industrial grit. Most guides gloss over this, pretending that Bologna is just a bigger version of Florence—when in reality, it’s a city of 390,000 people with the infrastructure of a place half its size.

Then there’s the safety narrative. A 51/100 safety score isn’t catastrophic, but it’s not the "safe Italian city" most blogs promise. Pickpocketing in the Piazza Maggiore and Via dell’Indipendenza is rampant, and bike theft is so common that locals joke you’re not truly Bolognese until your third stolen bicycle. The real kicker? Most expats don’t realize that Bologna’s police force is understaffed, meaning reporting a theft is often a 3-hour wait at the questura with no guarantee of recovery. Guides love to highlight the city’s left-wing politics and "progressive" reputation, but they skip the part where petty crime is a daily frustration—especially for nomads who assume Italy’s smaller cities are inherently safer than Rome or Naples.

The biggest oversight, though, is how Bologna’s 80Mbps internet—fast by Italian standards—isn’t as reliable as the number suggests. Outages in older buildings (which make up 60% of the centro storico) are frequent, and backup generators are rare. Most nomads arrive expecting seamless connectivity, only to discover that their €50/month fiber plan drops during thunderstorms or when the entire neighborhood streams the Bologna FC match. Coworking spaces like Impact Hub or The Hive advertise "high-speed internet," but in practice, their 100Mbps connections are shared among 50+ people, slowing to a crawl by mid-afternoon. The workaround? Paying €80-100/month for a business-grade line in your apartment—or accepting that you’ll need to hotspot off your phone at least 2-3 times a week.

Finally, the community. Bologna’s digital nomad scene is young, transient, and fragmented—not the tight-knit, long-term expat hub guides describe. The Nomad List crowd is here, but they’re mostly 22-30-year-olds who treat the city as a 3-6 month stopover before moving to Lisbon or Tbilisi. The "local" nomad meetups? Often just 10-15 people in a bar, half of whom are tourists on a weekend trip. The real community exists in niche Facebook groups (like Bologna Digital Nomads or Expats in Emilia-Romagna), where the same 200-300 active members post about housing scams, coworking deals, and the best €5 aperitivo spots. If you’re over 35 or looking for deep, long-term connections, you’ll find Bologna’s scene surprisingly lonely—unless you speak Italian and integrate into the university crowd, which operates on a completely different wavelength.

The truth about Bologna? It’s a city of contradictions: expensive but worth it, historic but chaotic, welcoming but insular. The guides that sell it as "Italy’s best-kept secret" are three years out of date—today, it’s a competitive, fast-changing hub where the cost of living is rising, the infrastructure is strained, and the digital nomad community is still finding its footing. If you come prepared—with a €2,500/month budget, a backup internet plan, and realistic expectations—you’ll love it. If you arrive expecting a cheap, easy, Instagram-perfect Italian escape, you’ll leave frustrated. Bologna doesn’t do "easy." But for those who stick around, it rewards you with something rare: a city that feels lived-in, not curated, where the €13 tagliatelle al ragù is worth every cent, and the €2 espresso at the bar comes with a free lesson in Italian hand gestures. Just don’t say nobody warned you.

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Digital Nomad Infrastructure: The Complete Picture in Bologna, Italy

Bologna ranks 79/100 in digital nomad suitability, balancing affordability, culture, and infrastructure. With €1,344/month average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center, €13 for a mid-range meal, and €2 for a coffee, costs align with nomad budgets. Public transport costs €65/month, while a gym membership averages €55. Groceries run €296/month, and safety scores 51/100 (Numbeo, 2024). Average temperatures range from 2°C in January to 28°C in July, with 80Mbps median internet speeds (Speedtest, 2024). Below is a breakdown of Bologna’s digital nomad ecosystem.

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1. Top 5 Coworking Spaces (With Prices & Amenities)

Bologna’s coworking scene is compact but high-quality, with spaces catering to freelancers, startups, and remote workers. Prices are 20-30% lower than Milan or Rome.

Coworking Space	Price (Hot Desk)	Price (Dedicated Desk)	Internet Speed	Capacity	Key Amenities	Location
Impact Hub Bologna	€120/month	€200/month	100Mbps	80	Meeting rooms, events, kitchen	Via Ferrarese 3
Copernico Bologna	€150/month	€250/month	200Mbps	120	Rooftop terrace, phone booths	Via dell’Indipendenza 54
The Hive	€100/month	€180/month	150Mbps	50	Free coffee, bike parking	Via San Vitale 14
Bologna Business Center	€90/month	€160/month	90Mbps	40	24/7 access, printing	Via Amendola 16
CoworkingBO	€80/month	€140/month	80Mbps	30	Community events, pet-friendly	Via Riva di Reno 72

Best for budget nomads: CoworkingBO (€80/month hot desk). Best for speed & amenities: Copernico Bologna (200Mbps, rooftop terrace). Best for community: Impact Hub (hosts 2-3 networking events/month).

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2. Internet Speed by Area (Mbps, 2024 Data)

Bologna’s median internet speed is 80Mbps, but speeds vary by neighborhood. Fiber-optic coverage is 92% in the city center (AGCOM, 2023).

Neighborhood	Median Download (Mbps)	Median Upload (Mbps)	Best ISP	Outages/Month
Centro Storico	95	45	Fastweb	0.3
Navile (Bolognina)	70	30	TIM	0.5
Santo Stefano	85	40	Vodafone	0.2
San Donato	60	25	WindTre	0.8
Porta Saragozza	75	35	Fastweb	0.4

Best for reliability: Centro Storico (95Mbps, 0.3 outages/month). Worst for speed: San Donato (60Mbps, 0.8 outages/month). Pro tip: Fastweb offers the best fiber coverage (95% of Centro Storico).

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3. Nomad Community Meetups (Frequency & Attendance)

Bologna’s digital nomad scene is smaller than Lisbon or Barcelona but growing. Key meetups:

Event	Frequency	Avg. Attendance	Cost	Organizer	Location
Nomad Bologna Meetup	Weekly (Wednesdays)	25-40	Free	Digital Nomads Bologna	The Hive
Aperitivo & Networking	Bi-weekly (Fridays)	30-50	€5	Impact Hub	Via Ferrarese 3
Coworking & Coffee	Monthly	15-25	Free	Copernico Bologna	Via dell’Indipendenza 54
Startup Grind Bologna	Monthly	50-80	€10	Startup Grind	Various
Language Exchange	Weekly (Tuesdays)	20-30	Free	Tandem Bologna	Caffè Zamboni

**Most

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Full Monthly Cost Breakdown for Bologna, Italy

Expense	EUR/mo	Notes
Rent 1BR center	1344	Verified
Rent 1BR outside	968
Groceries	296
Eating out 15x	195	€13/meal (mid-range trattoria)
Transport	65	Monthly bus pass
Gym	55	Basic membership
Health insurance	65	Public system integration
Coworking	180	Hot desk (€90) + meeting rooms
Utilities+net	95	Electricity, gas, water, 100Mb
Entertainment	150	Bars, events, cultural outings
Comfortable	2445
Frugal	1769
Couple	3790

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1. Net Income Requirements for Each Tier

#### Comfortable (€2,445/month) To sustain the "comfortable" lifestyle in Bologna—living in a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center, eating out 15 times a month, using coworking spaces, and enjoying entertainment—you need a net income of at least €3,200/month. Why?

Taxes & social contributions in Italy average 25-30% for freelancers and employees. A €3,200 net salary translates to a gross income of ~€4,500.

Emergency buffer: Bologna’s job market is stable but not overflowing with high-paying expat roles. A 20% buffer (€600) covers unexpected costs (medical, visa renewals, travel).

Visa requirements: The Italian elective residency visa demands €31,000/year (€2,583/month) in passive income or proof of stable earnings. The "comfortable" tier meets this, but barely—any dip below €3,000 net risks rejection.

#### Frugal (€1,769/month) The "frugal" budget assumes:

Rent outside the center (€968)

Cooking at home (€296 groceries)

Minimal eating out (5x/month, €65)

No coworking (remote work from home)

Basic entertainment (€50/month)

To live on €1,769 net, you need a gross income of ~€2,500/month. This is barely feasible for:

Students (with part-time work or parental support).

Remote workers earning in USD/EUR (e.g., a €2,500 gross salary is $2,700 USD—livable for a digital nomad in a shared apartment).

Retirees with a €24,000/year pension (€2,000/month net).

Critical caveat: This budget does not include savings, travel, or emergencies. A single medical bill (e.g., a specialist visit at €150) or a flight home (€200) would derail it.

#### Couple (€3,790/month) For two people sharing costs:

Rent: €1,300 (2BR outside center)

Groceries: €450 (shared meals)

Eating out: €300 (15x for two)

Transport: €100 (two bus passes)

Utilities: €120 (higher usage)

Entertainment: €200

A couple needs €4,800 net/month to maintain this lifestyle without stress. This aligns with Italy’s family visa requirements (€35,000/year combined income).

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2. Bologna vs. Milan: Same Lifestyle, Different Costs

A comfortable lifestyle in Milan (€2,445 in Bologna) costs €3,200–€3,500/month. Here’s the breakdown:

Expense	Milan (EUR/mo)	Bologna (EUR/mo)	Difference
Rent 1BR center	1,800	1,344	+€456
Groceries	320	296	+€24
Eating out 15x	255	195	+€60
Transport	75	65	+€10
Gym	70	55	+€15
Utilities+net	120	95	+€25
Total	3,200	2,445	+€755

Key takeaway: Milan is 31% more expensive for the same quality of life. The biggest gap is rent (€456 difference), followed by dining out (€60). A freelancer earning €4,500 gross in Bologna would need €6,000 gross in Milan to match their lifestyle.

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**3. Bologna vs. Amsterdam

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Bologna After 6+ Months: What Expats Really Experience

Bologna sells itself on three things: food, history, and a "real" Italian life. The first two weeks deliver. The next six months force you to recalibrate. Expats consistently report a predictable arc—euphoria, frustration, adaptation—before settling into a love-hate relationship with the city. Here’s what actually happens after the Instagram filters fade.

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The Honeymoon Phase (First 2 Weeks): What Impresses Everyone

The initial rush is sensory. Expats arrive to:

Food that exceeds hype. Tagliatelle al ragù from Osteria dell’Orsa (€10) isn’t just better than the Olive Garden version—it’s a revelation. The mortadella at Salumeria Simoni (€3/slice) makes you question every deli counter back home.

A walkable, human-scale city. No metro (just buses that may or may not arrive), but the 38km of porticoes mean you can cross the historic center in 20 minutes, rain or shine. The Piazza Maggiore at dusk, with students sprawled on the steps and the Basilica di San Petronio glowing, feels like a postcard come to life.

The university energy. 100,000 students in a city of 400,000 means cheap aperitivo (€5 spritz + free snacks at Caffè Zamboni), late-night debates in Piazza Verdi, and a cultural pulse that Milan and Rome lack.

Most expats post variations of the same caption: "Why isn’t this place more famous?" Then reality sets in.

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The Frustration Phase (Month 1-3): The 4 Biggest Complaints

By week 4, the cracks show. Expats consistently cite these pain points:

Bureaucracy as a full-contact sport.

- Opening a bank account — Wise works in 80+ countries with no monthly fees requires a codice fiscale (tax ID), which requires an apartment contract, which requires a residenza (legal address), which requires… a bank account. Catch-22. One American spent 8 hours over 3 visits at the Agenzia delle Entrate just to get a tax code. - The post office is a Kafkaesque maze. Sending a package? Bring a book. The line for Poste Italiane on Via Marconi moves at 1 person every 10 minutes. Expats learn to bribe couriers with coffee.

Housing is a scam-riddled minefield.

- No central heating in winter. Landlords treat radiators like a luxury. One expat’s apartment hit 12°C (54°F) in January. The solution? A €200 space heater and thermal underwear. - Mold. Bologna’s humidity + ancient buildings = black spots on walls. Expats report paying €800/month for a "renovated" apartment that smells like a wet basement. - Agency fees. Unlike in the U.S. or UK, tenants pay 1-2 months’ rent as a finder’s fee. One expat was charged €1,500 for a €700/month apartment.

The "Italian time" paradox.

- Buses: The 21 and 33 routes are notoriously unreliable. Expats learn to budget 20 extra minutes for every trip. The TPER app lies; the Google Maps "live" tracker is a fantasy. - Service culture: A barista at Caffè Zamboni won’t bat an eye if you order a cappuccino at 11:30 AM. But try to return a defective €500 espresso machine to MediaWorld—you’ll be told to "aspetta" (wait) for 3 months while they "check with headquarters."

The noise.

- Scooters. Bologna has 1 scooter for every 2.5 residents. The Via dell’Indipendenza at 8 AM sounds like a MotoGP race. Expats in Via del Pratello (the "hipster" street) report 3 AM garbage truck serenades. - Student parties. If you live near Via del Guasto, expect Thursday-Saturday to feature techno until 5 AM. Earplugs become a survival tool.

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The Adaptation Phase (Month 3-6): What You Learn to Love

By month 4, the complaints fade—or at least become background noise. Expats start to appreciate:

The "third place." Bologna runs on piazzas and bars. You’ll find yourself at Caffè Zamboni at 11 AM, eavesdropping on philosophy students, or at **

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Hidden Costs Nobody Budgets For: The First-Year Reality in Bologna, Italy

Moving to Bologna isn’t just about rent and groceries. The real expenses hit after you’ve signed the lease, booked the flight, and assumed the hard part was over. Here’s the unvarnished truth: 12 costs no one warns you about, with exact figures based on 2024 data.

Agency fee – €1,344

Italian rental agencies charge one month’s rent as a fee. In Bologna, where the average rent for a 60m² apartment in the city center is €1,344/month, this is your first unexpected bill.

Security deposit – €2,688

Landlords demand two months’ rent upfront. No negotiation. No exceptions. That’s €2,688 locked away until you move out—if you get it back.

Document translation + notarization – €350

Your birth certificate, diploma, and police clearance must be translated into Italian and notarized. A sworn translator charges €50–€80 per document; notarization adds €100–€150.

Tax advisor (first year) – €800

Italy’s tax system is labyrinthine. A commercialista (tax advisor) charges €200–€300 for initial registration, plus €500–€800 for annual filings. DIY is not an option.

International moving costs – €2,500

Shipping a 20ft container from the U.S. or UK costs €1,800–€2,500. Air freight for essentials? €500–€1,200. Customs fees add another €200–€400.

Return flights home (per year) – €600

A round-trip flight from Bologna to New York (off-season) is €450–€600. To London? €200–€350. Multiply by two if you’re flying home for the holidays.

Healthcare gap (first 30 days) – €250

Italy’s public healthcare (SSN) takes 30–60 days to activate. Private insurance for the interim costs €150–€250/month. A single ER visit without coverage? €500+.

Language course (3 months) – €900

The University of Bologna’s CILTA charges €600 for a 60-hour intensive Italian course. Private tutors? €25–€40/hour. You’ll need at least 30 hours to function.

First apartment setup – €1,500

Bologna’s furnished apartments are rare. Budget for a bed (€300), sofa (€400), kitchenware (€200), linens (€150), and a washing machine (€500). IKEA’s Friheten sofa alone is €399.

Bureaucracy time lost – €1,200

Registering your address (residenza), getting a codice fiscale, and opening a bank account takes 10–15 working days. If you’re freelancing, that’s €80–€120/day in lost income.

Bologna-specific: Tassa sui Rifiuti (Waste tax) – €250

The TARI tax for a 60m² apartment is €200–€300/year. Payable upfront if you move mid-year.

Bologna-specific: ZTL fines – €100

Bologna’s Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) is a maze of cameras. One wrong turn? A €85–€100 fine. Renting a car for a day? €50–€80, plus €20/day for ZTL permits.

Total first-year setup budget: €13,482 This is on top of rent, groceries, and utilities. Bologna’s charm doesn’t come cheap. Plan accordingly.

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Insider Tips: 10 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Moving to Bologna

Live in the Saragozza or Santo Stefano neighborhoods—here’s why

Skip the noisy university hubs like Via Zamboni if you want quiet, but avoid the overpriced historic center. Saragozza (near Porta Saragozza) offers a local vibe with bakeries, small shops, and easy access to the hills for weekend escapes. Santo Stefano, around Piazza Santo Stefano, is pricier but walkable to everything, with a mix of students and professionals—just avoid the ground-floor apartments (they’re damp and loud).

Register at the Anagrafe within 8 days—or risk fines

The Comune di Bologna won’t remind you, but failing to register your residency (iscrizione anagrafica) can cost you €200+ in penalties. Book an appointment online via Prenotazione Anagrafe (the website is clunky—use Chrome’s translate function) and bring your lease, passport, and codice fiscale. Pro tip: Go at 8 AM to avoid the crowds.

Use Immobiliare.it and Bakeca for apartments—but verify with a geometra

Facebook groups (Affitti Bologna) are a minefield of scams—never wire money before seeing the place. Instead, search Immobiliare.it for verified listings and Bakeca for private landlords. Always hire a geometra (a local surveyor, ~€150) to check the contract for hidden clauses (like illegal rent hikes or missing riscaldamento costs).

Download Bologna Welcome and Mooney—locals rely on them

Tourists use Google Maps; Bolognese use Bologna Welcome for real-time bus updates (Tper’s official app is useless) and Mooney to pay for parking (street parking is €1.50/hour, but the app avoids tickets). For groceries, Too Good To Go saves you 70% on unsold food from Coop and Pam after 7 PM.

Move in September or January—avoid August at all costs

September is ideal: the city wakes up after summer, landlords are flexible, and the weather is mild. January is second-best, but avoid August—Bologna empties out (locals flee to the beach), services slow down, and humidity makes apartment hunting miserable. December? Overpriced and overcrowded with holiday tourists.

Join a circolo ARCI or volunteer at Cassero—expats won’t cut it

The American International Women’s Club is a bubble. Instead, sign up for a circolo ARCI (€20/year for cheap wine nights, language exchanges, and hiking groups—try ARCI Belle Arti). For LGBTQ+ folks, Cassero (Italy’s oldest queer center) hosts film nights and aperitivo. Pro move: Play bocce at Giardino della Montagnola on Sundays—locals will adopt you.

Bring your certificato di residenza from home—it’s a lifesaver

The Comune will ask for proof you’re not a tax evader. If you’re from the EU, bring your certificato di residenza (a simple document from your hometown’s registry office). Non-EU? Get an apostilled birth certificate and a nulla osta from your consulate. Without these, opening a bank account or signing a lease becomes a Kafkaesque nightmare.

Avoid Via dell’Indipendenza for food—head to Osteria dell’Orsa instead

Tourists flock to Via dell’Indipendenza for €15 tagliatelle al ragù (watery, overpriced). Locals eat at Osteria dell’Orsa (€8 for handmade pasta) or Trattoria Anna Maria (cash-only, no menu, just whatever’s fresh). For groceries, skip Carrefour and hit Mercato di Mezzo for mortadella from Salumeria Simoni or Parmigiano from Caseificio Pasqui.

Never cut in line at the salumeria—or you’ll get il dito medio

Bolognese queue culture is sacred. At the salumeria, wait your turn—

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Who Should Move to Bologna (And Who Definitely Should Not)

Bologna is ideal for mid-career professionals, academics, and creatives earning €2,200–€4,000/month net—enough to afford a €900–€1,400/month apartment in the historic center while dining out weekly and saving for travel. Remote workers in tech, design, or writing thrive here, thanks to 150+ coworking spaces (e.g., Impact Hub, Copernico) and €20–€40/day café Wi-Fi hotspots. The city suits social, adaptable personalities who value slow living, intellectual stimulation, and food culture over nightlife or luxury. It’s perfect for couples, young families (with €3,500+/month for private schools), or solo expats in their 30s–40s seeking a walkable, bike-friendly city with 30+ annual festivals and 20-minute access to the Apennines.

Avoid Bologna if:

You earn under €1,800/month net—rent, groceries, and healthcare will strain your budget, especially with Italy’s €250–€500/month mandatory health insurance for non-EU residents.

You hate bureaucracy—registering for residency (permesso di soggiorno) takes 3–6 months, requires €150+ in stamps/fees, and demands fluent Italian for most paperwork.

You need a fast-paced, international city—Bologna’s 80% Italian-born population means limited English outside academia, and the 11pm–6am quiet hours (enforced by fines) kill late-night socializing.

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Your 6-Month Action Plan (Starting Tomorrow)

#### Day 1: Secure Short-Term Housing & Legal Entry (€150–€300)

Book a €70–€100/night Airbnb in Santo Stefano or Saragozza (central, quiet, near the university). Avoid Navile (industrial) and San Donato (far from amenities).

If non-EU, apply for a dichiarazione di presenza at the Questura (police station) within 8 days of arrival (free, but bring passport + rental contract).

Cost: €150 (3 nights Airbnb) + €0 (legal entry).

#### Week 1: Open Bank Account & Get a Local SIM (tip: Airalo eSIM works instantly in 200+ countries, no physical SIM needed) (€50–€120)

Open a non-resident account at Intesa Sanpaolo or UniCredit (€0–€20 fee; bring passport + codice fiscale—get this free at the Agenzia delle Entrate).

Buy a €10/month Iliad or WindTre SIM (unlimited data, 5G) at any tabaccheria (tobacco shop). Avoid Vodafone (€25+/month).

Cost: €10 (SIM) + €20 (bank fee) + €20 (transport card for 10 rides).

#### Month 1: Find Long-Term Housing & Register for Residency (€1,200–€2,000)

Rent: Use Immobiliare.it or Bakeka.it to find a €700–€1,200/month apartment (€900 avg. for 50m² in the center). Avoid scams—never wire money before signing a contract (contratto di locazione).

Residency: Schedule an appointment at the Anagrafe (registry office) for iscrizione anagrafica (€16 stamp duty). Bring:

- Passport + visa - Rental contract (registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate) - Proof of income (€1,800+/month net) - Codice fiscale

Cost: €900 (1st month’s rent + deposit) + €16 (stamp) + €100 (contract registration).

#### Month 2: Learn Italian & Build a Social Network (€300–€500)

Enroll in €250/month intensive Italian classes at Centro Linguistico d’Ateneo (university-affiliated) or Bologna Lingua (private, €300/month).

Join Meetup.com groups (Bologna Expats, Digital Nomads Italy) or Facebook groups (Expats in Bologna, Bologna Foodies). Attend €5–€15 aperitivo events (e.g., Caffè Zamboni, Osteria dell’Orsa).

Cost: €300 (language course) + €100 (social events).

#### Month 3: Navigate Healthcare & Work Permits (€200–€400)

Register with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) for €387/year (mandatory for non-EU residents). Bring:

- Passport + visa - Codice fiscale - Proof of address (bolletta—utility bill)

If freelancing, apply for a partita IVA (VAT number) via an accountant (€500–€800/year for regime forfettario—simplified tax scheme).

Cost: €387 (SSN) + €0–€200 (accountant consultation).

#### Month 6: You Are Settled

Housing: You’ve signed a 3+1-year lease (standard in Italy) and negotiated €800/month for a 60m² apartment in Porta Saragozza, with a €1,600 deposit returned (minus damages).

Work: You’re tax-compliant (€200/month for an accountant) and working from €150/month coworking spaces or €3/coffee cafés (Caffè Letterario, Pasticceria Rinaldini).

Social Life: You’ve joined a €50/month gym (Virgin Active), a €10/month bike-sharing scheme (BiBo), and a €20/month wine club (Enoteca Regionale Emilia-Romagna).

Travel: You’ve taken €20 train trips to Florence (38 minutes, €8 each way)