In this report, I will share the Cost to Retire in Bari Italy including rents, utilities, groceries, restaurants, transportation, and other expenses for low to middle-range living costs. If you have deep pockets, the sky is the limit in Italy, but is it still possible on a tighter budget?
As I share what we learned on this trip to Italy, I will show you the video that Qiang and I took while our feet were on the ground here.
Before I left the United States in 2007, I was going to retire at age 55. The goal was to spend 9 months of each year in the USA and travel the world the other 3 months of the year. I was always interested in Italy because of its culture, food, and history.
This was my fourth visit to Italy. The previous three visits were over a decade ago to Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Venice, all were expensive and too touristy. This time, I decided to visit one of the cheaper less known areas of Italy.
While traveling south through Eastern Europe, we decided to take a ferry from Albania to the heel of the boot in Italy called Puglia. Puglia is one of the areas in Italy where smaller cities have begun to sell abandoned homes for almost nothing.
The ferry landed in Puglia, Italy in a town called Bari.
Bari was colonized by Rome in the 3rd century before Christ. Before that, it was an ancient Greek City. Bari is located in the upper heel of the Italian Boot in the Puglia region. Bari is the largest city in this part of Italy and has a large port that receives ferries and commercial shipping.
When the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, Bari became a revolving door of one invading force after another including the Byzantine Empire and various other city-states for 15 centuries until it eventually fell back under the control of modern Italy at the end of World War II.
Today, Bari is the most important city economically in the mainland southern part of Italy. Bari City proper has a population of about 315,000 people, and the surrounding urban area has about 750,000 people.
In this report, I will share my retirement desirability factors such as Visa, Medical, Walkability, Internet, Food, Weather, Things to Do, Social considerations, Expat Community, Real Estate, and My Overall Retirement Desirability Score.
But first, I want to share my estimated costs of living converted into US dollars if the two of us moved to Bari Italy year-round on a tight budget. We will also include more typical expenses that other ex-pats would spend to give you another data point.
Estimated Cost Retire in Bari Italy
Rents: I found this furnished studio Apartment advertised today for rent for 650 Euros ($669 USD) per month for a long-term lease agreement in the city center. If you rent for a shorter period on Airbnb it would be much more expensive.
If you rent a larger apartment long term the rent would be higher, starting around $997 USD per month on up depending upon area and size.
Here is the process we use to find great apartments. So, we will show you a table of all expenses in a moment. We will use $669 per month for our lower rent estimate and $997 per month for the middle cost of living estimate for expats who want a little more space space.
If you are willing to ride public transportation or a car 30 minutes outside of central. You could easily save 20 to 30%.
Utilities: We estimate that the year-round average for our utilities would be about $92 USD per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $125 USD per month.
Groceries: When possible, we would purchase fruits and vegetables from the Farmer’s Market, small shops, and street vendors to save money. But we would also shop in grocery stores for nonperishable foods and other things like shampoo and detergents. We estimate about $400 per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to shop more often in expensive grocery stores often spending more than $500 per month on groceries.
Restaurants: We would eat out twice per week mostly in more local-style restaurants a few blocks back from the tourist areas for about $13 to $16 USD per meal per person and one or two splurges per month of $22 to 28 USD per meal per person. If you add all that up, we would spend around $340 per month for the two of us in restaurants We may have a beer here and there, but that is covered below in alcohol.
Other expats are likely to eat more often at expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, so they would likely spend more like $480 per month for 2 people in restaurants. It is lifestyle-dependent.
Cell Phone Data: The cost to get a prepaid SIM card for your unlocked smartphone is about $26 USD per month.
Other expat couples are likely to buy two prepaid SIM cards so they would send $52 USD per month.
Laundry: Our apartment in Bari had no washing machine, so we found a laundry that would wash and dry our laundry for 10 Euros per load. We would need 4 loads per month which would be 40 Euros, or $42 USD per month. Or we could buy a clothes washing machine because at $42 USD per month, the washing machine would pay for itself pretty quickly.
Drinking Water: We didn’t see reverse osmosis delivery in 20-liter jugs here so we would probably get a Brita water filter for the refrigerator. The filter refills would be about $5 USD per month. Actually, we have been traveling with the same Brita Water filter as we hea south through Europw.
Internet: 80 MBPS up and down is about $26 USD for in-home wifi.
Transportation: Bari has the local public transportation monthly pass (AMTAB) which is for buses that run all over the city for $34 per month per person, or $68 per month for a couple. We walked everywhere because we were exploring would Bari Central, where we would live if we moved here. But we also explored other cities in Puglia, which we traveled to by train. The costs for those trains are covered in the do-it-yourself tours we cover below.
Alcohol (Optional): Domestic beer (Birra Weizen) in the LIDL grocery store in Bari is 0.69 Euros for a half liter. That works out to be about $0.55 USD for a standard-size can of beer in the USA. In bars and restaurants, domestic beer ranges from around $3 to $6 USD. So, we estimate about $120 per month on alcohol for the two of us.
Many other expats would spend a higher amount for imported foreign or craft beers in convenience stores, bars, and restaurants bars, so we estimate about $300 USD per month for 2 people assuming they do not drink imported whiskey or wine.
Entertainment (Optional): We would budget about $200 per month for entertainment for the two of us. We generally enjoy doing more do-it-yourself kinds of entertainment so other expats would spend a little more, maybe $300 per month, for 2 of them?
Estimated Costs Retire in Bari Italy
|
Bari Italy |
Lower (USD) |
Middle (USD) |
|
Rent |
669 |
997 |
|
Utilities |
92 |
125 |
|
Groceries |
400 |
500 |
|
Restaurants |
340 |
480 |
|
Cell Data |
26 |
52 |
|
Laundry |
42 |
42 |
|
Drinking Water |
5 |
5 |
|
Internet |
26 |
26 |
|
Transportation |
68 |
68 |
|
Total |
$1668 |
$2295 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alcohol |
120 |
300 |
|
Optional Total |
$1788 |
$2595 |
|
|
|
|
|
Entertainment |
200 |
300 |
|
Optional Total |
$1988 |
$2895 |
We gathered this data with our feet on the ground here in August of 2024 so adjust for inflation after that. The above lower estimated cost of living would be if the two of us lived in Bari on a tight budget. The middle estimate is just an example of what more typical expats might spend if they moved here.
To understand what it would cost you to live here, you must put your feet on the ground, see how you would choose to live, eat, and entertain yourself, and add it all up. It doesn’t matter what anyone else spends because we are all different.
So, what would it cost you to live in Bari Italy?
To get a better understanding of things you should add to our estimated cost of living watch this video: 9 Reasons You Can’t Retire You Can’t Retire Cheap Overseas.
Most people will likely be unable to retire for the lower range estimate above. I give example reasons in this report. Plus, this other report explains how to avoid coming home early with your tail between your legs.
Also, if you are going to try to retire cheap offshore, make sure to read my report, the Two Biggest Risks of Retiring Early for Cheap Offshore, which explains why you should have emergency funds available for unexpectedly large expenses.
You should also add anything to the above table that you spend money on in your home country that is not listed in the above table. Presumably, you find those things necessary in life. To do that, visit the Numbeo Bari and add anything not mentioned in the above table. Anything not on Numbeo you should add during your exploratory visit before moving to Bari.
Never move anywhere until you have visited first personally to verify the living costs for your lifestyle and needs. I am not guaranteeing these prices. These are just my notes and estimates from the time of my visit and this post. Your costs will likely be drastically different depending on your lifestyle and the time since this post.
Many of the expats we meet living overseas are self-insured for medical care. That means that not everyone buys health insurance when they move overseas. That probably sounds crazy to many of you.
I didn’t carry medical insurance for most of my first 17 years living overseas. But last year I bought medical insurance. If you are wondering what it costs and what it covers, watch my medical insurance video at this link. This is not an affiliate link.
More typical expat living costs in Bari Italy range from about $2500 to $5000 per month. But people spending that much often have higher savings, incomes, or pensions. They often report spending more on accommodations, entertainment, eating out more, traveling, and alcohol. Many also have more expensive cars, houses, or apartments.
Bari Italy Livability Factors
Before you move anywhere outside your home country, make sure to create a list of things that you must have for your happy retirement. Here are my livability factors and I will rank each as high, medium, or low before assigning an overall retirement desirability score to Bari.
Walkability: High. We walked everywhere in Bari. The part of Bari we love is so centralized that we would rarely need to walk more than 30 minutes to get where we needed to for everyday purposes. Plus, walking is the healthiest way to stay in shape as we age.
Internet: High. The in-home wifi in our apartment was 53 MBPS down and 28 MBPS up. Good enough for us to do Zoom calls, upload YouTube videos, and watch Netflix. We were also able to use our cell phones as hot spots when we were out of the house together.
Food: Medium. The restaurants in tourist areas are priced higher than restaurants 4 to 6 blocks away. You will find small family-owned restaurants in neighborhoods a few blocks back with dishes for 8 to 12 Euros ($9 to $13 USD). If we lived here, we would have a tendency to cook more than we would in other parts of the world in order to keep our total food budget within reason.
Weather: High. Daily highs average from 55F (13C) in January up to 86F (30C) in July. Nightly lows average from 40F (4C) in January to 68F (20C) in July. The best weather is May through August. The rainy season is September through April, with November receiving the most rain.
Things to Do: High. Luckily, Bari is not one of the hottest tourist spots in Italy. Those spots have become a challenge for the locals these days, especially during the high season. Being around people on holiday can be good because they are excited and want to try new things, party, have fun, and spend money. But it can be bad because it tends to force prices higher and having people everywhere can get annoying. Our favorite thing to do in Bari is walking around Central while enjoying this ancient charming city and its beautiful people. Bari has everything you would expect in a beautiful ancient city on the Adriatic Sea, such as swimming, scuba, beaches, boat tours, kayaking, stand-up boarding, live music, people watching, nightlife, professional soccer, cultural tours, coffee shops, tennis courts, shopping, opera, symphony, golf and a ton of documented ancient history.
Social Considerations: English is not widely spoken in Bari, it is not unusual to find English speakers in tourist-facing businesses, especially in Central Bari. If you intend to retire here, you should learn some Italian for a fuller life. I have met many expats overseas who have used Duolingo, the free language smartphone application, to learn many different languages.
Safety Considerations: Other than day trips to nearby cities, we spent all of our time exploring Central Bari. We felt safe there. Online, we read that Bari is generally a safe city with the exception of petty crime like pickpocketing Crime is fairly rare in Bari and is mostly limited to petty crime. Nothing valuable should be in an unsecured pocket, front or back, and don’t leave valuables out in the open. Also, the US State Department issues travel advisories for each part of the world which you should be aware of. Italy is level 2 right now, “Excercise Increase Caution.” We often travel to level 2 locations, so this was not a concern for us, but you should be aware nevertheless. Here are my thoughts on how to remain safe all over the world.
Expat Community: Here is a Facebook page that caters explicitly to English-speaking expats living in Bari. These online expat communities are great for learning things that expats want to learn when they first move overseas. You will often find that someone has answered your questions recently so don’t waste their time by asking it again before searching for and reading already answered questions. Here is another Facebook Page for all of Puglia (the heel of the boot) in case you have a more regional question for this part of Italy.
Medical: Medical: High. This healthcare international comparison index ranks Italy 17th in the world, which is dramatically better than the United States which ranks 69th. There are different ways healthcare is rated, but this one seems to be considering not only the quality of care but also what patients are charged.
If you decide to move here, make sure to ask around for referrals and establish relationships with doctors for your special needs based on the feedback you have gotten from others who have used their services. The above Expats Facebook pages may be a good source for that information.
Also, the best insurance prices and coverage are often local. So get a few quotes from local insurance agents you find by asking expats on the above Facebook pages.
Tourist Visa: High. Italy is in the Schengen visa area. A visa-free entry is still allowed for Americans and other citizens of some non-EU nations for a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. To know if you are a citizen of one of the visa-free entry countries check on this webpage. However, entry into the EU will eventually require an online registration (ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)) so double-check when and if that registration has been enacted before booking any nonrefundable tickets. We were both allowed visa-free entry and had both proof of exit (ferry back to Albania) and accommodations ready to show officials upon entry into Italy but they did not ask to see either.
Retirement Visa: There is no retirement visa for Italy. However, residency is easy if you are from a favored nation like the USA and many others. The US Embassy review of Italian law states, “Americans must have an entrance visa which should be obtained at an Italian consulate before coming to Italy, in order to remain in Italy more than three months and gain resident status. This procedure will take several weeks to complete so it is advisable to apply well in advance of the departure date. The visa will be granted only for the time indicated on the application. Americans already in Italy without a visa will have to leave Italy to obtain one before they will be able to gain resident status.” That webpage also shares example requirements for permanent residency such as proof of some Italian language and cultural knowledge within two years, criminal report, proof of financial ability to maintain yourself, and various documents.
To obtain a 12-month residence permit in Italy requires showing around €31,000 passive income from investments or retirement funds, which is considered the minimum amount needed to show financial stability for a year-long stay, and can be extended for multiple years.
You can probably do this yourself, but if you want a lawyer …. Rather than promoting any particular immigration lawyer I read about online, I would request a referral to a lawyer on one of the Expat Facebook pages I shared above. I would ask the expats for an immigration lawyer who they have already successfully used to get their residence permits for Italy. I would not pay someone to help get me residency until I have confirmation from an expat who used their services to successfully gain residency.
Real Estate: Apparently, Americans and foreigners from many other nations can still own land in Italy. I found this apartment online for $147,000 USD right in the most central part of central Bari.
I would not buy real estate in a foreign country until I have lived there for an extended period of time making sure I loved it after the honeymoon period. I have a report explaining what to look out for and why. I would also hire a lawyer who has no conflict of interest with me. Do not use a lawyer recommended by your real estate broker or your local lover. I would seek a referral from an expat who has used that lawyer’s services to successfully buy real estate in Bari.
Bari Italy Overall Retirement Desirability Score: High. I love this part of Italy. It is cheaper and less crowded with tourism. Plus it has that beautiful walking lifestyle that Europe excels at that is missing from my home country. But subscribe now because the next few places I share in Italy, I love even more.
Bari Italy Old Town Walking Tour
Google Map (of Walking Tour)
Piazza del Ferrarese was opened in 1612 and is one of the main squares in Bari and is named after a 17th-century merchant active in its development. Located in the historic center of the city, in addition to having an important history and being a destination for many tourists, it is also the heart of Bari’s nightlife.
Piazza Mercantile (Merchant Square) is the commercial and political heart of Bari. Many of the buildings in the square were updated or rebuilt after explosions and fire in 1601. A gate was opened to Piazza del Ferrarese at the time consolidating this part of the city as the business center of Bari. The Pine Cone Fountain has a relief of the Madonna.
The Basilica of Saint Nicholas was built in the 12th century and is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Christmas fame. Saint Nicolas was born in the 3rd century and was a prolific miracle worker and the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, unmarried, and students.
Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale (Bari Cathedral) was constructed between the late 12th and late 13th centuries and was built on the site of the ruins of the Imperial Byzantine cathedral destroyed in 1156 by William the Wicked of Sicily. It is still possible to observe traces of the original 6th century church in the pavement which extends under the nave.
La Via delle Orecchiette: Local families make and sell ear-shaped Orecchiette pasta on the tables along the street named “Ears Pasta Street.”
“Cavallo con Gualdrappa”: Beautiful horse sculpture created by Marco Ceroli and donated to Bari to be placed in this beautiful Plaza by Popular Bank of Bari.
Murales 108: This stop is just our way of showing you the walk along the Adriatic Sea. But if you pass here and keep walking along the beach this way, you will eventually end up at one of the small but popular beaches (here).
Arbellobello Italy and Polignano Beach Day Trip
Arbellobello is a small town of about 10k people about one hour from Bari Italy in the heel of the Italian boot. Wikipedia.
We took the 1 hour bus to Alberobello from this bus station in Bari Italy for 5 Euros per person.
Arbellobello is famous for the construction of the homes. They are smaller circular homes built of stone but no mortar. Because of the story and unique construction, Arbellobello was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
The Count of d’Aragone allowed these unique homes to be built on the land in return for 10% of the crops the farmers grew on the surrounding land. The requirement that the homes use no mortar was so the Count could avoid paying permanent building taxes to the King of Naples.
The homes were built in the 16th century. However, the construction was an ancient Greek method of building called Trulli. They were built of dry stone construction so that they could be dismantled quickly when tax inspectors were in the area.
Here is the Google Map of the path we walked in Alberobello:
Even if you eat here, the town is so small, you will be done in about 3 hours total. We decided to go in the early morning so we would have time to go to the beach in Polignano in the afternoon.
When you have finished in Arbellobello, just walk back to the spot on the above map where the bus drops you. Ask the attendant at the bus stop which bus goes to Polignano. Keep the language simple. Just say, “Polignano?” They will tell you when it arrives.
When the bus drops you in Polignano, just walk to this famous beach (Lama Monachile) and go for a swim. When you are done enjoying the beach, just walk into the castle (Arco Marchesale) and enjoy your good fortune without a care in the world.
When you are ready to go home, walk over to the Train Station (Polignano Train Station) and head back to Bari Central.
Monopoli Day Trip and Old Town Walking Tour
Monopoli is a town in the southern part of Italy that was first settled in about 500 BC. If you look at a map of Italy, Monopoli is near the bottom of the map at the heel of the boot. Monopoli sits on the Adriatic Sea across from the northern part of Greece.
Monopoli has a population of about 50k people and is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Bari Italy. Its economy is primarily based on agriculture, industry, and tourism.
By the 15th century, Monopoli was under Venetian rule when its economy flourished as a seaport on the Adriatic Sea. Frequent attacks by Muslim pirates forced Monopoli to build strong fortifications which later allowed it to resist a Spanish attack for three months. Later, Monopoli passed peacefully into the hands of the Spanish imperials of Charles V of Habsburg.
However, in 1860 Monopoli became part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy resulting in its population tripling to its current size steadily during the intervening years.
From Bari, the train to Monopoli takes about 50 minutes and runs multiple times per day. Once you have arrived in Monopoli, use this Google Map to see our favorite parts of Monopoli.
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II: was built in the 18th Century in the central square of Monopoli.
Chiesa e Monastero di San Martino has existed since the 10th century AD in an earlier form. It was rebuilt after a Spanish siege in 1529 and the monastery was added in 1620.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Madia was constructed in 1742. Under the current Cathedral, the remains of the Romanesque crypt are still preserved. The crypt below includes archaeological evidence of humans from the 16th century BC.
The Museum of the Crypt of Romualdo includes important evidence found in the crypts and is open to the public.
Castle of Charles the 5th: was finished in 1525, and was originally separated from the medieval city. The castle was restored and enlarged during the 17th century and was later used as a jail in the 19th Century until 1969. Today the castle functions as a venue for the arts and cultural events.
Where we stayed in Bari Italy (and Transfers)
We stayed at this apartment on Airbnb for one week for $70 USD/night plus Airbnb cleaning fees, because I wanted to be within walking distance of everything in Central Bari. If we moved here and signed a long-term lease, I would expect to pay about one-third of that nightly rate, as I show above under the cost of living rents.
How we got to Bari Italy from Durres Albania
We took the overnight Ventouris Ferry from Durres Albania to Bari Italy for $174 USD which included a small state room for the night. The taxi to our Airbnb accommodations was 25 Euros. They do not have Grab or Uber in Italy. But we had heavy luggage. If you walk it is only about 15 minutes depending on where your accommodations are located.
Restaurants, Services
Restaurants, Bars (Euros E)
Mamapulia: Cheese breakfast with Egg 8, Cappucino 1.8
Antò – Cucina tipica pugliese: Assassi spaghetti 13, Mussel soup 10, beer 3.50, Aperol 6, covercharge 2
Il Rustico: 12 euro. Plenty of starters (Cheese, ham, olive, etc) 1 beer, 1 gelato, 1 Limoncello, 1 pizza
The Risto Pazzeria: Greek salad 10, Wine 0.5L 6, Water 1L 2, Bufalina pizza 6, tableware fee 3
Se Ti Va: 2 scoop gelato 3.20 euro
El Pedro: Buffet style local eatery, they let us mix 3 pasta for 5 euros, beer 2.5
El Chiringuito: Draft beer small 1.50
Alla Barese: Only recommend pasta 12, wine per glass 6
Vittoria – Cafe & bar: Gelato 2 favors 4.50, Aperol cocktail 6
C House Bakery Cafè: Cappuccino 1.5, croissant 1.5
Services/Markets:
Lidl Grocery Store: Our favorite Western-style grocery store with better prices.
Supermercato dok: Our second favorite grocery store.
Trains: Learn train schedules here but buy your tickets at the Bari Central train station. Arrive at the train station at least 3o minutes before your train so you have time to buy and find the platform. The ticket counter employees spoke English with us.
Fermata Bus Largo Sorrentino: The bus station to Alberobello is just a counter inside this convenience store.
Smartphone SIM Card: WindTre Store: Where we got the local SIM card for our smartphone. 25 Euro, 30days, 100GB.
Laundry: Lava studio: 10 euro/wash/dry/fold – small size machine