The Best Places in Italy to Buy a Habitable House with Land Under €100,000

Italy’s rustic villages and sun-soaked countryside have long enticed expats from the UK, US, and beyond. The romantic vision of la dolce vita – sipping local wine under a vine-draped pergola or tending an olive grove – continues to inspire many who dream of a home in Italy. Yet in reality, securing a truly habitable property for under €100,000 is becoming increasingly difficult.

While there are occasional listings that fall within this budget, the vast majority are either small townhouses without land or rural shells requiring major renovation. Finding a house with at least two bedrooms, some outdoor space, and no need for structural work is rare and often requires compromise on location or condition.

This article examines where the more realistic opportunities can still be found – in regions such as Calabria, inland Sicily, Abruzzo, Molise, and Basilicata – while also highlighting why Puglia and other high-demand areas are often out of reach at this price point. We’ll look at specific towns and listings, and provide practical guidance for international buyers so expectations are aligned with today’s market realities.

What €100k Buys You in Italy Today

For budget-conscious buyers, Italy still offers surprising opportunities. While the most celebrated regions — central Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, or Lake Como — command equally celebrated prices, less publicised areas of the south and centre can still deliver a great deal more home for the same budget.

Places such as Calabria, Sicily, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata and even parts of Puglia continue to offer habitable houses with outdoor space at entry-level prices, far removed from the premiums of Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast. The trade-off is clear: prestige locations carry prestige costs, but those willing to look beyond the obvious can find authentic Italian countryside living at a fraction of the price.

So, what does a budget of €50–100k actually buy today? The truth is that the picture has shifted. While a few years ago it was possible to find ready-to-use country houses with land in this bracket, in 2025 it has become increasingly difficult. Properties under €100k are now more likely to be small village houses, older cottages needing attention, or modest homes without significant outdoor space.

For something move-in-ready, with decent land and privacy, the budget usually has to stretch well above €100k. Features such as a pool, extensive acreage, or recent renovation are generally found in the €200k range or more. What €100k can still secure, in the right places, is a simple but habitable two-bedroom house in a village setting, perhaps with a small garden or courtyard, or a rustic cottage on the outskirts of town. Bargains do exist, but they are no longer as plentiful as they once were, and compromise is part of the process.

This means that buyers need to enter the search with realistic expectations: the fabled “stone farmhouse with land and pool for €100k” is a thing of the past. But for those open to more modest properties, there remain authentic, affordable footholds into Italian village life.

Puglia – Sun, Olive Groves and White-Washed Villages

Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, has become one of the country’s most sought-after regions thanks to its beautiful coastline, whitewashed towns like Ostuni and Locorotondo, and endless olive groves rolling down to the Adriatic. The lifestyle on offer is pure Mediterranean charm, but the property market has moved quickly in recent years.

While talk of “bargains” under €100k still circulates, in practice what you will find at this level is rarely modern or new. Most options are older homes that may require work — sometimes a lot of it — and very rarely will you see a countryside villa with land in move-in condition for that budget. Pools or large tracts of land are firmly in the higher price brackets.

What remains feasible around €100k is the so-called terra-cielo townhouse: a vertical village home spread over two or three floors, often within the historic centre, sometimes with a roof terrace or a small courtyard. These properties typically offer little outdoor space, but they are habitable and place you directly in the fabric of Puglian village life. Beyond that, you might also come across rustic stone cottages or trulli in need of restoration, but here you must expect additional investment.

For buyers with realistic expectations — content with modest outdoor space, some degree of updating, and the authentic character of a village home — Puglia can still deliver an accessible way into one of Italy’s most coveted regions.

Calabria – Italy’s Wild South

Calabria is Italy at its most rugged and untamed. With two dramatic coastlines — the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian — it offers long stretches of wild beach, rustic hill towns clinging to the mountains, and a lifestyle that feels far removed from the busier, more polished regions further north. It is less developed, with fewer services and infrastructure, and this is exactly why property here is more affordable than almost anywhere else in the country.

For some buyers, this is paradise: privacy, authentic villages, empty beaches and countryside that still feels wild. For others, it can be a challenge. Outside the main cities, you should expect to drive twenty or thirty minutes to find shops, banks or hospitals, and life moves at a slower, less organised pace. Roads, public transport and international connections are improving, but Calabria remains more remote than Tuscany, Umbria, or even Puglia.

This double-edged sword defines the region. If you want authenticity, wide horizons and a slower rhythm of life, Calabria delivers in abundance. If you need convenience, polished services and large expat communities, you may find it harder. But for those seeking unspoiled Mediterranean living at a fraction of the cost of Italy’s better-known regions, Calabria remains a compelling choice.