---
title: "Living in Pescara as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/pescara
description: "Adriatic beach city with the Abruzzo mountains an hour inland"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Pescara, Italy

Pescara scores 65.2/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 396 of 1501 cities. Expect about $2,300 per month (country-level estimate), a nomad visa (Digital nomad and remote worker visa), and a measured median download speed of 38.8 Mbps.

Pescara is a modern, flat Adriatic city with a long sandy beach, busy shopping streets and a riverside, and the Majella and Gran Sasso mountains are about an hour inland for hiking and skiing. Abruzzo Airport is on the edge of the city with low-cost routes and rents are lower than on most of Italy's coast, but wartime bombing left little old architecture, summers are crowded and Rome is about 2.5 hours away by bus.

Known for: Long sandy city beach, Arrosticini lamb skewers, Gabriele D'Annunzio's birthplace, Majella and Gran Sasso nearby.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 65.2 |
| Cost of living | 34 |
| Safety | 81 |
| Healthcare | 88 |
| Internet | 69 |
| Visa ease | 81 |
| Getting there & around | 23 |
| Climate | 50 |
| Air quality | 82 |
| Quality of life | 81 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $2,300 | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 0.57 | country | 2024 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 73.6 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 82 | country | 2023 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.9 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 38.8 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 10 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Available | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad and remote worker visa (min $2,385/mo) | country | 2026-10-04 | [^10] |
| Visa guide | [Italy long-stay visa guide](https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/italy) | country | 2026-10-04 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | 90 days / unlimited / 90 days | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (PSR) | 22 | city | 2026-10 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 225 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 4 / 2 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 6 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 13 | city | 2024 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.915 | country | 2023 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | moderate | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Worldwide income taxed at 23%–43% plus surcharges; newcomers can use a €300k flat tax or 50% impatriate relief.** Spend most of the year in Italy and you are taxed on worldwide income: foreign salary or freelance fees at 23%–43% plus regional and municipal surcharges, and dividends, interest and gains at a flat 26%. Newcomers can cut this with a 50% exemption on work income for five years, a €300,000-a-year flat tax on all foreign income, or 7% on foreign income for pensioners in small southern towns.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | worldwide income |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (23%–43% progressive IRPEF, plus 1.23%–3.33% regional and up to 0.8% municipal surcharge) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | taxed (26% flat on dividends, interest and capital gains (12.5% on Italian and white-list government bonds); 23%–43% progressive on foreign pensions and rent) |
| Wealth | no wealth tax; 0.2% a year on foreign financial assets (IVAFE) and 1.06% on foreign property (IVIE); inheritance tax applies |
| Tax resident after | 183 days a year |
| Top income tax rate | 47.23% |

Residency: Since the 2024 tax year you are resident if, for most of the year (183 days, 184 in a leap year, counting fractions of a day and not necessarily consecutive), you meet any one of four tests: physical presence in Italy, habitual residence, domicile (where your personal and family relationships are mainly based) or registration in the resident population register (anagrafe), which is now only a rebuttable presumption. Residence applies to the whole calendar year: Italy has no split year except under its treaties with Germany, Switzerland and Panama.

Remote work: Once resident, salary from a foreign employer and fees from foreign clients are taxed like Italian income: 23% up to €28,000, 33% from €28,000 to €50,000 (35% before 2026) and 43% above, plus the regional and municipal surcharges where you live. Because the work is physically done in Italy, it counts as Italian-source income, so the €300,000 flat tax for new residents does not cover it. Resident freelancers must open a partita IVA and pay Italian social contributions; those with revenue up to €85,000 can opt for the 15% (5% for a new activity) flat regime instead. Highly qualified newcomers may halve the taxable amount under the impatriate regime (see regimes).

Investments: Financial income from abroad (dividends, bank and bond interest, gains on shares and funds) is taxed at a flat 26%, or 12.5% on government bonds of Italy and white-list states. Foreign pensions and rent from property abroad are added to your other income and taxed at progressive IRPEF rates plus surcharges, with a credit for income tax paid abroad. On top of income tax you pay IVAFE on foreign financial assets and IVIE on foreign property every year (see wealth). The new-resident flat tax and the 7% pensioner regime replace all of this for those who qualify.

On the nomad visa: Italy's digital nomad and remote worker visa (decree of 29 February 2024) creates no special tax status: holders become tax resident under the ordinary 183-day rules and are taxed on worldwide income at progressive IRPEF rates plus surcharges. The codice fiscale is issued with the residence permit, and self-employed digital nomads must open a partita IVA; Italian social security applies unless a bilateral agreement with your home country covers you. A visa holder who meets the conditions can claim the impatriate 50% exemption.

Schemes for newcomers:

- **Flat tax for new residents (art. 24-bis TUIR)** (15 years): All foreign-source income is covered by a fixed substitute tax of €300,000 a year whatever the amount, for those moving from 1 January 2026 (€200,000 for moves from 11 August 2024 to 31 December 2025, €100,000 before), plus €50,000 a year for each family member included. Holders are exempt from IVIE, IVAFE and foreign-asset reporting and pay inheritance and gift tax only on Italian assets. Italian-source income, including pay for work done in Italy, is taxed normally; gains on qualified shareholdings sold in the first five years stay under ordinary rules; individual countries can be excluded. People moving from 2027 cannot combine it with the impatriate regime. Who qualifies: People who were not Italian tax resident for at least nine of the ten years before the option starts, of any nationality, electing in the tax return for the year they move.
- **Impatriate workers regime (art. 5 D.Lgs. 209/2023)** (5 years): Only 50% of employment and self-employment income earned in Italy is taxed, up to €600,000 of income a year; 40% (a 60% exemption) if you move with a minor child or a child is born or adopted during the period. Benefits are clawed back with interest if you leave within four years. Who qualifies: Highly qualified or specialised employees and self-employed people who were not Italian tax resident in the three previous years (six or seven if they return to work for the same employer or group), commit to stay resident at least four years and work mainly in Italy; an Italian employer is not required.
- **7% flat tax for foreign pensioners (art. 24-ter TUIR)** (10 years): All foreign-source income of any kind (pension, dividends, interest, gains, rent) is taxed at a flat 7% instead of IRPEF, with exemption from IVIE, IVAFE and foreign-asset reporting for the countries covered. Italian-source income is taxed normally. Who qualifies: People receiving a pension from a foreign payer, not Italian tax resident in the previous five years, moving from a country with a tax information-exchange agreement to a municipality of up to 30,000 inhabitants (20,000 before 7 April 2026) in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise or Puglia, or in listed 2009 and 2016 earthquake areas.
- **Flat-rate regime for small self-employed (regime forfetario)** (no fixed end): A single 15% substitute tax, replacing IRPEF and the regional and municipal surcharges, on revenue multiplied by a fixed profitability coefficient for the activity, minus social contributions; 5% for the first five years of a genuinely new activity. You leave the regime the next year above €85,000, or immediately above €100,000. Who qualifies: Self-employed individuals with revenue up to €85,000 in the previous year (or expected, for a new activity), employment income no higher than €35,000 in 2025–2026, and who do not mainly bill a current or recent former employer.

Official sources: [Neo residenti – Regime opzionale – Che cos'è](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/agevolazioni/opzione-per-i-neo-residenti/infogen-opzionale-neo-residenti) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Agevolazioni per chi trasferisce la residenza in Italia](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/agevolazioni-per-chi-trasferisce-la-residenza-in-italia2) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Neo residenti – Normativa e prassi](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/agevolazioni/opzione-per-i-neo-residenti/normativa-e-prassi-regi-opz-neo-residenti) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Testo unico delle imposte sui redditi, articolo 24-bis (original text)](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/241456/Articolo+24+bis+del+Testo+Unico_24bisTuir.pdf/7cc66a01-df4c-67b0-ddfd-f13bc80a5ae3) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Circolare n. 17/E del 23 maggio 2017 – Regimi agevolativi per persone fisiche che trasferiscono la residenza fiscale in Italia](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/297873/Circolare+n.+17+del+23+maggio+2017_CIRCOLARE+REGIMI+AGEVOLATIVI+PER+PERSONE+FISICHE+CHE+TRASFERISCONO+LA+RESIDENZA+FISCALE+IN+ITALIA+-REGISTRO+CIRCOLARI.0000017.23-05-2017-U+(2).pdf/8c361223-0cf1-b41b-be4a-db33664d5855) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Decreto-legge 27 marzo 2026, n. 38 (testo vigente)](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/d/guest/decreto-legge-del-27_03_2026-n-38-) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Lavoratori impatriati – nuovo regime (dal periodo d'imposta 2024) – Che cos'è](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/lavoratori-impatriati-209-2023/infogen-lavoratori-impatriati-209-2023-cittadini) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Regime opzionale per i pensionati esteri – Che cos'è](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/agevolazioni/regime-opzionale-per-i-pensionati-esteri-che-cose-cittadini) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Circolare n. 21/E del 17 luglio 2020 – Pensionati esteri nel Mezzogiorno (art. 24-ter TUIR)](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/0/Circolare+n.+21E+del+17.07.2020.pdf/96191701-87ef-ce63-e163-a8a6e37e64ad) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Aliquote e calcolo dell'Irpef](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/imposta-sul-reddito-delle-persone-fisiche-irpef-/aliquote-e-calcolo-dell-irpef) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Personal income tax rates and calculation](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/web/english/personal-income-tax-rates-and-calculation) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Principali misure della legge di bilancio 2026](https://www.mef.gov.it/focus/Principali-misure-della-legge-di-bilancio-2026/) (Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, read 2026-10-27); [Addizionale regionale all'IRPEF – Disciplina del tributo](https://www.finanze.gov.it/it/fiscalita/fiscalita-regionale-e-locale/Addizionale-regionale-allIRPEF/disciplina-del-tributo/) (Dipartimento delle Finanze, Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, read 2026-10-27); [Addizionale comunale all'IRPEF – Disciplina del tributo](https://www.finanze.gov.it/it/fiscalita/fiscalita-regionale-e-locale/Addizionale-comunale-allIRPEF/disciplina-del-tributo/) (Dipartimento delle Finanze, Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, read 2026-10-27); [Residence for tax purposes](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/web/english/residence-for-tax-purposes) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Circular No. 20/E of 4 November 2024 – Tax residence (English version)](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/6519685/Circolare_20_del_4_11_2024_Eng.pdf/bdacb2e0-a699-5180-719e-665210459d75) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Ivafe – Base imponibile e aliquote](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/pagamenti/imposta-valore-att-estero-ivafe/base-imponibile-e-aliquote-scheda-ivafe) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Ivie – Base imponibile e aliquota](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/pagamenti/imposta-sul-valore-degli-immobili-estero-ivie/base-imponibile-e-aliquota-scheda-ivie) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Circolare n. 19/E del 27 giugno 2014 – Aliquota di tassazione dei redditi di natura finanziaria](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/298850/Circolare+n19E+del+27+giugno+2014_Cir19e+del+27+06+14.pdf/429c76f6-6236-4071-79ae-65af4aadd134) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Imposta di successione – Aliquote e franchigie](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/pagamenti/imposta-di-successione/aliquote-e-franchigie) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Regime forfetario – Che cos'è](https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/infogen-regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-) (Agenzia delle Entrate, read 2026-10-27); [Visa for digital nomads and remote workers](https://ambpristina.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/visto-per-nomadi-digitali-e-lavoratori-da-remoto/) (Embassy of Italy in Pristina, Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (esteri.it), read 2026-10-27); [Nomadi digitali e lavoratori da remoto, ecco le regole](https://integrazionemigranti.gov.it/it-it/Ricerca-news/Dettaglio-news/id/3736/Nomadi-digitali-e-lavoratori-da-remoto-ecco-le-regole) (Portale Integrazione Migranti, Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali, read 2026-10-27); [Misura dell'aliquota dell'addizionale regionale all'IRPEF – anno d'imposta 2026](https://www.regione.lazio.it/sites/default/files/2026-01/Addizionale-regionale-2026.pdf) (Regione Lazio, read 2026-10-28); [Addizionale IRPEF](https://www.comune.roma.it/web/it/scheda-servizi.page?contentId=INF41403) (Roma Capitale, read 2026-10-28).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 9.9 | 86 | 74 | no |
| Feb | 9.9 | 67 | 74 | no |
| Mar | 11.6 | 70 | 75 | no |
| Apr | 14.3 | 60 | 75 | no |
| May | 18.2 | 57 | 73 | yes |
| Jun | 22.8 | 47 | 68 | yes |
| Jul | 25.7 | 36 | 63 | yes |
| Aug | 25.9 | 37 | 64 | yes |
| Sep | 22.1 | 74 | 68 | yes |
| Oct | 18.2 | 77 | 74 | yes |
| Nov | 14.4 | 91 | 76 | no |
| Dec | 11.2 | 86 | 74 | no |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Abruzzo Airport | PSR | 22 | 15 | 0 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 22, of which 15 international (Wikipedia, 2026-10).

## Similar cities

- [Catania](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/catania) (66.3) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/catania-vs-pescara)
- [Matera](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/matera) (66.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/matera-vs-pescara)
- [Foggia](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/foggia) (66.8) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/foggia-vs-pescara)
- [Olbia](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/olbia) (65.2) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/olbia-vs-pescara)
- [Palermo](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/palermo) (66.9) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/palermo-vs-pescara)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in Pescara as a digital nomad?

A single person typically spends about $2,300 per month in Pescara (a country-level estimate for Italy). That is a 34/100 cost score, where 100 is the cheapest city in the dataset.

### Is Pescara safe for digital nomads?

Pescara scores 81/100 on safety. Italy records 0.57 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2024) and a political-stability score of 73.6/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does Italy have a digital nomad visa?

Yes. Italy offers the Digital nomad and remote worker visa with a minimum income of about $2,385 per month, and it can lead to permanent residence. Verify current rules with the issuing authority before applying. Full guide: https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/italy

### How fast is the internet in Pescara?

Measured median download speed in Pescara was 38.8 Mbps (upload 10 Mbps) across 19,272 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in Pescara?

Yes. Starlink's availability map lists residential service as available in Italy (checked 2026-10), so a dish can serve as a backup line in Pescara. Check the exact address on starlink.com before ordering, since capacity varies by area.

### Which airports serve Pescara and how many nonstop flights are there?

Pescara is served by Abruzzo Airport (PSR) with 22 nonstop destinations, of which 15 are international. 0 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: Wikipedia, 2026-10.

### When is the best time of year to be in Pescara?

The most comfortable months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Mean temperatures range from 50°F (10°C) in Jan to 79°F (26°C) in Aug (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### Pescara or Catania: which is better for digital nomads?

Catania is the city with the closest factor profile to Pescara in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to Pescara](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=pescara&destination=Pescara%2C+Italy) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, dataUNODC. UNODC data, free to reuse with attribution. https://data.unodc.org/datareport/hom-victim (retrieved 2026-10-12)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Nostos long-stay visa guides, Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/visas (retrieved 2026-10-04)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables), Wikipedia contributors; countries via Wikidata. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-24)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8), World Health Organization. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-ambient-air-quality-database-(update-jun-2026) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), United Nations Development Programme. CC BY 3.0 IGO. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/pescara