Prices for existing housing in Italy rose by 1.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, with the average asking price reaching €1,891 per square meter. This is according to a report by the analytical division of idealista.
According to the source, price increases were recorded in 80% of the country’s administrative centers. The most notable quarterly increases occurred in Belluno (8.7%), Cremona (6.9%), and Lecco (6.4%). Among major cities, Bari, Cagliari, Rome, Bologna, Catania, and Florence showed positive trends, while Naples saw a slight decline of 0.4%.
Milan remains Italy’s most expensive city, as before, with a price of €5,192 per square meter. It is followed by Venice—€4,897 per square meter, Bolzano—€4,869, Florence—€4,602, and Bologna—€3,717. Rome ranks sixth at €3,369 per square meter. The most affordable cities were Caltanissetta—€653 per square meter, Ragusa—€730, and Biella—€752.
At the regional level, price growth has spread across nearly the entire country. A quarterly decline was recorded only in Molise and Basilicata, while the strongest growth was seen in Valle d’Aosta—4%, Veneto—3%, as well as Liguria and Tuscany—2.2% each. Trentino-Alto Adige remains the most expensive region at €3,266 per square meter, while Molise is the least expensive at €911 per square meter.
The market maintains positive momentum across most of Italy, though macroeconomic factors—including interest rates and inflation—may influence it in the coming months. The idealista index itself is based on asking prices published in listings, not on the actual prices of completed transactions. The methodology also excludes auction properties and atypical listings, and the median price is used as the benchmark.