Overview
The province of Lecce is the 22nd largest Italian province by population with 795.134 people, located in the Apulia region.
The larger Lecce metropolitan area comprises 96 towns (comuni) and covers an area of 279.907 km2.
The population density is 284 inhabitants per km2, making it somewhat densely populated. The male to female ratio is 1.00:1.09.
Climate
The province of Lecce receives on average 249 hours of sunshine per month, or 8.3 hours of sunshine per day.
This is 5.51% more than the average for Italy and 0.80% less than the average for the region of Apulia.
Throughout the year, it rains on average 6.78 days per month, which is below average for an Italian province.
During the autumn and winter season, there are usually 7.26 days per month with fog and 0.15 cold days per month with perceived temperatures below 3°C. In the summer, there are on average 26.02 hot days per month with perceived temperatures above 30°C.
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Lecce, PugliaCost of Living
The average monthly income in Lecce is around 1148.51€, which is lower than the average for Italy.
The estimated cost of living is around 1231.66€ per month for an individual or 1840.79€ per month for a family of 4.
The cost for renting a small apartment (2-3 bedrooms) in a main city area is around 734.07€ per month.
Overall, Lecce is affordable compared to other Italian provinces.
Living in Lecce is around 25.36% cheaper than the average of all Italian provinces.
Quality of Life
Healthcare
Healthcare in Lecce is above average. For every 10k inhabitants, there are around 3.4 pharmacies, 9.52 general practitioners and 24.6 specialized doctors per 10k inhabitants.
Average life expectancy in Lecce is very high at 82.9 years of age.
Education
Lecce has a lower-than-average percentage of high school graduates, around 50.4%; and a lower-than-average percentage of university graduates, around 18.2%.
The average number of completed years of schooling for people over 25 is 9.42, which is lower than the national average of 10.44.
There is one university in the province.
Leisure
Lecce, a captivating city in southern Italy's Apulia region, offers a vibrant and charming nightlife that reflects its rich cultural heritage. Lecce's historic center comes alive in the evening, offering traditional wine bars, chic cocktail lounges, and lively squares for socializing and entertainment.
The city is renowned for its vibrant music scene, showcasing traditional folk music and contemporary acts.
Overall, Lecce has somewhat decent nightlife with 2.58 bars and 3.85 restaurants per 10k inhabitants.
Crime and Safety
The province of Lecce is overall moderately safe for expats. As of 2021, there are an average of 2563.2 reported crimes per 100k inhabitants. This is 9.61% lower than the national average.
There have been around 0.4 deadly road accidents and 13.3 serious work-related injuries per 10k people in Lecce. This is respectively 25.93% less driving accidents than average and -3.10% less work accidents than average.
Car theft is reportedly 64.16% higher than average with 115.78 cases per 100k inhabitants.
Reports of house thefts are 6.96% higher than average with 187.2 cases per 100k inhabitants.
Cases of robbery are uncommon with 187.2 reported cases per 100k inhabitants, about 30.35% less the national average.
Lecce is generally a safe city for residents and tourists. The city is known for its welcoming atmosphere. Lecce has maintained a relatively low crime rate, and there have been no significant increases in recent years. However, like any other place, it is always wise to remain cautious. Visitors are advised to be mindful of pickpocketing and keep a close eye on their belongings, especially in crowded areas. By taking these precautions, you can enjoy the charms of Lecce with peace of mind.
Transport
Public transport in Lecce is lacking, and traffic is very high.
There are on average 0.72 active vehicles per person, against a national average of 0.66.
Around 1.09km per 10k inhabitants of the main city in Lecce consist of bicycle lanes. This makes Lecce somewhat bike-friendly by Italian standards.
