Is Italy really the golden, Aperol-spritz-soaked dream Instagram wants you to believe… or is the truth a little more complicated for LGBTQ+ retirees?

This week on Queer Money® we’re ranking the Top 5 cities in Italy for LGBTQ+ retirement — from Renaissance beauty to progressive university towns to sun-drenched coastal havens. We break down the queer vibe, cost of living, rent, language barriers, expat community strength, visa rules, and, of course, the Queer Money Retirement Rating for each city.

Italy may have pasta, Pride, and men in Speedos, but will any city snatch the crown from Portugal or our global frontrunner, Valencia? Time to find out.

• The top 5 best Italian cities for LGBTQ+ retirees
• Where Italy shines — and where rising conservatism complicates things
• How much you’ll pay for rent, healthcare, and daily life
• Which cities have thriving queer communities (and which don’t)
• Whether you could qualify for Italy’s Elective Residency Visa
• Why Italy still can’t take Portugal’s crown 🌈👑

• Italy is gorgeous — but rising conservatism affects LGBTQ+ protections
• Rent ranges dramatically: from ~$850 in Lecce to ~$1,800 in Rome
• Cost of living is lower than Chicago in every city analyzed
• Florence & Rome: big vibe, big price
• Turin & Bologna: underrated, affordable, queer-friendly gems
• Lecce: the surprise #1 — stunning, coastal, and affordable
• Italy’s visa requires true passive income (no remote work allowed)
• Portugal remains the gold-standard for LGBTQ+ retirees

• Portugal’s Top Cities for LGBTQ+ Retirement (our reigning champion)
• Spain: Valencia & Beyond — The Fab Frontrunner
• Greece LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings
• New Zealand LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings
• Taiwan LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings

✨ Want to know if YOU can retire in Italy (or anywhere abroad)?

Get the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here!

Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how.

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Imagine getting an extra $6,000–$12,000 tax deduction just for being born at the right time. No lotto win. No extra hours at work. No sugar daddy required. Just a savvy tax move for Boomers and near-Boomers that could seriously boost your bottom line — financially speaking.

In Queer Money® Episode 617, we break down exactly how the New Boomer Bonus Deduction (2025–2028) works, who qualifies, and the five smartest ways to maximize it like you’re working it on Tax Day. Plus, we walk through three real-ish scenarios to show how smart planning could save you thousands.

If you're 65+ (or within the next four years), this deduction may be your built-in financial facelift — no stitches required.

• What the Boomer Bonus deduction is and how it works (2025–2028)
• Income thresholds, phase-outs, and who qualifies
• The 5 best strategies to maximize your tax savings
• How to use the deduction with Roth conversions, capital gains timing, and more
• 3 sample scenarios showing how Boomers could save thousands

• ✔️ A $6,000–$12,000 deduction can offset Roth conversions
• ✔️ Smart capital-gains timing can help keep you in the 0% bracket
• ✔️ This deduction stacks on top of both standard and itemized deductions
• ✔️ The window is temporary: 2025–2028 only
• ✔️ Proper income planning = real money back in your pocket

• 0:00 - Intro
• 00:14 - The Boomer Bonus Deduction
• 02:08 - Maximizing the Boomer Bonus
• 03:02 - Strategies for Managing Your Income and Deductions
• 06:05 - Real Life Tax Scenarios
• 07:35 - Understanding the Boomer Bonus: Maximizing Your Tax Benefits
• 09:30 - Wrap up

👉 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator: queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here!

Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how.

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Thinking about retiring abroad? You’re not alone. In Ep. 616 we break down Ecuador—a country that punches above its weight with year-round spring weather, U.S. dollar convenience, solid healthcare, and a much lower cost of living. We cover legal landscape (marriage since 2019; gender recognition 2024), where stigma still shows up, and our Top 5 Ecuador cities for gay retirees—Salinas, Cotacachi, Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca—with 2BR rent ranges, cost-of-living vs. U.S., and our Queer Money Retirement Rating for each.

• Real savings: Many Ecuador cities run ~50–70% cheaper than the U.S., with rents that can be a fraction of stateside prices.
• Climate win: Highland zones offer “eternal spring”—often no A/C or snow shovels.
• Queer reality: Legal wins exist, but visibility and safety vary by city; Quito leads for LGBTQ+ infrastructure, Cuenca for expat ease.
• Trade-offs: Big-city perks vs. crime hot spots (e.g., Guayaquil), beach life vs. tourist pricing (Salinas), quiet charm vs. fewer queer spaces (Cotacachi/Cuenca).

• 00:00 – Intro: Why Ecuador keeps popping for LGBTQ+ retirees
• 02:29 – #5 Salinas (beach town, Vox gay disco): 2BR ~$500–$800 | COL ~50–65% ↓ | Rating 6/10
• 04:37 – #4 Cotacachi (quiet Andean base): 2BR ~$450–$600 | COL ~60–70% ↓ | Rating 7/10
• 06:29 – #3 Guayaquil (big-city energy): 2BR ~$620 | COL ~60–65% ↓ | crime caveat | Rating 7/10
• 09:11 – #2 Quito (capital & queer hub): 2BR ~$675–$1,300 | COL ~54–63% ↓ | Rating 8/10
• 11:40 – #1 Cuenca (expat favorite): 2BR ~$300–$600 | COL ~60–70% ↓ | Rating 9/10
• 13:51 – Next up & wrap up

• queermoneypodcast.com/cities
• queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here!

Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how.

Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!