Demographics of Turin: Who Lives Here in 2026?
so i landed in turin last week and the first thing i noticed wasn't the architecture or the coffee-it was the people. turin's got this weird mix of old-school italians who've been here since the fiat days and a fresh wave of internationals who seem to be here for the tech scene, the uni, or just because it's cheaper than milan and way less chaotic than rome.
here's the messy breakdown:
*age groups: it's not all retirees, despite what you'd think. about 30% of the population is under 30, thanks to the universities (politecnico di torino is a beast). the 30-50 crowd is strong too-lots of professionals, especially in engineering and design. and yeah, there's a solid chunk of folks over 65, but they're not just sitting in parks-they're running small shops, cafés, and arguing about calcio.
foreign residents: around 14% of turin's population is foreign-born. big communities from romania, albania, china, and morocco. you'll hear more languages on the 13 tram than you'd expect. the chinese quarter near via paolo sarpi is low-key booming with legit dumplings and tea shops.
students: turin's got over 100,000 students across its universities. they're everywhere-on bikes, in co-working spaces, and definitely in the late-night aperitivo lines. the budget student life here is real: you can survive on 600€ a month if you're smart about it.
digital nomads & remote workers: this is the new wave. since 2023, coworking spots like Toolbox and I3P have been filling up with remote workers who like the slower pace and the fact that you can rent a decent flat for 700€ instead of 1200€ in milan. the wifi's solid, the coffee's better, and the cost of living won't make you cry into your laptop.
families: turin's surprisingly family-friendly. there's a good chunk of young families, especially in the collina (hill) neighborhoods where you get more green space and less noise. schools are decent, parks are plentiful, and the air's cleaner than you'd think for a former industrial city.
locals' take: i asked a barista near piazza castello what he thought. he said, "we're not milan. we don't pretend. but we're not rome either-no chaos, no drama. just… us." that's turin in a nutshell.
weather note: it's april and the weather's doing that italian thing where it's sunny one minute and hailing the next. bring layers.
nearby escapes: if you need a break from the city, the val di susa is just an hour away for hiking, and the langhe wine region is two hours by train. perfect for when you're sick of urban life but still want to be back by dinner.
overheard gossip: "don't trust the gelato near the duomo. it's for tourists." "the best aperitivo is at a tiny bar called 'il bazzicatore'-no website, just show up." "everyone's moving to the san salvario district, but it's getting too expensive now. the new spot is cit Turin."
random tip: if you're looking for work, turin's big on automotive (fiat), aerospace, and tech startups. english won't cut it everywhere, but in the startup scene? you'll be fine.
cost of living snapshot:
- rent (1-bed city center): ~700€
- monthly transport pass: ~35€
- espresso: ~1.20€
- coworking day pass: ~20€
final thought: turin's not trying to impress you. it's just… there. solid, a bit rough around the edges, and full of people who actually live here, not just visit. if you're into that, you'll fit right in.
local links*:
- TripAdvisor: Best Cafés in Turin
- Reddit: r/Turin
- Yelp: Turin Nightlife
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