Aviano AB Italy PCS Guide: Housing, Schools & Italian Alps Living

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Aviano Air Base hosts 5,000+ personnel with 31st Fighter Wing (F-16s) in northeastern Italy, nestled in the Italian Alps 40 miles from Venice. It offers Italian culture, Alps skiing, Europe travel, and Mediterranean lifestyle—but expensive housing (€1,400-2,000/month = $1,500-2,100 USD), rural isolation (nearest city Pordenone 10 miles), and HIGH deployment tempo (31st FW = frequent rotations).

Key Numbers:

OHA vs. Rent: Tight fit (Italian rent €1,400-2,000/month, OHA covers but expensive)
Median 3BR Rent: €1,600/month (~$1,700 USD, Italy premium)
School Quality: Good (DoDEA schools 7-8/10, small but solid)
Deployment Tempo: HIGH (31st FW fighter ops, CENTCOM/EUCOM rotations)

What This Guide Covers: Italian Alps lifestyle, Venice weekends, European travel hub, and fighter wing tempo.

Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

Official Name: Aviano Air Base
Location: Aviano, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy (40 miles from Venice, Alps foothills)
Size: 1,400 acres
Population: 5,000+ (2,500 active duty + 2,500 family/civilians)
Branch: Air Force (31st Fighter Wing)
Major Units: 31st Fighter Wing (F-16s), 606th Air Control Squadron
Mission: NATO air operations, fighter ops, European defense
Climate: Mediterranean (mild winters 35-50°F, warm summers 70-85°F, Alps nearby = skiing)
Nearest City: Pordenone 10 miles (80K population), Venice 40 miles (1 hour)

Want official data? Check DTMO OHA Calculator for current overseas housing rates and DoDEA Schools for school information.

Housing & OHA

No BAH at Aviano - You Get OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance) OHA covers actual rent + utilities. Check official DTMO OHA Calculator → for exact ceilings (updated monthly with euro exchange).

MIHA (Move-In Housing Allowance): One-time euro payment covering realtor fees, wardrobes, and lighting. Base housing office submits after you sign a lease.
Utility/Recurring Maintenance Allowance: Monthly euro allowance tied to your rank and dependent status. Covers average electric, gas, trash. Italy true-up bills arrive annually—set aside €300-400 for potential overages.

Reality Check: OHA BARELY covers Italian rent—€1,400-2,000/month ($1,500-2,100 USD) is EXPENSIVE (Italy premium). Utilities €150-250/month. Expect to break even (no OHA surplus).

Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

Top Tier Off-Base

1. Roveredo in Piano (Adjacent)

Distance: 2 miles (5-10 min)
Median 3BR Rent: €1,500-1,800/month (~$1,600-1,900 USD)
Reality: Most popular—closest to base, established American community, Italian village charm

2. Sacile (10 miles south)

Distance: 10 miles (15 min)
Median 3BR Rent: €1,400-1,700/month
Reality: Best for families—larger town, Italian culture, beautiful medieval center

3. Pordenone (10 miles southwest)

Distance: 10 miles (20 min)
Median 3BR Rent: €1,600-2,000/month
Reality: City living—largest nearby city (80K population), shopping, restaurants, train to Venice

On-Base Housing

Aviano On-Base Housing:

Units: 700+ (2BR-4BR)
Wait Times: 6-12 months
Reality: On-base popular (walk to work, no Italian landlord), but wait times 6-12 months

Schools

DoDEA Schools

Aviano DoDEA Schools:

Aviano Elementary School (K-5) - 7/10 rating - On-base, 400 students
Aviano Middle School (6-8) - 7/10 rating - On-base, 250 students
Aviano High School (9-12) - 8/10 rating - On-base, 350 students

Local Intel

Cost of Living

Overall: 10-15% HIGHER vs. US (Italy is expensive)
Housing: OHA covers but BARELY (€1,400-2,000 = no surplus)
Groceries: Commissary saves 30% vs Italian grocery
Monthly Budget (E5 + 2 Kids): €3,200-3,800 (~$3,400-4,000)

COLA: E5 with dependents = ~$400-600/month (Jan 2025 DTMO table). Helps offset costs but Italy expensive—expect to break even. Confirm your rate at the DTMO COLA Calculator →.

Italian Culture & Language

Language:

On-Base: English everywhere
Off-Base: Italian required (few English speakers in rural northeast)
Learn Basic Italian: "Buongiorno", "Grazie", "Per favore"

Cultural Tips:

Siesta: Shops close 12:30-3:30pm (lunch break)
Sundays: Most stores CLOSED
Slow Pace: Italian culture = relaxed (adapt expectations)

Alps Living & Skiing

Why Aviano is Special:

Alps Access: Cortina d'Ampezzo 1 hour (world-class skiing)
Dolomites: 1-2 hours, UNESCO site, hiking/skiing
Winter Sports: December-March skiing season
Summer: Hiking, mountain biking, Alpine lakes

Venice & Europe Travel

Venice = 40 Miles:

1 hour drive or train
Weekend trips common (canals, St. Mark's, gondolas)

Europe Hub:

Austria: 1 hour (Innsbruck, Vienna)
Slovenia: 1 hour (Ljubljana, Lake Bled)
Croatia: 2 hours (Istria peninsula, Pula)
Germany: 3 hours (Munich)
Switzerland: 3 hours (Zurich)

Fighter Wing Tempo

31st Fighter Wing = HIGH Ops:

F-16 operations, NATO missions
Reality: Higher deployment tempo (fighter wing = demanding)

What's It Like at Aviano?

Pros:

✅ Italian culture immersion (Alps, Venice, Mediterranean lifestyle)
✅ Europe travel paradise (Austria 1hr, Slovenia 1hr, Croatia 2hr)
✅ Alps skiing/hiking (Dolomites, Cortina)
✅ Venice weekends (40 miles = 1 hour)
✅ Small tight-knit community (5,000 = everyone knows everyone)

Cons:

❌ EXPENSIVE (rent €1,400-2,000, no OHA surplus)
❌ Rural isolation (nearest city Pordenone 10 miles)
❌ HIGH deployment (31st FW fighter ops)
❌ Language barrier (off-base = Italian required)
❌ Small base (limited amenities vs. Ramstein)

Honest Assessment: Aviano is best for families who embrace Italian culture + Alps lifestyle—Venice weekends, Alps skiing, Europe travel are UNMATCHED—but expensive living, rural isolation, and fighter wing tempo are real. Best for adventurous families. Tough for those who need savings or big-base amenities.

Common Questions

Q: Is Aviano a good assignment?
A: YES if you embrace Italy + Alps lifestyle. Cultural immersion, Venice, Alps skiing, Europe travel—but expensive, rural, HIGH deployment.

Q: Can we save money?
A: NO—Italy is expensive, OHA covers rent but no surplus. Break-even assignment.

Q: How close is Venice?
A: 40 miles = 1 hour—weekend trips are VERY common (most popular perk).

Q: Is Italian required?
A: YES off-base—rural northeast Italy = few English speakers. Learn basics ASAP.

Next Steps

1. Check Official OHA Rates
DTMO OHA Calculator →

2. Register DoDEA Schools
DoDEA School Registration →

3. Learn Basic Italian
Duolingo, Babbel, or base Italian classes

4. Calculate Budget
Use PCS Copilot → for JTR-compliant timeline.

5. Ask Questions
Use Ask Military Expert → for Aviano-specific questions.

Official Resources

DTMO Allowances - OHA, COLA, per diem rates
DoDEA Schools - School registration
MilitaryOneSource - 24/7 support
Aviano AB Official Site - Base information

Last verified: January 24, 2025. Garrison Ledger is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.

Aviano AB Italy PCS Guide - Housing & Local Intel