Where do you live?
'Abiti' = AH-bee-tee. Three syllables; stress on the first. Don't confuse with 'abiti' meaning 'clothes' — context distinguishes them.
Ask after establishing that you are in the same city or area. It helps identify common neighborhoods, commutes, or potential meetups. Perfectly appropriate in casual social settings.
'Abitare' means 'to live/reside' and is a regular -are verb. 'Dove abiti?' drops the subject pronoun 'tu' as usual in Italian. This is an A1 staple — simple, direct, and universally useful.
In che quartiere abiti?
What neighborhood do you live in?
More specific — useful in a large city when you already know they live there.
Sei in centro o in periferia?
Are you in the centre or on the outskirts?
A quick way to understand someone's relationship to the city.
Abiti vicino a qui?
Do you live near here?
Practical when you've just met somewhere specific.
In Italian cities, neighborhood identity is strong. Saying you live in Trastevere (Rome), Navigli (Milan), or Oltrarno (Florence) immediately tells people something about your lifestyle and personality.