Is Italy a good place to live, or is it overly romanticized on social media and in the movies? We’ll take you through some of the pros and cons of living in Italy to help you find out if this country is where you want to end up.
Sometimes, we have an idea of a place in our heads formed from a combination of what we see in movies, travel shows, Instagram, and Tik Tok. But how often do the ideas and portrayal of these places live up to reality?
What makes Italy a good place to live: Pros of living in Italy as an expat
1. (Comparative) Low cost of living
One recent visit to the United States has reminded me just how inexpensive Italy is (outside of cities like Milan). Even compared to bigger cities in Europe like London, Zurich, or Paris, the cost of living in Italian cities and towns is much lower. For example, the cost of rent for the average 1-bedroom apartment outside of the city center in Rome is around €700, while renting the same place outside of the city center of Paris would be €900.
Besides renting an apartment in Italy, going out to eat is often more affordable compared to other Western European countries and certainly compared to cities in the United States.
The best example is ordering pizza from a delivery service. In Italy, you can order two pizzas, ten mozzarella balls, two suppli, and two bottles of Peroni beer for just over €20 ($22), tax and delivery fee included. Even an espresso will rarely cost you over €1 ($1.10) (and if it does, Italians would scoff at the cost).
With the benefit of low cost of living comes a “cost.” Salaries are generally pretty low, and surprisingly, Italy doesn’t have a minimum hourly wage. Keep this in mind if you plan on moving to Italy before getting a job. If you can find a way to earn a US salary while working in Italy, you’ll be living the dream.
2. Nice pace of living, cuisine, and overall high quality of life
It’s hard to go over the positives of a country like Italy without discussing the food. Of course, you can indulge in the typical delicious dishes of pasta or pizza, gelato for dessert, and espresso at any time of day. Italian trattorias offer such a wide variety of these classics that you can go months without getting tired of them.
Besides these popular dishes, one of the most interesting parts of living in Italy is discovering the regional specialties around the country. In contrast to a grocery store or typical restaurant in the United States, cuisine is focused on seasonal, local produce.
When you go to a store or a restaurant, they usually offer whatever is in season; pastas stuffed with pumpkin in the fall, prosciutto with melon in the summer, lentils for the New Year, pasta with wild asparagus in the spring. The seasonal rotation of food ensures you’ll never tire of a dish, and actually start to crave it when the seasons start changing.
Italian cuisine goes hand-in-hand with the Italian lifestyle. Italians encourage savoring meals, socializing with friends and family, and embracing a slower pace of life. This emphasis on quality living leads to an overall slower pace of living.
For many Italians, “work-life balance” isn’t a debate; life wins every time. The hustle-and-bustle of bigger cities around the world pale in comparison to the slower pace of most big cities in Italy, except for Milan.
3. Diversity of cultural sites, scenic beauty, and activities
As one of the most famous places for its political, art, and architectural history, Italy’s scenic beauty and cultural festivals are often underrated by visitors.
On a single day trip, you can explore ancient ruins, visit a world-class museum, and enjoy a seasonal festival. Living in Italy will give you endless opportunities to immerse yourself in Italian culture.
On top of this, Italy is also known for its breathtaking landscapes, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the stunning seascapes of the Amalfi Coast.
If you’re a hiker, an avid beachgoer, or simply love scenic drives, you can enjoy the country’s diverse natural beauty and explore picturesque towns and villages nestled among the mountains or along the Mediterranean Sea.
The beautiful scenery creates a serene and idyllic backdrop for your everyday life, allowing you to relax, unwind, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Wherever your interests lie, skiing on the slopes of a mountain, laying on pristine beaches, or exploring the unique museums, you’ll be able to find something that piques your interest.
What makes Italy a not so good place to live: Cons of living in Italy as an expat
1. Cutting through the red tape
One of the major mysteries in life is Italians’ obsession with paperwork. Perhaps it is leftover from the ancient Roman government, a way to hinder the mafia from completing nefarious deeds, or perhaps the Italian culture lends itself to creating Luddites.
Whatever the case, if you are planning on moving to Italy, brace yourself for bureaucracy. The most important bureaucratic hurdle to jump is obtaining your codice fiscale, or fiscal code, a sort of tax document that without which you won’t be able to do anything (open a bank account, get a cell phone or internet plan, or even make a large purchase online).
Every step you take to normalizing your life in Italy will have a huge physical stack of paperwork that someone will walk you through.
The bureaucracy is even worse if you don’t speak Italian. If you’re lucky, you’ll find someone at the local bank, the commune, or real estate agency that speaks English. Otherwise, you’ll have to struggle through these situations with Google Translate or blindly sign.
2. Unreliable public transportation
The public transportation in Italy is much better than in a majority of cities around the United States. Additionally, the train system is excellent, offering reliable high-speed trains across the country with the occasional cancellation or late arrival.
However, relying on public transportation in Italy can be a constant source of stress. When you get to a city like Rome, or want to take a beautiful bus ride through the Amalfi Coast, your patience will quickly wear thin. Schedules are often unreliable and trains break down occasionally.
Planning on taking a bus somewhere on a Sunday? This may not be a great idea. Sunday schedules differ wildly from what can be found online or on navigation apps like Google Maps. Travel at your own risk.
Despite the massive influx of tourists to popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast, the bus service seems to have failed to address this increase of people. Many times you’ll see tourists or locals stranded on the side of the road in smaller towns along the coast because the bus is too full to stop.
As a general rule of thumb, give yourself an extra hour at a minimum to get where you need to go if you’re relying on public transportation like the bus.
If you’re going to popular destinations, be sure to find exactly where you’re supposed to wait for your bus and be patient. Lastly, don’t be shy to ask a bus driver where they’re going or if you’re on the right line.
3. The language barrier
Normally, we would consider learning a new language a positive, and there are so many benefits to learning Italian. Besides the general positives of learning a language like improving your memory and attention, you’ll want to learn Italian for your overall quality of life, especially if you’re not living in a bigger city.
However, the main issue is that Italy is the only country that speaks Italian. In fact, 60 million people speak Italian around the world. Compare that to Spanish, for example, which is spoken by 450 million people, and you see the point we’re making.
You can move to so many different places, open up tons more opportunities, and so much more by learning a language like Spanish, Cantonese, or French. In contrast, learning Italian will certainly open up opportunities in Italy, but unfortunately, not many other places around the world.
Final Thoughts
With all the pros and cons laid out on the table, is the Italy of our dreams a reality? Like most things portrayed on social media, of course it isn’t paradise. There are many hurdles you have to jump over for you to enjoy your time in this beautiful country. It’s a personal decision you’ll have to make based all the good and the bad of living in Italy.
But is Italy a good place to live? Our answer is a definitive yes. No matter where you go, you’ll have to deal with issues. With a little planning and patience, you’ll be able to get through Italy’s downsides easily and enjoy the amazing lifestyle the country has to offer.
