Italy

Moving/Relocating To Italy: 9 COMPLETELY HONEST Facts To Help You Embrace Life In Italy

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Moving to Italy is an excellent decision if you want to experience living in a place with charming architecture and many beautiful places to visit.

To prepare yourself before living In Italy, you should read this article thoroughly because we’ll be sharing 9 honest facts that you’d need to know to adapt well to this country.

You’ll find out about the pros and cons of living in Italy, the best cities, the cost of living in Italy, places to visit and many more.

1. Pros And Cons Of Living In Italy You Should Know Before Planning Your Relocation

Italy is a lovely country to live in. It has cities and countryside that are waiting to be explored.

However, to truly enjoy life in Italy, you need to learn about the pros and cons before leaving your home country.

The Pros Of Living In Italy

Italy’s Lovely Climate

Italy experiences a Mediterranean climate. It has four seasons, where the summers are hot and dry, while the winters are rainy.

The best thing about this climate is there is no extreme heat or cold. The temperatures fall between 37°F (2.7°C) and 89°F (31°C) throughout the year.

Plenty Of Places To Visit

There will be places to explore in Italy. You can visit the big cities like Milan or find serenity in a village like Castelluccio, Umbria.

You will enjoy spending your vacation visiting exciting places, such as monuments, historical sites, museums, beaches, hilltop villages, and gardens.

Italians Are Generally Friendly

Italian people are generally friendly and welcoming, even to expats. It is because Italy is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, local Italians are getting used to interacting with tourists.

You will be able to make new friends easier in Italy. They will also help you whenever you ask for recommendations or tips about anything.

The Cons Of Living In Italy

Language Barrier

You may not find difficulties communicating with your colleagues at the office, especially if you work for a multinational company in Italy.

However, outside your workplace, you will find that many locals do not speak English. Therefore, learning the Italian language is crucial to help your daily communication with the locals.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Image Credit: Unsplash

2. Italy Offers Various Cities For Various Lifestyles

Basically, you will have easy access to beautiful scenery and tourist destinations no matter where you live in Italy.

For your reference, below are some cities in Italy that are most likely able to accommodate many lifestyles.

Milan

Football fans and fashion enthusiasts must be familiar with this city. Milan is a metropolitan city with more than 3.1 million people.

You won’t need to worry about city attractions and nightlife if you move to Milan. For you who love to be in nature, Milan has plenty of green spaces such as Gardens “Renata Tebaldi” and Giardini della Guastalla that you can explore.

Venice

Venice is known to be a romantic city. It is a popular destination for honeymoon and wedding proposals.

This city is perfect if you are fond of art and beautiful architecture. Venice is a city on the water, so it will be a unique experience for you.

Rome

If you want to live surrounded by cultural heritage, then Rome is the right place for you.

Rome is a perfect city for young professionals, families, and even retirees. It has neighbourhoods, and each of them has a distinct vibe.

In addition, Rome is a good destination for digital nomads since this city has many cafes and coworking spaces, where they can meet like-minded people and entrepreneurs.

Bologna

Bologna is a lively city with art and many tourist attractions. This city is known for its fast internet access and high safety rate.

Many expats living in Bologna can testify that this city is friendly and welcoming. Additionally, they can also experience the local culture and learn more about Bologna’s rich history.

3. The Cost Of Living in Italy Is High Yet Manageable

If you find reviews about Italy online, you will see that the cost of living in this country is pretty expensive. That’s why you need to prepare a monthly budget based on the average living costs in Italy.

A family of four is estimated to spend about €3,292 (3,558.26 USD), while a single person spends around €1,520 (1,642.94 USD) on monthly expenses.

The estimated numbers above do not include the monthly rent. If you live outside the city centre, the rent prices start from €580 (626.9 USD) to €700 (756.6 USD).

Of course, the rent in the city centre areas will cost more. Apartments with more than one bedroom will cost more than €1,000 (1,080USD) a month for the rent.

Follow these simple hacks to save money in Italy:

  • Choose a neighbourhood outside the central area.
  • Buy groceries in bulk.
  • If you need makeup products, buy them in your home country since they are usually expensive in Italy.

photo of illuminated city

Image Credit: Unsplash

4. Various Industries In Italy Provide Opportunities For Professionals With Different Expertise

Securing a job should be the first thing on your moving plan because you’ll need it in order to earn work permit and visa.

Therefore, we will share information about the biggest industries and jobs in high demand in Italy to help you with your job hunt.

Here’s a list of the biggest industries that provide more job opportunities in Italy:

  • tourism,
  • motor vehicles,
  • pharmaceutical,
  • textiles, and
  • fashion.

Another piece of information that you’d want to know is the jobs in demand. We share below some of the jobs that are in high demand in Italy for your reference:

  • banker,
  • back end developer,
  • data engineer,
  • retail consultant,
  • product manager,
  • cyber security specialist,
  • business developer, and
  • infrastructure architect.

The information above is only for your reference. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have an opportunity if your experience and expertise do not match any of the jobs or industries mentioned above.

You can find job opportunities online. If you have a local acquaintance, they can also be the source of information.

5. Italy Has International Schools For Children From Expat Families

Children need a slow approach to adapting to a new country, especially if they don’t speak the language. Transferring your children to an international school will help them settle in gradually.

Here are some of the best international schools in Italy for your reference:

  • American Overseas School of Rome,
  • H-FARM International School,
  • American School of Milan,
  • International School of Monza,
  • International School of Modena, and many more.

You can browse for a school near your residential area. This way, your children can have a shorter commuting time.

6. You Will Find Many Options For Public Transportation In Italy

The next hack you need to know is learning about local public transportation. It will be easier for you to navigate the city once you learn about the public transport routes.

The Italian public transport system incorporates buses, trains, metro, and ferries. Additionally, Italy has nine international airports located in the major cities.

With excellent public transportation, the cities in Italy are well-connected. You will find it easy and more affordable to take public transport than driving your own car, especially in the main cities.

boats on canal between houses during daytime

Image Credit: Unsplash

7. Spend Your Vacation Going Around Italy To Witness The Most Iconic Tourist Attractions

When it’s time for vacation, you don’t have to go abroad because Italy offers plenty of attractions. You can take public transportation to visit neighbouring cities or rural areas.

Here are some iconic tourist attractions we recommend to include in your bucket list:

  • Florence,
  • Venice,
  • Tuscan Hill Town,
  • Lake Como,
  • Pisa and Lucca,
  • The Cinque Terre, and many more.

The best way to explore Italy is by starting from where you live. Visit the local attractions in your city, then explore the neighbouring towns when you have a long holiday.

One thing is for sure when you live in Italy, there is no reason to get bored since you have many places to visit and activities to do.

door house and windows closed at daytime

Image Credit: Unsplash

8. Italian Cuisine Offers Diversity Waiting To Be Explored

Many Italian cuisines are known and loved worldwide. Therefore, you must try the original version while you are living in Italy.

Here is a list of iconic Italian dishes you should try to start your food scene exploration:

  • Pizza,
  • Risotto,
  • Lasagna,
  • Fiorentina steak,
  • Gelato (pictured above),
  • Italian coffee, and
  • Shaved truffle.

The best thing about exploring cuisine in Italy is you can go to an inexpensive restaurant or mid-range restaurant and still get good quality food.

9. Practical Hacks To Prepare For A Smooth Relocation To Italy

Moving to another city takes preparation, let alone to another country. You need to prepare for the visa, flight tickets, and other essentials to bring.

Therefore, we share some practical hacks to ensure you do not miss anything while preparing for your move. These hacks will also save you from being overwhelmed by your relocation process.

Make Relocation To-Do Lists

It is crucial to not miss anything when you are moving overseas. Make to-do lists, so you won’t get overwhelmed while preparing for your relocation.

Below are example of lists to organise your relocation process:

  • work permit application to-do list (collect visa requirements, go to the Italian embassy, etc.)
  • packing to do list (buy moving essentials, start packing, donate or sell things you don’t need, etc.)
  • contact to do list (contact your employer and real estate agent to ask about documents they may need)

You can modify the lists to adjust your needs, but remember to always write down the timeline. This way, you can manage your time and track your process.

Contact The Important Parties Several Weeks Before Flying To Italy

Please remember to contact the important parties, such as your employer and your real estate agent, several weeks before your moving date. This will give them time to prepare the essentials before your arrival.

You can also ask them if you need to bring anything, such as any additional documents. You will be able to move to Italy peacefully if you have everything prepared and ready.

Hire A Professional To Help You Ship Your Belongings

Moving to another country will be more practical if you hire a moving company like Sanelo. You won’t have to worry about carrying heavy luggage, especially if you have to take a bus from the airport to your apartment.

Engaging Sanelo will also help you to avoid the excess baggage fee. This way, you won’t have to worry about the sudden expense of your moving trip.

Conclusion On Moving To Italy

If you are looking for careers in fashion, tourism, art, and finance in Europe, Italy can be a perfect place for you.

Italy also offers cities that suit anyone’s lifestyle, well-connected public transport, places to visit, tasty food, a vibrant art scene, and friendliness.

Please remember to prepare your relocation well by making to-do lists, contacting important parties, and engaging Sanelo to ship your belongings to Italy. This way, you can move to Italy in peace since you have everything ready.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving To Italy

Is Italy A Good Country To Move To?

If you want to live in a place with rich history, culture, and art, then moving to an Italian city is the best decision.

Italy offers iconic tourist attractions. This country is also home to various industries. On top of that, Italy is an expat-friendly country.

How Do I Permanently Live In Italy?

A non-EU citizen can obtain a residence permit after living in Italy for 5 years. On the other hand, EU citizens can apply for a residence permit if they want to live in Italy for more than 90 days.

How Much Should I Earn To Afford The Cost Of Living In Italy?

A single person should at least earn €10,000 (10,846.25 USD) per year to afford the living expenses in Italy.

If you have family members or dependents, you will need around €30,000 (32,538.75 USD) per year.

Therefore, you need to make a budget estimation to determine your salary benchmark. This estimation will also help you calculate the amount of money you need to save for the relocation process.

How Do I Contact Sanelo To Help With My Relocation?

To start a quote you can visit Sanelo’s official website.If you’d like more information, you may contact us to talk with our team.

For you who want to know more about international relocation tips and hacks, you can check out the following articles:

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