There are many great reasons for living in Italy as an American. Ultimately, it offers a great experience to both expats looking for work and to retire. However, there are pros and cons of living in Italy vs USA to look at first. Not all aspects of life will be better than in America and it is worth it to compare the differences.
Check out our article on the pros and cons for differences living in the Italy below!
Living in Italy: Pros and Cons Disclaimer
One disclaimer to start with is that there are differences in living all throughout Italy. Living in Rome, will be different than Milan, Naples, Turin, etc. For this reason, the differences between Italy and USA are broad and may not apply to every area in the country.
Pros of Living in Italy
There are many pros when living in Italy vs the USA. The fact that so many Americans are living there right now should be a testament to that. We’ve listed some of the many things that expats love when living here.
Amazing Food and Wine
The first things expats write to us about is the amazing food in Italy. Where else can you get the most authentic Italian food, than in the country that created it. From real handmade pastas to authentic margarita pizzas, you’ll be sure to have something incredible to eat here.
Culture and History
With it’s long history and great preservation, Italy retains some of the most famous pieces of history in the world. There are some of the greatest buildings still standing such as the Roman Coliseum or the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is also home to legendary artists like da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. In Italy, you’ll always be able to experience a little bit of the past anywhere you look.
Easy Home Buying Procedure
For countries like America, Italy offers a reciprocal home buying policy. This means that property is pretty straightforward to buy. Many countries make it much harder for foreigners to buy a home compared to Italy. It becomes much easier to live or retire in Italy if you have a permanent place to stay.
Cons of Living in Italy vs USA
Unfortunately, there are also cons when living in the Italy vs the USA. When living here, many Americans have experiences that are unappealing and detract from the overall experience. We’ve listed some of the many cons expats have told us they experienced while staying here.
Language Barrier for Many Americans
Many people can speak English in the main cities, but generally prefer to speak Italian. This means that when trying to communicate with locals, you may have a hard time. Though there are also many expat communities in Italy if you want to have an English speaking experience.
Expats Still Pay US Taxes
Given that you are an American expat in Italy, you still have to pay income tax to the USA if you make money. You can get rid of your US citizenship and become an Italian citizen, but that is a drastic way to avoid this. Most expats pay the taxes to both countries as many want to return in the future.
Employment Issues
If you are plan on moving here before employment you may have a harder time. Many spouses of expats try to look for work, but struggle to find jobs with the same ease they did in America. People retiring in Italy don’t have to worry about this issue, though it does end up being a big problem for some.
Want to Live in Italy
With the pros and cons of living in Italy, there are definitely reasons to move here. Even though there are downsides, nowhere is perfect. Italy has had a boom in Americans living there for good reason anyways.
If you are moving or thinking about moving, we at Schumacher Cargo Logistics can help you out. With over 40 years of experience, SCL is a premier moving company. From cars to full households, we can ship your goods door to door from the US to anywhere in the country. There are definitely more differences between Italy and the US, but we’ll let you experience the rest while you’re there.
To get started fill out our Online Quote Form or read another of our Italy guides below.
