Hello all,
This is from a private message I sent a week or so back. The person I sent it to encouraged me to post this so all members of the community would have a chance to give me their feedback. I feel this is a wonderful idea.
Here goes.

I have all kinds of questions about Italy.
I just haven't wanted to overwhelm anyone here.
i.e., I have heard that the cost of living is 3 times what it is here in the US. I am living paycheck to paycheck as it is here (I am a safety clerk in a trucking company, have 3 kids and I am single parent) and wonder if I could make a life in Italy.

Do you know which area is the least expensive? Could you give me an estimate on how much I’d need to have saved in order to rent in Italy for 6 months, on the cheap??

I will likely have to travel alone (w/o my kids)to check out an area, possibly go to school for a semester, or maybe even backpack and ride trains and stay in hostels etc. Just until I get my bearings.

I will be doing my taxes soon and was hoping to start a savings account with my return money for going to Italy and maybe either renting or going to a semester of school, possibly for learning Italian.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers,
Gigi

Hi Gigalina

Sorry to answer a question with a question, but what is an average cost of living in the US?

Coming from England, I've found many things cheaper over here - food and drink are far less, and of a better quality. Rent, as far as I have read, is similar in the big Cities, but cheaper than the UK in the smaller towns and villages (where I am, a long term rent of a [very] small flat can be as low as 500 euro a month plus bills).

Fuel (gas, electricity etc.) seems higher, but as we have only so far been paying for the winter months, and pay for gas up front (in the UK it was evenly spread over the whole year), no doubt the hot summer months will even things out.

Where do you intend to live? That will no doubt have a large bearing on the cost of living. In the bigger towns the schools will be more numerous, the nightlife more abundant, but I guess at a cost.

Good luck!

In Italy it depends a lot on the size of the city.
For example in Rome 800 Euro a month will rent in a good location only a micro apartment. You can rent for the same amount a very large apartment in a smaller Town. I remember rentals in small town in Umbria to be quite low - I just checked in Viterbo fo example - I saw an add for a 80sq meter ( 900 sq feet flat for 450 Euro a month ) -
There is also another thread on the cost of living in Italy

Monthly living expenses in Italy?

Hi there,

First of all you need to be able to speak Italian as that’s really important: it’s going to improve your changes on getting a job, for example.
The average life cost is lower in the south then in north. The perfect combination then will be to work in a big city and live in a small one. But that mean you should have a car.
Where I live (Balestrate, Sicily) you can rent a house for around 350 euro’s/month, in the country side, even if with furniture. If you get a regular job as employee you should earn around 1000-1300 euro’s/month. Normally you should also get some help because you’re a single mother but as you are not an EU citizen things might be different.
I think the better way to try and live here, should be without your kids. I mean : come here for a couple of months, see if you can get a good job and if things are like you want them to be, bring your kids too.
The hospital I work for is part of the UPMC Pittsburg. See on the web site: www.ismett.edu if there’s a job you can apply for.
Take a look also on this links:
http://www.bestofsicily.com/jobs.htm
http://www.icastelli.net/joboffers.htm
http://www.exploringabroad.com/italy...g-in-italy.htm
http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/langu...country/italy/

Send me and e-mail if you need further help.

Depending on where you live in the U.S., Italy is either cheap or downright expensive! We have record inflation, and even pasta & bread is through the roof. I would never suggest you pick up and move with three kids in tow.
If you're on your own, however, it's always good to stay in the South or in small towns or the countryside. I know many who tried that way.
If you know both languages, there are often secretarial jobs right away or translating gigs. Most people who come over on their own, even as Fashion designers or Marketing execs end up teaching a lot of English! That will provide some income, probably just to cover your bills.
As for coming just for 6 months, it might make sense to simply travel around, staying in hostels, meeting people, or, taking a class in Perugia for example to learn Italian. You never know, you could meet your future partner or future business that way!
Good luck.
lrtucci

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