@williamsteffen7068, you're welcome, William. Glad to help. Thanks for watching. We're doing a livestream on Monday at 2 p.m. Central if you can make it. Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
We are in Spicewood, Texas. Years ago we had a 2 1/2 week trip to the Florence area living in a country house. Hope to live and work in Florence for a few months in the future. I watch so many Italian channels and love them. Certainly Sicily is now on the list to visit. Thanks for the perspectives!
That's great, Amy ~ sounds like it made a lasting impression on you. 😊 Yes, you and me both...love channels about Italy. Glad you are considering Sicily. You're welcome. Thank you for watching. 💗
You guys are awesome, I am working on getting my dual italian citizenship and hope to retire in Sicily with my husband. My family dates back to the 1300's from Godrano, Palermo. Your city looks beautiful!! You apartment is so charming I am tearing up watching and dreaming of living in a place like that!
Oh, Lucia, I'm so happy! Thank you for your kind words.😊 Glad our video is a bit of encouragement for you. Great on the dual citizenship! Yay! Wow, that's awesome family history. Godrano is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Carini. We certainly appreciate you watching.
Thank you! I've been binging your videos. My grandfather is from Carini (my grandmother is from Bisaquino) and I've always wanted to see it. I'd love to live there but my wife isn't keen. I will finally be able to visit in May, 2025. Until then your videos will have to suffice. Thanks again and keep posting.
That is awesome, David~! Carini is such a special place. So happy you're enjoying the content. We're learning as we go, and you made my day! Thanks so much for watching and for your great comment. 😍
@alemassa6632 Ah, but we are in U.S. right now with family! We are looking forward to retiring in Sicily ~ tinyurl.com/d7przmdu Thank you so much. 💚 Si, Sicilia e bellissima!
Thank you for that breakdown. My wife and I are considering retiring in Italy. I am dual U.S.- Italian citizen. My family is from the Abruzzo region but we love Sicily (especially Palermo). We will be traveling there again this October.
@Freddels1, wonderful that you're a dual citizen and going there in October ~ what a great time to visit! We love Sicily. 💚 We just posted a video about some challenges we've faced, and it's a little controversial. 🤣 Was just trying to give a balanced view of Sicily instead of the romanticized view so many give. It helps with expectations. Wishing you all the best in your research for retirement and your upcoming trip. Blessings. 😍 ~ Carol
@@TheSicilianLife We have been researching as much as we can but then reality will be something different. We see you chose to live in a town of about 38k residents so that does not qualify for the 7% tax break. Size of the town is one of the things we are considering but we don't want to be somewhere where there's only a couple of coffee bars and one restaurant as we know we'd be bored in a week.
I look at properties in Italy all the time, but excluding some of the major cities (Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan and Turin) I continue to be surprise by the affordability. If you are willing to live in a small isolated village (not for me), you can sometimes cut cost by 1/3 to a little less than 1/2.
You and me both! I'm surprised this "apartment" we rented actually went for that. I think they gauge it on what the locals would be willing to pay which is much lower than someone coming in from a more expensive country. Carini is not isolated, w/38,000 pop. and close to the capital, yet the cost of living is very low. You're right, I'm sure it's even lower in isolated places. Thank you for your great comment and food for thought. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Lovely to see you both. A very well presented video. It certainly is worth what you pay for the lifestyle and those incredible views 👌 I take it that it would cost much more in Texas ? Would you say it would be about half of your cost for one person? Obviously, depending on a lesser rent, and does the cost of utilities depend on usage, or is that a fixed cost? Thank you for sharing 😊
Thank you, Janet. 💞 I appreciate that. Yes, indeed, it definitely is worth it! Yes, it costs a lot more in Texas. I haven't done the side-by-side comparison yet (maybe idea for video). Utilities are mixed: some fixed, some on usage. The electric/gas is usage-based. Car insurance based on hp of vehicle. I know that our entire budget in Sicily is less than just our housing cost in Texas! 😯 It's insane how the cost of living has risen in the States. We appreciate you watching. 🥰
Yes, you are absolutely right. A lot of Americans have an Italian heritage and are going back to their roots so to speak. Yes, it is definitely less expensive. It can be somewhat less expensive or MUCH less expensive depending on whether you're by the sea, in a major city or inland and/or rural. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 😊
Hi, John - Great question! Because after almost a year of eating wonderful Italian fresh seafood, meats, veggies, every single day, I wanted to see how their most popular item on the menu tasted. It was recommended by a local (and the waitress). I used to eat pizza and all the pastas and such until my diabetes got bad. Now I really cut a lot out so the bacon cheeseburger is a splurge while I am face-to-face watching my husband enjoy his awesome Italian pizza. 😋 I sure do appreciate your comment and thanks for watching! 💕
Thank you for your breakdown of costs. Wife and I are both retired and would like very much to live in Southern Italy and or Sicily. Do you have a legal team suggestion to help us get started with the process? Thanks again from NC
@allenpayne7542, thank you for watchihng, Allen. We appreciate it. Regarding legal team, no, we do not. We recommend Super Savvy Travelers channel with Chris and Pete - they have an extensive network of people to help folks get moved over. Hope to help. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
Great Video! Looks like you’re living the good life. I was wondering if you could provide some information in regards to the language. Can you get by with English and learning some very very basic Italian? I would love to retire to Italy, but I’m not sure if I could pass any language requirement?
Thank you so much! There are some Italians that speak English, especially in the cities. There is no official requirement, but we think learning the language is essential to truly enjoying being here. You can definitely start out little by little and with technology these days, and great UA-cam channels, you can start learning with 10 minutes a day. We're wishing you all the best. Thank you for watching! 😊
Where in PR? I just spent time in Rincon with a friend back in January. My first trip a few years ago, we spent out time in San Juan, El Yunque, and Vieques
@@LovesAlchemist No kidding, we actually stayed a night or two in Aguadilla! I put together a small video of our trip, I bet you would recognize a lot of where we went. I remember specifically we stopped by to see the little pyramids, I believe that was in Aguadilla
My costs: Inland village Water 60 euros three times a year Garbage 170 euros for the entire year Electric Lirenas company 150 euros every other month Gas: None used Internet sky.Italy 35 monthly for cell phone and WiFi (200 minutes for USA and Europe calls, with all local calls) No car: public transport if needed. Everything is in walking distance. Medical costs: socialized medicine Food: 300 euros per month which includes household products as well. Entertainment 0. Don't go out. Pet food/care 150 euros monthly online for 2 cats and one dog. My income $1500 monthly, with direct deposit in EU bank.
@evelyneliaz, wow, that's a fantastic budget! Thank you for sharing that detail. We certainly appreciate the awesome comment and for you watching our video. Much appreciated. 💝
@ebonieriley8309, Yes, we did. And even though gas/diesel is more expensive in Sicily/Italy, depending on the car you get, your budget can actually be less than the U.S. That was our experience anyway. Thank you for watching! Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
Hi Franco. Croce is already enrolled in Medicare Part A because they automatically did that on his 65th birthday. We will be checking into the details about Part B and what our options are. We'll be doing a video about steps we're taking to prep for retirement sometime soon. Thank you for watching and for the great comment. We appreciate it. 😊
@tas9898, first of all, sorry about the Type I, not an easy thing. My experience has been really good. You can hear more about it here: ua-cam.com/video/Szwcrqurrhw/v-deo.html Thanks for watching. 💚 We really appreciate it. Blessings, ~ Carol
Hi, Tim. Oh, really? I hadn't seen those reports. Well, I don't think they would let that happen ~ they would come up with some solution to build up the infrastructure and protect their people. I'm sure it's concerning, but I don't think it will come to fruition. Will keep an eye out for that news, though, because you can't be too careful. Thanks for sharing. We really appreciate it and also for watching our video. Blessings. 😊
Hello! Fellow Texan here. Do you have the ERV? I’m trying to see what the Houston Consulate is requiring for passive income, as they all require different amounts for some reason.
Hi Diane, thank you so much for watching and for your comment. 😊 Croce was born and raised in Sicily so he's a citizen, and I applied for and got citizenship (by marriage) years ago through the Miami Consulate when we lived in Florida all those years. I know it must be frustrating to sift through the requirments. Wishing you all the best on your efforts to accomplish this! 🌸
Can you live there if you do not know any Italian? I have no skills at all. I was learning a little Spanish, when I thought I was planning to go to Panama, but it's gotten really expensive there. I am looking at other alternatives. Italian food is one of my favorites! I know I could live there easily even if all my money went to eating out.... LOL.
Hi, Annie, you can with translation apps these days, but you would enjoy it much more if you learned a bit of the language. There are great channels on YT for learning Italian. Most definitely ~ food is so very important! Thank you for watching! 😊
@silvanaspades1860, oh, I'm sorry you had a bad experience, Silvana. What part of Sicily do you live in and what hospital was it? Would like to know. I appreciate it. Thanks for watching. 💚 Blessings, ~ Carol
@TheSicilianLife Vittorio Emanuele hospital in Catania. I'm Austtalian but my parents were born in Sicily but migrated to Australia. One nurse on a floor of patients and you better have a family member that can stay with the patient.
Thank you, this is helpful. How long have you lived in Sicily and did you move there before getting your citizenship? We are in the process of gathering all the details of our mother and grandparents to submit our applications.
You are welcome. 😊I applied for citizenship before moving to Sicily the first time, way back in 2006. We were living in Florida at the time, and we dealt with the Miami Italian Consulate. That's great! It is a bit of a long process, but it is so worth it! 🌻Wishing you all the best as you go through this process. Thanks for watching and for taking time to comment.
I know ~ the value is truly amazing in Sicily. We can live there for the entire month for less than just our rent price in Texas. Crazy. Thanks for watching. 😊
@MissRed92837, Hi and first of all, thank you for watching. We appreciate it. I have friends living in Sardegna, and they say it is cheaper than Sicily, if you can imagine that. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol
@itsmejetzza, thank you so much! We couldn't agree more. Fantastic value! Love the flooring, too. Thanks for watching. Appreciate you taking the time to comment. Have a blessed day. 😍
@@TheSicilianLife I plan visiting Sicily this is how I found your video, very nice, I see you came from USA, there is no possible way to rent out that amazing home for that price back there 😊😊 enjoy that amazing island
@itsmejetzza Absolutely! Oh, wonderful. So glad you plan a visit to Sicily. We're in Texas now with family, but we're planning to retire in Sicily. Yay! Thank you. 💚 ~ Carol
Good! We didn't have any issues. Intesa Sanpaolo is what we've used, but we'll probably go with Credito Siciliano when we go back. Thank you for coming by. 😊
how difficult is it to get a resident visa? or to become an italian citizen? what about apartments? do some of them come furnished? what about local transportation? am very interested to become an expat and Sicily is on my list. Appreciate any more info you could spare and thank you for your contribution.
Hi Lorna, Thank you for watching and for the comment. 😊 We are both Italian citizens so don't have Visas. Croce was born and raised here, and I applied many, many years ago for citizenship by marriage. For me, it was a 5-month process with ordering documents, sending things away to be "sealed" at the state capital, and then passport application, etc. It's not a fast process at all. But if you search the Italian Consulate website in your state, they will have all the info you need. There are many furnished apartments available. Watch my home tour video, and see what you can get for what price. Then I list all the websites to use to look for placed. Here's the link: tinyurl.com/yc4bb9er You're welcome, Lorna. I appreciate it. 😍
@Rick_Alden Hi, and we appreciate you watching and taking time to ask. 😊 Someone just asked about this, so maybe we should share our experience in an upcoming video. Here's what I posted to them, and I hope it is helpful: Italy and the U.S. have an agreement for no double taxing. So if you pay taxes in one country, you don't in the other. I am an independent contractor. I have, (and will when my husband retires to Sicily), a U.S. address. I'll pay U.S. taxes using that U.S. address. I met with an Italian-American lawyer in Catania (via Skype) to make sure everything was set up properly for me to move to Sicily and work from home, etc. I'm a dual citizen as well. This is just my own personal experience. You should consult with your attorney and/or accountant for your particular situation. Hope to help. 💙
@DWilliam1 Thank you for watching ~ much appreciated. 😍 It depends on your situation and where you live. I applied for Italian citizenship many years ago through marriage. We were living in Florida at the time. You should check the website of the Italian Consulate near you about what's needed. Sorry can't be more specific than that. Wishing you all the best. 💚
Definitely not cheap living in Sicily. I'm in the UK and have family living in both Viagrande and Trecastagni. I visit quite regularly and I'm always surprised that i can buy fruit and veg cheaper in our supermarkets back here in the UK. €4 for a cavolfiore violetto on a market stall in Viagrande. Ouch!
This is our experience. We can eat for much, much less in Sicily than we can in Texas, and I'd estimate more than 50% cheaper. I didn't go into itemized costs of different things, but our overall budget is LESS THAN HALF in Sicily, and we eat better, more organic, and it's a lot tastier. We appreciate you watching! 😊
car insurance seems quite expensive, what is your cars worth approximately? My car in Finland is maybe 12000eur and full insurance is about 600-700eur/year.
Yeah, we kind of think it's high too. It's €75/month, but we paid for the year so it wouldn't be more. It's worth about €6,000 (estimate). So if it is damaged in a major way, we wouldn't repair, we'd probably just get another good used vehicle. 😊 Thanks for watching.
Hello - are short term rentals easy to find and within that $1500 rental range? Or there only yearly rentals? I would like to do a few months at your price but not an airbnb as they seem to cost much more. Thank you.
Yes, there are plenty of short-term rentals available. Summer will be top prices, though. You can look on idealista.it, casa.it, immobiliare.it for "transitorio" which is temporary or short-term rental. 😊 Thanks for watching.
Hmmm everywhere i go in italy there is recycle for everything but if you look in the sorroundings always dirty like Naple,Rome,Livorno,taranto,Palermo , and graffiti everywhere
@coratheexplorer1824, Thank you for watching and for your comment! 😍 Yes, the garbage and recycling home pick-up service is exceptional, but there exists a problem with irresponsible people dumping garbage where they should not. Yes, it's definitely a negative. Hopefully, the municipalities will use part of their budget to start cleaning this up. Have a great. day. 🌻
@abark Hi, and thanks for watching and for taking time to comment. 😊 Italy and the U.S. have an agreement for no double taxing. So if you pay taxes in one country, you don't in the other. I am an independent contractor. I have, (and will when my husband retires to Sicily), a U.S. address. I'll pay U.S. taxes using that U.S. address. I met with an Italian-American lawyer in Catania (via Skype) to make sure everything was set up properly for me to move to Sicily and work from home, etc. I'm a dual citizen as well. This is just my own personal experience. You should consult with your attorney and/or accountant for your particular situation. Hope to help. 💙
@lorenzogalante4471, it is possible since that's exactly what we paid and is our personal experience and budget living in Sicily. Thanks for watching. 😊
@Steven-cg9hu Hi Steven, Yes, we are five minutes from the beach. Yep, totally furnished. You can get unfurnished, and it's cheaper. You may be interested in our home tour video. 😊 Thanks for watching. tinyurl.com/yc4bb9er
Hi Lucy, It can get cold in the winter down to the 20s, 30s, 40s. The houses there are not insulated, and it can be frigid indoors. Thank you for watching. 😊
Hi. You would need to check into citizenship in your state of residence currently. By marriage, by blood, etc. Lots of paperwork needed. It's not a process for the faint of heart. We appreciate you watching. 😊
@Sb-ff7mm, we had to apply for Permesso di soggiorno to establish residency just like everyone else because we were new in the area. Thanks for watching and for the comment. We appreciate it. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
@@valarieballog6218Every country has its own currency. For example: Countries in the European Union, like Italy, have EUR. The USA has USD. Switzerland has CHF.
In Europe there is also private health if you don't want to wait but, if you have serious health issues usually you don't have to wait months, you are going to be treated immediately. I started to have problems with my thyroid and the hospital gave me an appointment after six months so I went to a private specialist doctor, I didn't want to wait, I'm not rich and I could afford going to a specialist but, when I had blood coming from my uterus and because they thought it could be cancer, the hospital made all my exams and an operation all in two weeks, it wasn't cancer but just polyps and it was during COVID.
@gio7799 , thank you so much for sharing your experience and this valuable information! I'm glad it all worked out okay for you. Wishing you all the best going forward. 😍 Thank you for watching and for this great comment.
Healthcare in European countries is much better than in the USA. In Europe every resident has affordable or free healthcare! The quality of healthcare is as good as in the USA, or better, in most European countries.
Hi, Miranda. Actually, we are far west of there and don't get anything at all from Mt. Etna. We are praying for the folks over on the east coast of the island. Thanks for watching.
Watch Next Video: Retiring In Sicily Vs Texas: Weighing the Pros and Cons
ua-cam.com/video/Szwcrqurrhw/v-deo.html
Thank you guys! Very informative and useful video.
@williamsteffen7068, you're welcome, William. Glad to help. Thanks for watching. We're doing a livestream on Monday at 2 p.m. Central if you can make it. Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
We are in Spicewood, Texas. Years ago we had a 2 1/2 week trip to the Florence area living in a country house. Hope to live and work in Florence for a few months in the future. I watch so many Italian channels and love them. Certainly Sicily is now on the list to visit. Thanks for the perspectives!
That's great, Amy ~ sounds like it made a lasting impression on you. 😊 Yes, you and me both...love channels about Italy. Glad you are considering Sicily. You're welcome. Thank you for watching. 💗
I was stationed there back in the 80s and loved it. I've been trying to get back there ever since.
Oh, sounds like you need to make a plan. 😊 Thank you for watching. 💕
What a great service you performed with this video! It was very helpful, and I truly appreciate it.
Glad it was helpful, and it was our pleasure. 😊 Thank you for watching.
Thanks for you sharing your information ❤
You are so welcome, Michelle. Thank you for watching and for taking time to comment. 😍
You guys are awesome, I am working on getting my dual italian citizenship and hope to retire in Sicily with my husband. My family dates back to the 1300's from Godrano, Palermo. Your city looks beautiful!! You apartment is so charming I am tearing up watching and dreaming of living in a place like that!
Wow! How did ya’ll trace your lineage that far back?
Oh, Lucia, I'm so happy! Thank you for your kind words.😊 Glad our video is a bit of encouragement for you. Great on the dual citizenship! Yay! Wow, that's awesome family history. Godrano is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Carini. We certainly appreciate you watching.
So informative thx u
@sandyb9967, Glad it was helpful, Sandy. 💚 Thanks for watching. Blessings, ~ Carol
Gratze!! A good video by a lovely couple. 🙂
@jackbaldwin3649 Thank you! 😃 That's very kind. Appreciate you watching and for taking the time to comment. 😍
Grazie
@user-zc3vj2lj7v, you are very welcome. Thanks for watching. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol
Thank you! I've been binging your videos. My grandfather is from Carini (my grandmother is from Bisaquino) and I've always wanted to see it. I'd love to live there but my wife isn't keen. I will finally be able to visit in May, 2025. Until then your videos will have to suffice. Thanks again and keep posting.
That is awesome, David~! Carini is such a special place. So happy you're enjoying the content. We're learning as we go, and you made my day! Thanks so much for watching and for your great comment. 😍
Great video. Very much appreciated.
Thank you for your kind words. We tried to cover what we'd want to know if we were considering Sicily. Thanks for watching. 😊
This is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. I hope to spend part of the year in a Sicily soon.
You're welcome, Matthew. Glad to help. Very cool! Wishing you all the best. 😊
Interesting! Thank you! Nice couple! ❤
@EL68775 Our pleasure! Appreciate the kind words. 💚
Thank you for sharing the information. It is very helpful.
You are so welcome! 😊 Thank you for watching.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information !
😊 Awesome!
A great video, Signori. Very exact and informative. Grazie! Saludos from Mexico 👋
Hello~! 💕So glad you found value in it. 😊 Thank you for watching.
A very explicative video, congrats. I'm Italian, live in North Italy that isn't so affordable like Sicily but for many settings the spend is similar.
@alemassa6632 Thank you very much. Good to know. I imagine rents are higher in North Italy, correct? Thank you for watching. 😊
@@TheSicilianLife Correct.
Appreciate it. Have a great day. 💚
@@TheSicilianLife Have a great day you too in beautiful Sicccciliaaa!!😆
@alemassa6632 Ah, but we are in U.S. right now with family! We are looking forward to retiring in Sicily ~ tinyurl.com/d7przmdu
Thank you so much. 💚 Si, Sicilia e bellissima!
Very good video..! Thank you..!
@joszoet4003 Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching. 💚
My family and i are working on a 5 year plan to relocate! Hope to see yous there!
How exciting! 💕That would be great. Thank you for watching.😊
Wonderful video - thank you.
Thank you, Allen ~ appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching. 😊
@@TheSicilianLife - you very welcomed.
Thank you for that breakdown. My wife and I are considering retiring in Italy. I am dual U.S.- Italian citizen. My family is from the Abruzzo region but we love Sicily (especially Palermo). We will be traveling there again this October.
@Freddels1, wonderful that you're a dual citizen and going there in October ~ what a great time to visit! We love Sicily. 💚 We just posted a video about some challenges we've faced, and it's a little controversial. 🤣 Was just trying to give a balanced view of Sicily instead of the romanticized view so many give. It helps with expectations. Wishing you all the best in your research for retirement and your upcoming trip. Blessings. 😍 ~ Carol
@@TheSicilianLife We have been researching as much as we can but then reality will be something different. We see you chose to live in a town of about 38k residents so that does not qualify for the 7% tax break. Size of the town is one of the things we are considering but we don't want to be somewhere where there's only a couple of coffee bars and one restaurant as we know we'd be bored in a week.
@Freddels1, yes, I do see your point. That's a good perspective. I can see how that might be the case. Thanks for commenting and adding value here! ❤️
@@TheSicilianLife Thanks. Looking forward to more of your videos once you're back in Sicily.
Very informative guys 😮
Thanks! 😃 We appreciate you watching.
Thank you, very good info.
Glad it was helpful! We appreciate you watching. 😊
Thanks a lot!Could You please make one video about costs if you are the owner of the house so without rent!Taxes and more!Have an amazing day!
You're more than welcome! Thank you for the video suggestion. We will try to do that. 😊 We appreciate your comment.
@@TheSicilianLife Grazie mille!
@@zanav138 Prego ~ you're very welcome. 💕
I look at properties in Italy all the time, but excluding some of the major cities (Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan and Turin) I continue to be surprise by the affordability. If you are willing to live in a small isolated village (not for me), you can sometimes cut cost by 1/3 to a little less than 1/2.
You and me both! I'm surprised this "apartment" we rented actually went for that. I think they gauge it on what the locals would be willing to pay which is much lower than someone coming in from a more expensive country. Carini is not isolated, w/38,000 pop. and close to the capital, yet the cost of living is very low. You're right, I'm sure it's even lower in isolated places. Thank you for your great comment and food for thought. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Im interested, could u share some names of cities the?
@d.r.656 Hi, if you are asking for nearby cities from where this house is, a few would be Torretta, Capaci, Cinisi, Mondello, etc.
I love Capaci. I got relocated there one October after ferries wouldn't run to Isola Favignana. I will check out the other towns you mention.
@Ponkelina, that is so cool! Capaci is such a clean and pretty town. Awesome. Thanks for your comment. 😊
Lovely to see you both. A very well presented video. It certainly is worth what you pay for the lifestyle and those incredible views 👌 I take it that it would cost much more in Texas ? Would you say it would be about half of your cost for one person? Obviously, depending on a lesser rent, and does the cost of utilities depend on usage, or is that a fixed cost? Thank you for sharing 😊
Thank you, Janet. 💞 I appreciate that. Yes, indeed, it definitely is worth it! Yes, it costs a lot more in Texas. I haven't done the side-by-side comparison yet (maybe idea for video). Utilities are mixed: some fixed, some on usage. The electric/gas is usage-based. Car insurance based on hp of vehicle. I know that our entire budget in Sicily is less than just our housing cost in Texas! 😯 It's insane how the cost of living has risen in the States. We appreciate you watching. 🥰
@TheSicilianLife I believe a lot of Americans choose to retire in Italy. I can understand if it is much cheaper to live.
Yes, you are absolutely right. A lot of Americans have an Italian heritage and are going back to their roots so to speak. Yes, it is definitely less expensive. It can be somewhat less expensive or MUCH less expensive depending on whether you're by the sea, in a major city or inland and/or rural. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 😊
Why on earth would you order a burger in Sicily when you have so many local delicious dishes. Bizarre choice.
Hi, John - Great question! Because after almost a year of eating wonderful Italian fresh seafood, meats, veggies, every single day, I wanted to see how their most popular item on the menu tasted. It was recommended by a local (and the waitress). I used to eat pizza and all the pastas and such until my diabetes got bad. Now I really cut a lot out so the bacon cheeseburger is a splurge while I am face-to-face watching my husband enjoy his awesome Italian pizza. 😋 I sure do appreciate your comment and thanks for watching! 💕
Indifferenziata is the general non-recyclable.
The whole system is called raccolta differenziata.
Thank you for the clarification. 😊Love how efficient this is. Thank you for watching. 💕
Thank you for your breakdown of costs. Wife and I are both retired and would like very much to live in Southern Italy and or Sicily. Do you have a legal team suggestion to help us get started with the process? Thanks again from NC
@allenpayne7542, thank you for watchihng, Allen. We appreciate it. Regarding legal team, no, we do not. We recommend Super Savvy Travelers channel with Chris and Pete - they have an extensive network of people to help folks get moved over. Hope to help. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
@@TheSicilianLife Thank You, we follow them
Great Video! Looks like you’re living the good life.
I was wondering if you could provide some information in regards to the language.
Can you get by with English and learning some very very basic Italian?
I would love to retire to Italy, but I’m not sure if I could pass any language requirement?
Thank you so much! There are some Italians that speak English, especially in the cities. There is no official requirement, but we think learning the language is essential to truly enjoying being here. You can definitely start out little by little and with technology these days, and great UA-cam channels, you can start learning with 10 minutes a day. We're wishing you all the best. Thank you for watching! 😊
Congratulations on the move! I left Georgia in 2019 to Puerto Rico but considering Puglia! Which transcription company do you contract for ?
Thank you. Oh, nice! That's a beautiful part of Italy. I appreciate your interest, but I don't disclose that publicly.💞 Thanks so much for watching!
Where in PR? I just spent time in Rincon with a friend back in January. My first trip a few years ago, we spent out time in San Juan, El Yunque, and Vieques
@@DanInDallas you passed right by me, I’m in Aguadilla 😍
@@LovesAlchemist No kidding, we actually stayed a night or two in Aguadilla! I put together a small video of our trip, I bet you would recognize a lot of where we went. I remember specifically we stopped by to see the little pyramids, I believe that was in Aguadilla
My costs:
Inland village
Water 60 euros three times a year
Garbage 170 euros for the entire year
Electric Lirenas company 150 euros every other month
Gas: None used
Internet sky.Italy 35 monthly for cell phone and WiFi (200 minutes for USA and Europe calls, with all local calls)
No car: public transport if needed. Everything is in walking distance.
Medical costs: socialized medicine
Food: 300 euros per month which includes household products as well.
Entertainment 0. Don't go out.
Pet food/care 150 euros monthly online for 2 cats and one dog.
My income $1500 monthly, with direct deposit in EU bank.
@evelyneliaz, wow, that's a fantastic budget! Thank you for sharing that detail. We certainly appreciate the awesome comment and for you watching our video. Much appreciated. 💝
Those are great prices, did you buy the car there.?
@ebonieriley8309, Yes, we did. And even though gas/diesel is more expensive in Sicily/Italy, depending on the car you get, your budget can actually be less than the U.S. That was our experience anyway. Thank you for watching! Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
What a great couple. Funny enough Texas is less Ct and way way less costly than NY and NJ. So Sicily is even more economical!
Thanks so much for your kind words! Yes, it is much more economical. We're excited to be heading back. Thanks for watching. 😊
Do you still have to pay for Medicare for the USA?
Hi Franco. Croce is already enrolled in Medicare Part A because they automatically did that on his 65th birthday. We will be checking into the details about Part B and what our options are. We'll be doing a video about steps we're taking to prep for retirement sometime soon. Thank you for watching and for the great comment. We appreciate it. 😊
My husband is a Type I. How has your experience been for care. He is seeking citizenship.
@tas9898, first of all, sorry about the Type I, not an easy thing. My experience has been really good. You can hear more about it here: ua-cam.com/video/Szwcrqurrhw/v-deo.html Thanks for watching. 💚 We really appreciate it. Blessings, ~ Carol
many recent news reports suggest siciily may run out of water within the next five years.
Hi, Tim. Oh, really? I hadn't seen those reports. Well, I don't think they would let that happen ~ they would come up with some solution to build up the infrastructure and protect their people. I'm sure it's concerning, but I don't think it will come to fruition. Will keep an eye out for that news, though, because you can't be too careful. Thanks for sharing. We really appreciate it and also for watching our video. Blessings. 😊
Hello! Fellow Texan here. Do you have the ERV? I’m trying to see what the Houston Consulate is requiring for passive income, as they all require different amounts for some reason.
Hi Diane, thank you so much for watching and for your comment. 😊 Croce was born and raised in Sicily so he's a citizen, and I applied for and got citizenship (by marriage) years ago through the Miami Consulate when we lived in Florida all those years. I know it must be frustrating to sift through the requirments. Wishing you all the best on your efforts to accomplish this! 🌸
🌺❤️🌺
@gladysfurey2981, Thanks for watching, Gladys. 😍 Blessings, ~ Carol
@@TheSicilianLife :I spent 6 weeks in Sicily from June 24 to August 3, stayed at my daughter Inlaw family home in Balestrate. I’m in love🌺❤️🌺
Can you live there if you do not know any Italian? I have no skills at all. I was learning a little Spanish, when I thought I was planning to go to Panama, but it's gotten really expensive there. I am looking at other alternatives. Italian food is one of my favorites! I know I could live there easily even if all my money went to eating out.... LOL.
Hi, Annie, you can with translation apps these days, but you would enjoy it much more if you learned a bit of the language. There are great channels on YT for learning Italian. Most definitely ~ food is so very important! Thank you for watching! 😊
Dont get sick. Sicilian hospitals are scary and your family memberd have to take care of you during your hospital stay.
@silvanaspades1860, oh, I'm sorry you had a bad experience, Silvana. What part of Sicily do you live in and what hospital was it? Would like to know. I appreciate it. Thanks for watching. 💚 Blessings, ~ Carol
@TheSicilianLife Vittorio Emanuele hospital in Catania. I'm Austtalian but my parents were born in Sicily but migrated to Australia. One nurse on a floor of patients and you better have a family member that can stay with the patient.
Thank you, this is helpful. How long have you lived in Sicily and did you move there before getting your citizenship? We are in the process of gathering all the details of our mother and grandparents to submit our applications.
You are welcome. 😊I applied for citizenship before moving to Sicily the first time, way back in 2006. We were living in Florida at the time, and we dealt with the Miami Italian Consulate. That's great! It is a bit of a long process, but it is so worth it! 🌻Wishing you all the best as you go through this process. Thanks for watching and for taking time to comment.
Wow! I wish that just my rent was $1,500
I know ~ the value is truly amazing in Sicily. We can live there for the entire month for less than just our rent price in Texas. Crazy. Thanks for watching. 😊
Great info. I was shocked by your Bombola costs. Do you have a small bottle? Also the car costs - was that just for the Gas alone the 70 Euros?
Hi. Not sure of the size comparison for the bombola - yes, the €70 was for diesel for our car for the month. Thanks for watching. 😊
Any solar in your region?
@lisazabriskie4773, yes, Lisa, in fact, two house right on our street had solar panels on their rooves. Thanks for watching. 😍 Blessings, ~ Carol
Does anyone know if the costs of living is the same, more expensive or cheaper in Sardegna (Sardinia in American English)?
@MissRed92837, Hi and first of all, thank you for watching. We appreciate it. I have friends living in Sardegna, and they say it is cheaper than Sicily, if you can imagine that. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol
@@TheSicilianLife Thanks for sharing! I’m in the middle of organizing my move and new life in Sardegna. I can’t wait to live there. 😉
@MissRed92837, oh, my goodness, how exciting! You will love it. So happy for you! 😍 ~ Carol
The house is worth it, its low rent, and adorable 😍
@itsmejetzza, thank you so much! We couldn't agree more. Fantastic value! Love the flooring, too. Thanks for watching. Appreciate you taking the time to comment. Have a blessed day. 😍
@@TheSicilianLife I plan visiting Sicily this is how I found your video, very nice, I see you came from USA, there is no possible way to rent out that amazing home for that price back there 😊😊 enjoy that amazing island
@itsmejetzza Absolutely! Oh, wonderful. So glad you plan a visit to Sicily. We're in Texas now with family, but we're planning to retire in Sicily. Yay! Thank you. 💚 ~ Carol
How are the banks in the Carini area?
Good! We didn't have any issues. Intesa Sanpaolo is what we've used, but we'll probably go with Credito Siciliano when we go back. Thank you for coming by. 😊
how difficult is it to get a resident visa? or to become an italian citizen? what about apartments? do some of them come furnished? what about local transportation? am very interested to become an expat and Sicily is on my list. Appreciate any more info you could spare and thank you for your contribution.
Hi Lorna, Thank you for watching and for the comment. 😊 We are both Italian citizens so don't have Visas. Croce was born and raised here, and I applied many, many years ago for citizenship by marriage. For me, it was a 5-month process with ordering documents, sending things away to be "sealed" at the state capital, and then passport application, etc. It's not a fast process at all. But if you search the Italian Consulate website in your state, they will have all the info you need. There are many furnished apartments available. Watch my home tour video, and see what you can get for what price. Then I list all the websites to use to look for placed. Here's the link: tinyurl.com/yc4bb9er You're welcome, Lorna. I appreciate it. 😍
How do you manage with income tax? I pay about 5k a year, 28% 😢
@Rick_Alden Hi, and we appreciate you watching and taking time to ask. 😊 Someone just asked about this, so maybe we should share our experience in an upcoming video. Here's what I posted to them, and I hope it is helpful: Italy and the U.S. have an agreement for no double taxing. So if you pay taxes in one country, you don't in the other. I am an independent contractor. I have, (and will when my husband retires to Sicily), a U.S. address. I'll pay U.S. taxes using that U.S. address. I met with an Italian-American lawyer in Catania (via Skype) to make sure everything was set up properly for me to move to Sicily and work from home, etc. I'm a dual citizen as well. This is just my own personal experience. You should consult with your attorney and/or accountant for your particular situation. Hope to help. 💙
How hard is it to get citizenship? Because medical is key for me and if you’re not a citizen it can get quite expensive.
@DWilliam1 Thank you for watching ~ much appreciated. 😍 It depends on your situation and where you live. I applied for Italian citizenship many years ago through marriage. We were living in Florida at the time. You should check the website of the Italian Consulate near you about what's needed. Sorry can't be more specific than that. Wishing you all the best. 💚
How did you become Italian citizens?
Hi, Valeri. My husband was born and raised in Sicily. Many years ago, I started the process of citizenship by marriage. Thanks for watching. 😊
Definitely not cheap living in Sicily. I'm in the UK and have family living in both Viagrande and Trecastagni. I visit quite regularly and I'm always surprised that i can buy fruit and veg cheaper in our supermarkets back here in the UK. €4 for a cavolfiore violetto on a market stall in Viagrande. Ouch!
This is our experience. We can eat for much, much less in Sicily than we can in Texas, and I'd estimate more than 50% cheaper. I didn't go into itemized costs of different things, but our overall budget is LESS THAN HALF in Sicily, and we eat better, more organic, and it's a lot tastier. We appreciate you watching! 😊
car insurance seems quite expensive, what is your cars worth approximately? My car in Finland is maybe 12000eur and full insurance is about 600-700eur/year.
Yeah, we kind of think it's high too. It's €75/month, but we paid for the year so it wouldn't be more. It's worth about €6,000 (estimate). So if it is damaged in a major way, we wouldn't repair, we'd probably just get another good used vehicle. 😊 Thanks for watching.
Hello - are short term rentals easy to find and within that $1500 rental range? Or there only yearly rentals? I would like to do a few months at your price but not an airbnb as they seem to cost much more. Thank you.
Yes, there are plenty of short-term rentals available. Summer will be top prices, though. You can look on idealista.it, casa.it, immobiliare.it for "transitorio" which is temporary or short-term rental. 😊 Thanks for watching.
Is that 600Euros for rent for the month?
@TheLisbethK, Hi and welcome to the channel. Yes, it is rent for the month. Thanks for watching and for the question. 😊
Hmmm everywhere i go in italy there is recycle for everything but if you look in the sorroundings always dirty like Naple,Rome,Livorno,taranto,Palermo , and graffiti everywhere
@coratheexplorer1824, Thank you for watching and for your comment! 😍 Yes, the garbage and recycling home pick-up service is exceptional, but there exists a problem with irresponsible people dumping garbage where they should not. Yes, it's definitely a negative. Hopefully, the municipalities will use part of their budget to start cleaning this up. Have a great. day. 🌻
What about income tax? Wealth tax?
@abark Hi, and thanks for watching and for taking time to comment. 😊 Italy and the U.S. have an agreement for no double taxing. So if you pay taxes in one country, you don't in the other. I am an independent contractor. I have, (and will when my husband retires to Sicily), a U.S. address. I'll pay U.S. taxes using that U.S. address. I met with an Italian-American lawyer in Catania (via Skype) to make sure everything was set up properly for me to move to Sicily and work from home, etc. I'm a dual citizen as well. This is just my own personal experience. You should consult with your attorney and/or accountant for your particular situation. Hope to help. 💙
It impassibile to live with the much money impossible you can’t not live with that
@lorenzogalante4471, it is possible since that's exactly what we paid and is our personal experience and budget living in Sicily. Thanks for watching. 😊
Hi
Are you close to the beach? Was your apartment furnished?
@Steven-cg9hu Hi Steven, Yes, we are five minutes from the beach. Yep, totally furnished. You can get unfurnished, and it's cheaper. You may be interested in our home tour video. 😊 Thanks for watching. tinyurl.com/yc4bb9er
why would you need radiators in sicily
Hi Lucy,
It can get cold in the winter down to the 20s, 30s, 40s. The houses there are not insulated, and it can be frigid indoors. Thank you for watching. 😊
What about citizenship for retirees?
Hi. You would need to check into citizenship in your state of residence currently. By marriage, by blood, etc. Lots of paperwork needed. It's not a process for the faint of heart. We appreciate you watching. 😊
So at the end you are citizens in the country it has nothing to do with non citizens for pricing
@Sb-ff7mm, we had to apply for Permesso di soggiorno to establish residency just like everyone else because we were new in the area. Thanks for watching and for the comment. We appreciate it. 😊 Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
This is way, way cheaper than TN now.
@nomehdrider, I think it's a lot cheaper than most, if not all, states in the U.S. right now. Thanks for your comment and for watching. 😊
@@TheSicilianLife We live simply, and for us, with no debt, it may be $4K/month
@@nomehdrider I hear you. We can live in Sicily, all expenses for the entire month for LESS than what our rent is here in Texas. Nuts!
What is a euro
@valarieballog6218 Hi Valarie, the euro is the currency used in Italy, and right now, it's 0.915329 EUR for every U.S. Dollar. Thanks for watching. 😍
@@TheSicilianLife I have no idea what that means?
@valarieballog6218, for every $1 US, it equals €0.92. Hope to help.
@@valarieballog6218Every country has its own currency. For example: Countries in the European Union, like Italy, have EUR. The USA has USD. Switzerland has CHF.
Great information but that European health care is a scary thing for serious issues imo.
We appreciate you sharing that, Mike. Thanks for watching. 😊
In Europe there is also private health if you don't want to wait but, if you have serious health issues usually you don't have to wait months, you are going to be treated immediately. I started to have problems with my thyroid and the hospital gave me an appointment after six months so I went to a private specialist doctor, I didn't want to wait, I'm not rich and I could afford going to a specialist but, when I had blood coming from my uterus and because they thought it could be cancer, the hospital made all my exams and an operation all in two weeks, it wasn't cancer but just polyps and it was during COVID.
@gio7799 , thank you so much for sharing your experience and this valuable information! I'm glad it all worked out okay for you. Wishing you all the best going forward. 😍 Thank you for watching and for this great comment.
Healthcare in European countries is much better than in the USA. In Europe every resident has affordable or free healthcare! The quality of healthcare is as good as in the USA, or better, in most European countries.
@MissRed92837, that's great news! Thank you for sharing this valuable info. Take care, ~ Carol 😊
Are you serious? Mt. Etna the volcano is covering all of Sicily with ash!
Hi, Miranda. Actually, we are far west of there and don't get anything at all from Mt. Etna. We are praying for the folks over on the east coast of the island. Thanks for watching.