Moving to Italy from the USA: What No One Tells You
Moving to Italy from the USA works best when visa planning and the first month setup happen together. The permesso di soggiorno and codice fiscale affect daily life more than expected. Cost of living can feel lower than in the US, depending on the city and lifestyle.
A winter morning in Italy can feel damp and sharp, especially if you are used to dry indoor heat in the USA. The stone under your shoes stays cold. You hear cups clink at the bar, the espresso machine hissing, and scooters slipping past on narrow streets.
Moving to Italy from the USA is exciting, but the first weeks are mostly small, practical problems. You are figuring out where to buy a SIM, how to get to an appointment on time, and why the same form needs one more stamp. You can do everything right and still be told to come back tomorrow.
An international eSIM like Jetpac is a travel essential, since it keeps your phone working for maps, translations, and messages the moment you land.
The First Truth Nobody Warns You About
Italy often runs on relationships, rules, and patience, in that order. You can have every document printed, signed, and neatly stacked, and still wait because the right person is not at the desk today. It is rarely rude. It is just how the system moves.
This is also why simple questions like can Americans move to Italy do not have a simple feel in real life. The legal answer depends on your route, but the day-to-day answer depends on timing, paperwork, and your ability to stay calm when things take longer than planned.
If you are moving to Italy from the USA, build extra time into everything, especially in the first month. A bank appointment can shift. A rental viewing can run late. A permit step can turn into three steps. When you expect that, the whole move feels less stressful.
How Can I Move To Italy
When people seriously start planning to move to Italy from the USA, this is where things slow down and become practical. There is no single path that fits everyone. The right option depends on how you earn, how long you plan to stay, and how stable your finances are.
If you are asking, “How can I move to Italy?”, the first step is matching your real-life situation to a legal route. Italy cares less about your dream and more about proof. Proof of income. Proof of housing plans. Proof that you can support yourself without becoming a burden on the system.
✅ For many Americans, the most common paths are tied to remote work, independent income, or long-term residency options. Each route comes with its own paperwork rhythm. Some require documents before you leave the USA. Others trigger steps only after you arrive in Italy.
This is where many people get stuck. They prepare everything except the order. If you try to do things out of sequence, the process feels harder than it needs to be. When you slow down, follow the expected order, and accept local timelines, living in Italy starts to feel manageable instead of overwhelming.
Remote Work And Financial Routes Explained
Once you move past the idea stage, moving to Italy from the USA becomes a paperwork exercise. The country wants clarity. How you earn matters more than where you are from.
As mentioned earlier, for Americans who work online, remote work routes are often the most practical. Italy looks for stable income, ongoing contracts, and clear proof that your work is based outside the country. With clean, consistent paperwork, this path allows you to live in Italy without needing a local employer.
For others, financially independent routes make more sense. This usually applies to retirees, families with investment income, or people taking a longer break from work. The key detail is that the income must be steady and not tied to active employment in Italy.
If you are still asking, “How can I move to Italy?”, this is the point where honesty matters. Choose the route that matches your real situation, not the one that sounds easiest. When the documents line up with your life, the process feels slower but smoother.
Your First 30 Days In Italy
The first month after moving to Italy from the USA is usually busy and uneven. Some days feel productive. Others feel like waiting rooms and queues. Planning the order of tasks helps more than trying to do everything at once.
✅ Start with the basics that unlock everything else. A tax code, a local address, and proof that you are in the system. Without these, even small things can stall. With them, living in Italy starts to feel less fragile.
Expect appointments to shift and offices to close for lunch. Bring printed copies of everything, even if you already emailed it. The first 30 days are not about settling in. They are about setting foundations so that daily life works.
Housing Reality Check
Housing is where moving to Italy from the USA often feels real. Short stays are easy. Long-term rentals take time, patience, and a bit of flexibility.
Many Americans expect speed and clear answers.
👉 Italian landlords often want stability first. You may be asked for proof of income, a longer deposit, or references you did not need in the USA. Some listings disappear quickly. Others sit for weeks and still require multiple visits.
👉 If you are planning to live in Italy long-term, start with a temporary place. Use that time to learn neighborhoods, understand commute patterns, and gather local paperwork. Once you have a tax code and a local bank receipt, conversations with landlords usually get easier.
Housing is rarely the smoothest part of “How can I move to Italy?”, but once it is settled, everything else feels lighter.
What is the Cost Of Living in Italy Vs US
Cost is one of the biggest reasons people consider moving to Italy from the USA, but it helps to look at it in pieces, not headlines.
✅ Daily expenses often feel lighter. Groceries are simple and seasonal. Markets are loud and practical. You buy what is fresh, not what is packaged. A quick coffee at the bar is part of the routine and usually costs far less than a café stop in the US.
✅ Housing and utilities are where the balance can shift. Rent in popular cities can rise quickly, especially near historic centers. Winter heating bills can surprise people who are used to central heating and newer buildings. Internet, transport, and mobile plans usually feel more reasonable once you understand local options.
When people compare the cost of living in Italy vs the USA, the real difference is lifestyle. Living in Italy rewards smaller spaces, walking more, and eating locally. If your habits stay the same as they were in the USA, costs can climb faster than expected.
What is the Work Culture In Italy
Work culture in Italy is often one of the biggest adjustments for people moving to Italy from the USA. The structure exists, but the rhythm feels different.
The workday may start later, stretch longer, or pause in the middle. Lunch is not rushed in many workplaces, and personal time is taken seriously. Deadlines exist, but they are often treated with more flexibility than in the US.
For Americans working remotely while living in Italy, this difference shows up in small ways. Appointments may be scheduled during what feels like work hours. Responses can take longer. Meetings may feel more conversational than efficient.
Work culture in Italy values relationships and context. A few minutes of small talk can matter. Once you adjust your expectations and timing, the pace feels calmer and more sustainable.
Best Places For Americans To Live In Italy
Choosing where to settle matters more than people expect. The right city makes daily life easier. The wrong one can make simple tasks feel heavy.
When people search for the best places for Americans to live in Italy, what they usually want is balance. Walkable streets. Reliable transport. Hospitals, schools, and offices that are easy to reach. A place that feels lived in, not just visited.
These places work well for Americans because daily life is practical, not complicated.
#1. Bologna
Bologna is often overlooked, which is part of why it works so well. It is a real working city with strong transport links and a clear daily rhythm. The historic center is compact, and most errands can be done on foot.
In winter, the long covered walkways keep you dry when the air is damp. You hear scooters passing under arches and students talking outside bakeries. Food is central here. Fresh pasta, slow lunches, and markets that still feel local make settling in easier.
Why go: Easy daily life, strong train connections, and a steady local pace.
Expected budget: $3,100 to $5,000 for 7 days for a family of 3, mid-range.
#2. Milan
Milan feels practical from the start, which is why many Americans find it easier to adjust here. Public transport is clear. Services are centralized. Appointments tend to run closer to schedule than in smaller cities.
Winter is gray and busy. Sidewalks move fast. Trams rattle past, and cafés fill up early in the morning. You step inside for a warm pastry and coffee, then head back out into a city that works first and relaxes later.
Why go: Strong infrastructure, job access, and international services.
Expected budget: $3,800 to $6,200 for 7 days for a family of 3, mid-range.
#3. Florence
Florence feels intimate once you step away from the busiest streets. It is dense, walkable, and layered with history, but daily life still runs on simple routines.
Winter mornings are quiet along the river. The air feels heavy, and footsteps echo on stone. You pass small bakeries opening their doors, the smell of bread drifting out. Locals stop for groceries, not souvenirs. Meals lean toward comfort, with soups, beans, and slow-cooked dishes that fit the season.
Why go: Walkable neighborhoods, strong train access, and a slower daily rhythm.
Expected budget: $3,450 to $5,700 for 7 days for a family of 3, mid-range.
#4. Rome
Rome can feel overwhelming at first, especially for people moving to Italy from the USA. It is loud, layered, and rarely direct. Once you understand the rhythm, it becomes easier to live with.
Winter evenings feel damp, and the streets shine after rain. Buses pull in close, voices carry across piazzas, and neighborhoods stay active well into the night. Daily food is simple and filling. Pizza by the slice, fried snacks, and quick lunches eaten standing up are part of the routine.
Why go: Endless neighborhoods, strong public services, and a real working city feel.
Expected budget: $3,600 to $6,000 for 7 days for a family of 3, mid-range.
#5. Verona
Verona feels calmer than larger cities, but it still works well for everyday life. It is compact, organized, and easy to understand, which helps when you are settling in.
Winter air is crisp, especially in the mornings. You hear footsteps under covered walkways and glasses clinking in small wine bars by early evening. Local food is comforting and seasonal, with risotto, warm breads, and simple meat dishes showing up often. The city feels steady rather than rushed.
Why go: Smaller-scale living with reliable transport and an easy daily rhythm.
Expected budget: $2,850 to $4,800 for 7 days for a family of 3, mid-range.
Connectivity That Keeps Life Moving
Internet access becomes important faster than most people expect when moving to Italy from the USA. It is not just about staying in touch. It is how you find offices, translate documents, book appointments, and show proof when someone asks for it on the spot.
During the first weeks of living in Italy, you may need data outside government buildings, in older apartments, or while waiting in line, where WiFi is unreliable or unavailable. That is where a dependable mobile connection matters.
A Jetpac eSIM for Italy is meant for that.
FAQs
How to move to Italy from the USA?
Start by choosing a legal route that matches your income and plans. Most Americans move through remote work, independent income, or long-term residency options. The process depends on paperwork, timing, and following the steps in the right order.
Can Americans move to Italy?
Yes, Americans can move to Italy, but only through approved visa routes. Italy focuses on proof of income, housing plans, and health coverage, not just intent. Preparation matters more than speed.
What do I need to move to Italy?
You usually need a valid visa, proof of income, health insurance, and a place to stay. After arrival, expect to apply for local registration and permits before daily life fully works.
What is the crime rate in Italy?
Italy is generally safe, with lower violent crime rates than many countries. Petty theft can be common in tourist-heavy areas, especially on public transport and in busy city centers.
Cost of living in Italy vs the US?
Daily expenses like food and transport often feel lower, but rent and utilities can be high in popular cities. The cost of living in Italy vs the US depends heavily on location and lifestyle.
Best places for Americans to live in Italy?
Cities with walkability, strong public transport, and accessible services work best. Bologna, Milan, and Florence are often considered practical choices for Americans settling in Italy.
Disclaimer
Prices and data are based on publicly available information and may change. Budgets are rough mid-range averages and can vary by city, season, and travel style. All destination budgets are shown in US dollars using an approximate conversion rate of 1 EUR ≈ 1.19 USD (as of February 2, 2026).
This content is for educational purposes only. Jetpac is not responsible for network variations or third-party data. Nothing in this content should be interpreted as a product endorsement. Please verify the latest details with official sources.
