7 Reasons Why Moving to Sicily Is A Brilliant Idea (2023 updated)

There are several benefits to living in Sicily, whether you are a digital nomad, a remote worker, or looking for a place with a beautiful climate all year to spend your best retirement years.

I am a Sicilian native, born and raised on the island, and I have traveled extensively throughout the world. Living and working abroad has made me see Sicily through different lenses and perspectives. In this post, I’ll go over the pros and cons of my island, because no matter where you go, there will always be challenges.

1. Experience an exotic life within Europe

Sicily is in Europe, and it is not. As a part of Italy, Sicily enjoys all the living standards of a typical southern European country. Still, Sicily is a place where kids play football on the streets, and people go to the beach when they get off work in the afternoon. Sicilian people enjoy spending time outdoors. You will be surprised by the hustle and bustle of the major cities and small towns, day and night.

Sicily is also a unique cultural combination of the civilizations that settled across the island over the centuries.Greeks, Arabs, Spaniards, and French left a mark on Sicilian architecture, language, food, and overall lifestyle. In some Sicilian cities with a robust Arabic heritage, you will want to discover that the traditional dish is couscous. You will wonder if you are in Sicily or the Caribbean because of its vast, unspoiled beaches in some other areas.

Cons: The Sicilians are extremely proud of their culture and cuisine and give little space to anything that is not distinctly “southern,” in contrast to some other southern European regions that are traditionally popular with expats (such as southern Spain or the Canary Islands). For example, when it comes to food, Sicilians prefer to do things their way (and not just that).

2. Living on the cheap

The cost of living in Sicily is very affordable. Sicily enjoys one of the lowest costs of living in all of Europe.

How much does it cost per month to live in Sicily?

I would say around 1500–2500 USD, even though I know local people who live well with less.

It goes without saying that there are plenty of expensive options and plenty of cheap options too, and everything will come down to your standard of living.

As a Sicilian born and raised and a remote worker on the island for the past couple of years, this is a rough estimate in terms of prices and essential services on the island.

The rent is affordable, especially in city centers, but the price might climb during the summer months in some touristy spots by the beach. Short-term rentals can be expensive, especially in popular destinations, making it easier to get a good deal.The countryside or simple, unsophisticated beach towns will still be very cheap. A decent two-room flat in a central area in downtown Catania, Palermo, or Messina should not cost over 700 euros. Small towns like Ragusa, Enna, Caltanissetta, Agrigento, and Milazzo have lower rental fees. To get an idea, browse www.immobiliare.it
Food and markets: Besides the rent, you can live comfortably on a small monthly budget, especially if you opt for fresh local Sicilian food at local farmers’ markets. Every town has one. And believe me when I say you will get the best value for money in Europe in terms of food quality.Public water is drinkable, and you can get it from one of the many fountains you will find scattered in any city.
Exercising: staying in shape won’t be expensive either. A monthly membership at a local gym is usually 40 euros. The great thing about Sicily is that in small local gyms, you can pay by the month without committing to a yearly membership, which is ideal for digital nomads.
Well-being: A full body massage at a local beauty salon costs 40–60 euros. I used to have private Pilates lessons in Siracusa (one of the most beautiful Sicilian towns) for 40 euros an hour.

Other typical costs in Sicily

A pizza margherita costs around 7 euros.
Healthcare is free if you are a European. However, as everywhere else in Italy, there’s a parallel private healthcare system to fall back on. So, you always have the option. Public healthcare does not cover dental or mental health care.
A dental cleaning can cost around 70–80 euros.
A session with a physiotherapist would cost between 50 and 80 euros.
A blow dry at a hair salon is usually less than $20.

Using public transport in Sicily

Sicily is certainly not known for its excellent public transportation. However, if you choose a place conveniently located in an urban area, you won’t need to stress about it. Remember, Sicilian cities are very walkable, and shops and facilities tend to be located at a walkable distance from the town centers.

Traveling between the major cities and towns is feasible by train with Trenitalia or regional buses. Traveling to the minor islands (Eolie, Lampedusa, and Favignana) will require a ferry.

Transport in Sicily is not as bad as they think; it just requires a little more planning than in other places.

Useful addresses

Trenitalia (for train)

SAIS autolinee (regional buses )

Autoservizi SALEMI (regional buses)

3. Learn Italian in Sicily

The youngest generation does speak English and is happy to practice it. However, older generations won’t speak English at all. Don’t let communication problems put you off. Sicilian people will always find a creative way to make themselves understood. Sicilians have a reputation for being one of the most welcoming people in Italy. So, the language barrier should not keep you from living in or visiting Sicily.

However, if you’re considering moving to Sicily permanently or for an extended period of time, I strongly encourage you to pick up at least the basics of Italian. What would you think if someone moved into your neighborhood and didn’t speak your native language? Knowing a few sentences will help you get around in Sicily or Italy, make friends and acquaintances with the locals, and overall have a better way with people and the system.

There are several language schools in Sicily, or you can begin learning Italian in your home country. I recommend using Preply or Italki to find affordable Italian tutors, or RocketLanguage Italian (read my review here) as a self-paced learning platform. A good podcast to grasp the basics (even for complete beginners) is ItalianPodcast101.

4. Travel within Italy and the rest of the world

Sicily has four international airports. The major one is Catania International Airport, from which you can fly virtually anywhere in Europe on the cheap side, including Russia and Northern Africa. Catania is also a hub for Turkish Airlines and KLM, meaning that you can easily connect to overseas flights.

The Sicilian train network is cheap and not so bad, and you can use it to travel all across the island on a budget.

Buses leave every day for the major Italian cities and take you to Naples or Rome without reserving a ticket in advance and for 30 euros.

Ferry boats depart every day to Naples, Sardinia, Genoa, and Malta.

Cons: Sicily is an island where most travel (outside of Sicily) is done by plane. Although there are daily connections between trains and coaches and you can travel anywhere (including the north of Italy), the journey is still fairly uncomfortable. To reside on this island, you must be comfortable with flying.

5. Experience a unique diversity of landscapes

When you think of Sicily, you might think of unspoiled beaches and quaint seaside villages. You’d be correct… and incorrect.Undoubtedly, many of them and their beauty will blow your mind, but Sicily is not the typical beach tourist destination.

Sicily is, instead, a vast and mountainous island. Its three ranges of mountains include several natural reserves and plenty of hiking trails that you can virtually enjoy most of the year because of the mild Sicilian temperatures throughout the year. Sicily also has a couple of ski resorts that you can visit during the winter months and ski while looking out at the sea!

Sicily has beautiful cities and towns for all tastes. Remember, Sicily has been conquered by an array of civilizations over history, and so it results in a unique combination of Greek, Arab, Spanish, Norman, and French heritage. All the major Sicilian towns are different from one another because of their histories. That is why strolling around Siracusa will transport you to Spain, visiting the Temples Valley in Agrigento will transport you to Greece, and strolling around Mazara del Vallo will transport you to Tunisia.

Ah, don’t forget that there are three active volcanoes in Sicily.

Cons: cities like Palermo, Catania or Messina can be pretty coathic. If you don’t like the hectic, typical Mediterranean pace of life, you should avoid them. Some cities, particularly Palermo and Catania, have a trash issue. Many towns, especially the smallest, are immaculate, but Sicily is an enormous island with a variety of different ecosystems.

6. Life in a safe place

Is it safe to live in Sicily? The answer is YES! As a globetrotter and well-traveled woman, I have no doubts that Sicily is one of the safest places on earth these days.

I know Sicily has a reputation for its Mafia, but it would be wrong to connect the mob with the region’s safety level. The Mafia is a sophisticated criminal organization with absolutely no interest in getting involved with ordinary people. For the same reason, petty crimes are virtually absent.

Besides, the helping attitude of Sicilian people is a guarantee that, if anything ever happens to you, you can be sure that your neighbor will show up and give you a hand.

All things considered, Sicily is an optimal destination for those who can work remotely and want to experience life on a beautiful and unspoiled Mediterranean island on the cheap side.

7. Sicily’s cheap real-estate market

Sicily represents a dreamy destination for many. The relatively low cost of estates, warm climate, and delicious food make it sound like a win-win situation. However, just like in a foreign country, buying a property in Sicily has its share of difficulties.

I generally discourage buyers from investing in 1 euro homes. It seems like a great deal, but it comes with a ton of constraints and red tape. Not to mention that the majority of the one-euro properties are in remote and underserved areas, which may be picturesque but lack infrastructure and entertainment.

If you want to buy a house in Sicily, I encourage you to spend at least a few months in a rental home that you can use as a base to drive around and explore different cities and places (Sicily is big!). If you really like it, hire someone who can help you throughout the process.

These are my top suggestions if you’re unsure of where to begin your search.

Historical cities: Siracusa and Messina.

Historical towns: Ragusa, Trapani, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Marsala, Modica (TP), Scicli, (RG) Noto (RG),

Beach towns: Letojanni (Me), Sciacca (AG), Castellammare del Golfo (TP), Capo d’Orlando (ME), Villafranca Tirrena (ME), Avola (SR)

Borghi (hilltop villages, usually in the countryside)Montalbano Elicona (ME), Gangi (PA), Erice (TR).

Is it easy to find a job in Sicily?

No, sadly it’s not easy. Sicily has one of the highest unemployment rates in all of Europe. Sadly, many young people have been moving away to other parts of Italy or Europe. Some people have been able to return and work remotely since the pandemic. If you are not self-employed or are unable to work remotely, it may be challenging to find a regular day job.

The majority of people work in agriculture or for the government. Cities such as Catania or Palermo offer the best opportunities.

To put it simply, it’s unlikely to move to a random Sicilian and have a successful career (unless you start your own business or work remotely, of course). Salary is somewhat low (which justifies the cost of living).

I’d love to discuss Sicily with you.

Every day, I get emails asking how life in Sicily is and where the best places to visit are. Of course, I’m overjoyed about the interest in my home region.

However, as you can imagine, I’m not a travel agent and I work full time as an educator and I’m unable to provide specific travel recommendations or other information on how to relocate to Sicily in my spare time.

If you want to learn about my firsthand experience living in Sicily as a remote worker, or if you value the insights of a local who knows the entire island and has written about it, you can book my time here.

Vocabulary and phrases to rent an apartment in Italy

Renting an apartment in Italy can be challenging, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as Roma, Palermo, and Firenze, where short-term rentals have become popular. Everything is possible in Italy with a little patience and a lot of Italian.

This post is the result of my own search for a rental in Rome’s crazy real estate market for my boyfriend and me.

To begin with, how do you find an apartment for a long term in Italy?

Renting from a private owner

To avoid paying agency fees, try renting directly from a private owner . This is a viable option for smaller cities or rural areas. I wouldn’t advise a foreigner to use this option in larger cities, where it’s easy to fall into a trap without a local understanding of the real estate market.

The most well-known portal for finding direct rentals from private landlords is

www.subito.it

www.bakeka.it

Using a real estate agency

In Italy, real estate brokers charge exorbitant commissions (10-15%), but that’s the way it is. You can either go to a real estate agency in your desired area and talk to an agent in person about your options, or you can use an online aggregator and then call the real estate agency to schedule a viewing.

The most well-known portals for finding rental properties in Italy are

www.immobiliare.it (N.1 in Italy)

www.idealista.it

www.casa.it

I recommend calling the agency when you find a property you like. Emailing is also an option, but in my personal experience, I’ve never gotten a response to my emails, so I’ve stopped using it. I mean it when I say that Italians prefer phone calls to emails.

Let’s look at some of the terms that are commonly used when presenting a rental property.

An apartment can be a:

monolocale: one room + kitchen
bilocale: one room + a living room + kitchen
trilocale: two rooms + living room + kitchen
quadrilocale: two 3 rooms + living + kitchen
mansarda: attic

Some other things you can read on an ad:

l’appartamento è stato recentemente rinnovato (the apartment has been recently renovated)
l’appartamento è in buone condizioni (the apartment is in good conditions)
l’appartamento viene locato non arredato (the apartment is rented unfurnished)
l’appartamento viene locato parzialmente arredato (the apartment is rented partially furnished)
l’appartamento è stato recentemente rinnovato (he apartment has been recently renovated)

Types of rooms

cucina – kitchen.
cucina abitabile – kitchen with a big table and living area
cucina americana – kitchen + living a room
bagno con vasca – bathroom with a bath tub.
bagno con doccia – bathroom with a shower
ripostiglio – storage room
camera da letto – bedroom
camera matrimoniale – master bedroom
studio – office
soggiorno – living room

The apartment will be rented :

arredato (furnished)
non arredato (non furnished)
parzialmente arredato (partially furnished)

Larger apartments are often rented out non furnished or partially furnished, especially in big cities.

Other things you should look up

aria condizionata – air conditioning
riscaldamento – heating
porta blindata – security door
ascensore – elevator
classe energetica (this is crucial for calculating your electricity bills) A corresponds to the most advanced level of energy efficiency, implying that you will save money on electricity. G denotes a less efficient and modern level of energy efficiency, implying that the electrical infrastructure is old and thus you will pay more.)

A normal rent doesn’t include:

spese di condominio (the cleaning of stairs and communal areas is included in the condominium expenses, which are shared by all residents of a building.)
utenze (bills)

The apartment can be situated at

piano terreno (ground floor)
primo/secondo/terzo/etc piano (first, second, third, etc story)

The apartment can come with

un balcone (balcony)
una terrazza (terrace)

Types of Italian rental contracts

contratto transitorio (from 1 to 18 months, this is contract is hard to find, because generally owners are willing to rent for the short term end up using airbnb or other similar portals)
contratto 3+2 (this is a 3-year long contract that you can extend for another 2 years. You can break this contract with 6 month notice)
contratto 4+4 ((this is a 4-year long contract that you can extend for another 4 years. You can break this contract with 6 month notice)

Vocabulary and sentences to schedule a view over the phone in Italy

First of all, you should cann the chance if you’re ready to view the apartment within a few days, otherwise it doesn’t make sense.

Buongiorno, chiamo per il trilocale in Viale Francia, è ancora disponibile? – Hello, I’m calling for the three-room apartment in Viale Francia, is it still available?

(then the agent can give you answers and put you through the person who is in charge of the rental?)

You should clarify the following points before scheduling the viewing:

quando si libera l’appartamento? – When is the apartment vacant?
l’appartamento è già libero? – Is the apartment already free?
l’appartamento è arredato? – Is the apartment furnished?
l’appartamento è climatizzato? – Is the apartment air conditioned?
A quanto ammontano le spese di condominio? – How much are the condominium expenses?
Qual è la vostra provvigione? – What is your commission?
l’appartamento è adatto per una famiglia con un bambino? – Is the apartment suitable for a family with a child?
l’appartamento è adatto per accogliere un cane/gatto? – Is the apartment suitable for a dog / cat?

And last,

scusi può parlare lentamente? – Can you speak more slowly, please?

Importantly, it is customary in Italy to require tenants to show proof of income or a permanent work contract for long-term rentals. They may also request a “garante” in some cases. A garente is someone who will pay your rent if you are unable to do so.

moving to Italy