With a population of 4.257 million people, Rome really is as crowded as it seems. And while most of them are local Italians, a good number of people here are foreign residents. Expats that have made Rome the global city it is today. When it comes to weather, on the other hand, expect warm climates to dominate in this city. The coldest it ever gets here is, on average, 37°F, usually during January. Don't expect to snow here either, that's more common in Northern Italy than in the country's capital. As for the language spoken here, Italian remains the most common. Fortunately, there are many good Italian-language schools in the city to teach foreign residents.
You probably already know that you need a Schengen Visa in order to gain entry to Italy and the rest of the EU. Especially if you're coming from a non-EU country. There's also the option of getting into the country via the ETIAS Visa Waiver Program. If you're eligible, you can travel to Italy even when you don't have a Schengen Visa. But to stay here for more than 90 days (approximately three months), you'll need to apply for a residence permit within 8 days of arriving in the country. This will allow you to stay for at least a year and from there, you can start the legal process of actually moving here.
Riding a Vespa isn't the only way to get around the city, no matter how much the movies might convince you. Public transport is alive and well in the Italian capital. It has two railway systems, the underground metro, and the urban railway, which travel to most of Rome and are affordable. At night, when both railway systems have closed, you have the option to take a night bus. especially since they mostly share the same route as the traditional day buses. There are also taxis in Rome which, if it gets too difficult to hail one off the street, you can always use a transportation app to book one!
Now that you know you can easily travel around Rome, it's time to choose where to stay. The city has many amazing neighborhoods, each more beautiful and exciting than the next. Though you really have to know what kind of place you want to live in to help you with your decision. If you're more into nature and you want to live in a peaceful setting with lots of botanical bliss, Aventino is your type of district. But if you prefer to be right smack in the middle of all the action in Rome, you're better off living in Centro Storico.
As for the living costs in Rome, you'd be surprised by how affordable it can be here. It's not exactly cheap to stay in the Italian capital, but it doesn't have to be that expensive either. Say you're renting a luxurious apartment here. Depending on its size, the area it's in, and the number of bedrooms it has, you'll only have to pay around €500.00 to €3,000.00 per month. No, that doesn't sound cheap at all, but compared to those in other cities, such rental fees are lower. When buying property in Rome, on the other hand, it'd cost you €2,500.00 to €10,000.00 per square meter.
Because Italy was hit quite hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, the job market substantially suffered. Its current unemployment rate is at 9.1%, a lot higher than in the previous two years. However, as the country rises up, you can expect that there will be more jobs available for even foreign residents like you. But how do you get one? For one thing, you can go online and check out job-searching sites like Glassdoor Italy or CareerJet. They have countless posts looking for all sorts of employees. You can also enlist help from a Centro per l’impiego, which is essentially Italy's version of a recruitment agency.
At least, when finding a school for your kids here in Rome, it will be pretty easy. The Italian capital has a lot of prestigious institutions, a good number of which are private and international. If you're from the US, you might want to enroll your kids in the American Overseas School of Rome if you want them to graduate with an American High School Diploma. The Castelli International School, on the other hand, has one of the most beautiful campuses in all of Rome. But it's actually Core International School that will improve your kids' Italian as well as encourage them to go for extra-curricular activities.
Since Italy's healthcare operates on a universal system, becoming a legal resident here will automatically grant you access to it. Called the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SNS), the Italian government ensures that most, if not all the people in the country will get efficient and effective healthcare at lower costs. And since you're moving to Rome, you're doubly lucky! There are a good many prominent hospitals in the city that can and will treat all sorts of health problems. A good example is the Concordia Hospital, which is famous for its track record of successful surgeries. The Rome American Hospital, on the other hand, is the finest English-speaking medical center in the city.
The crime rates in Rome aren't all that high, but it could be better. The Italian capital was never the safest place in the world, but it was also never the most dangerous either. As of now, the general crime rate here is at 53.21%, pretty moderate though higher than many other major cities in the world. Corruption, bribery, vandalism, and theft are four of the most commonly committed crimes here, three of which are generally non-violent. And if you're wondering how safe it is to walk around the city, it's 72.54% safe during the day and 45.55% safe at night.
It's generally unwise for you to move to a different country without knowing about its taxes first. Paying taxes in your own country might already be complicated enough, what more when you're in a different one where you don't even fully understand the language yet. Fortunately, Italian taxes aren't too difficult to get to know. As in other countries, the income tax you pay here depends on your annual salary. The deadlines for your income tax returns are usually between May 1 and June 3 of each year. And you should note that capital gains, property, and inheritance taxes are all important here too.
Since Rome is a major financial hub, you'd do well in opening an Italian bank account here. You really ough to wherever you get relocated to. Doing so will ensure the safety of your money, as well as make transferring money from here to your home country that much easier and less costly. At the same time, getting a local SIM card is a must, even here in Italy. Fortunately, the country has a lot of trustworthy mobile networks to join. Many of which offer mobile plans with affordable rates that will give you everything from unlimited calls & texts to great wifi data!
Starting a new life in Rome may seem like the ultimate dream, but it'd quickly turn into your worst nightmare if you don't know what to do, what to get, and how to go about getting them. Fortunately, this guide can help you with all of that and more!
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