Moving to Rome

Rome

Our rating

3 out of 5

  • Affordability 4 out of 5

  • Safety 4 out of 5

  • Healthcare 2 out of 5

  • Traffic Flow 1 out of 5

  • Property affordability 1 out of 5

  • Climate 5 out of 5

  • Environment quality 3 out of 5

Rome is without doubt one of the most captivating and eclectic cities in the world, with plenty of glorious places to live.

It's absolutely packed with history and there are few places on Earth where you can explore over 1,000 years of Roman history in one city. Some of the best-preserved Roman monuments can be explored within walking distance of each other โ€” hardly a surprise considering the city's status as the birthplace of the then-largest empire the world had ever known.

The aptly named โ€˜Eternal Cityโ€™ is one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world and the first thrilling sight of the Colosseum, the opulent Vatican and Michelangeloโ€™s Sistine chapel masterpiece leaves visitors awe-struck.

However there is more to Rome than history, art and hordes of tourists. Home to the Parliament, President of the Republic and Supreme Court, Rome is Italyโ€™s political, religious and economic centre. With its population of 4.2 million people, the city produces 6.7% of the countryโ€™s GDP and boasts a large and thriving economy.

With all the chaos of the city, it is easy to forget that Rome is also within striking distance of the Mediterranean Sea, where a โ‚ฌ7 ticket fromย Terminitrain station will take you to sandy beaches and small fishing towns. Rome is also the most internationally diverse city in Italy, with large numbers of expats attracted by the mild, dry climate, bustling cosmopolitan lifestyle, and extraordinary cultural heritage.

The job market

With unemployment at a rate of 12.6% (2015), finding work in Rome is not as easy as it was before the recession. Expats will find that Italians themselves are savagely competing for jobs in their chosen professions and many of the jobs that traditionally went to foreigners are now going to the locals. Italians take university qualifications very seriously so having a degree and fluency in Italian will put you ahead of the competition.

Job sectors that are more open to employing non-Italians are; marketing and communication, media, services and tourism and education (TEFL). Expats working for large multinational companies can also transfer to Rome through international business partnerships.

Finding a job in Rome can be significantly hampered by Italyโ€™s nepotistic โ€˜who you knowโ€™ culture of awarding employment to friends and family. People in Rome are very sociable and rarely hire on the strength of an email so itโ€™s advisable to be in Rome when searching for work. The job/accommodation searchย Wantedinrome.comย is a great resource for expats arriving in Rome.

Select the size of your move to get free quotes

Can you still move to Italy after Brexit?

You can still live in Italy, though itโ€™s a two-stage process to make your move permanent.

First, you need to successfully apply for a Long Stay visa. Fill in this form created by the Italian government to see whether youโ€™re able to apply, then be prepared to pay โ‚ฌ116 (ยฃ102) if you choose to go ahead with the application.

A Long Stay visa is available to anyone whoโ€™s moving for work, education, family reunification or adoption, retirement, or religious purposes โ€“ but theyโ€™re not permanent.

Youโ€™ll be allowed to stay in Italy for a specific length of time, depending on which of the above reasons applies to you. The length of visas varies from three months to two years.

If you want to stay in Italy for longer, you must apply for a residence permit at whatโ€™s known as an โ€˜immigration one-stop shopโ€™ and a police station โ€“ in that order โ€“ within eight working days of arriving in the country.

You should be able to book your appointment at the one-stop shop online, depending on where your local one is.

If youโ€™re moving for work, youโ€™ll need an Italian employer to get you a work permit, at which point you can apply for a work visa โ€“ as long as Italy is allowing foreign workers in, and as long as the national quota hasnโ€™t been filled up.

Ask your local Italian Embassy about the quotaโ€™s current state before you apply.

Healthcare

Before your big move to Rome, it's wise to think about medical cover for when you're out there.

That way, you'll be prepared when you arrive.

Living costs

Rome is a capital city and major tourist destination so it is not a cheap place to live. Rents, food, going out and transport all cost more in Rome than in other parts of Italy. However, you are likely to find more money in your pocket here than in cities such as London, Paris, Sydney and New York if you choose to live outside the centre and avoid tourist hotspots.

Those considering moving to Italyโ€™s capital should also bear in mind that, although living costs are lower, the average monthly salary of โ‚ฌ1270/month is considerably lower in Rome than other European capitals, resulting in less purchasing power. A cappuccino will cost around โ‚ฌ1.50 and glass of beer around โ‚ฌ3-5 (as long as you are not drinking it in a cafรฉ next to the Trevi Fountain). Depending on where you live in the city, rents range from โ‚ฌ700-โ‚ฌ1000/month for a one-bedroom apartment and โ‚ฌ1200-โ‚ฌ2150 for a three-bedroom with basic utilities around โ‚ฌ150/month on top.

Transferring money to Rome

If youโ€™re thinking of moving to Rome, youโ€™ll probably need to convert some of your British pounds into euros.

Thatโ€™s why weโ€™ve teamed up with Wise, an easy-to-use online international money transfer service which uses the real exchange rate, and charges low fees.

How much could you save? Well, its service can be up to 8x cheaper than high street banks.

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Property information

Despite afall of 4.1% in house price, Rome is still in the top three most expensive cities to buy and rent in Italy, along with Milan and Venice. If you dream of buying an apartment overlooking the Colloseum, prices start at an average โ‚ฌ9800 per square metre, depending on the apartment. In the suburbs and towards the coast prices range from around โ‚ฌ3000-โ‚ฌ5000 per square metre.

Renting in Rome does not come cheap. You will pay around โ‚ฌ1000/month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre and โ‚ฌ2150/month for a three-bedroom property. Outside the city centre rents are a more reasonable โ‚ฌ700/month for a one-bedroom and โ‚ฌ1200/month for a three-bedroom apartment.

If you want to avoid real estate agents (who have a slippery reputation in Rome), some expats choose to trawl theย affitoย sections of local newspapers, such asย La Repubblica Roma.It is advisable to spend some time in Rome before relocation so you can negotiate with landlords and agents. Knowing some Italian is an advantage when securing accommodation.

Neighbourhoods

Rome is in the Lazio region and although the city centre is fairly compact, its urban sprawl stretches 24 km to the coast where the main airport, Fiumicino, lies. The city sits on the River Tiber and is divided into 15ย municipiย (administrative areas). When choosing where to live, itโ€™s worth considering how you will get around. Romeโ€™s transport system is severely over-burdened and under-funded so if you live further out of the city centre, getting to work can be laborious and stressful.

  • Family Friendly:ย Monteverdeis a leafy neighbourhood that is popular with expats with families. The area containsย Villa Pamphili, Romeโ€™s largest public park and good transport links. Alsoย Vigna Claraย is a quiet residential area with an international school.
  • Hip and Trendy: Popular with international students,ย Trastevereย is where you will find artsy cafรฉs, bars and nightclubs. Also,ย Monti,ย near the Colosseum has elegant shops and bohemian bars.
  • Upmarket: The area around the 2,300-year-old roadย Via Appia Anticaย is populated by owners of luxury gated villas and manicured lawns. Further out is the golf course district ofย Olgiata, where the wealthy elite escape the city at weekends.
  • Up-and-Coming:ย Testaccioย was once a stolid working class district, famous for its slaughterhouse (now a museum). The area is now popular with expats and young professionals and offers affordable accommodation.

Cost of moving

The shipping costs of moving to Rome can vary from inside and outside Europe. A 20ft container will cost around โ‚ฌ1600 from the major European cities such as London, Paris or Madrid. From further afield such as New York, Dubai, Sydney and Melbourne you will pay between โ‚ฌ6000 and โ‚ฌ8000.

Schools and education

Education in Italy is free and starts at age 3 (kindergarten) up to and including university. School is not compulsory until age 6 and the system is divided into primary, junior and secondary, when students choose a high school to match their specialisms.

While the Italian state school system in Rome has a good reputation and is free to non-Italians, many expats choose private international schools for their children. Rome has 16 such schools, including British, German, French, Japanese and American institutions. Lessons are taught in English and Italian and students work towards international qualifications. One of the most highly regarded is the St Georgeโ€™s British School which offers the International Baccalaureate. Fees range between โ‚ฌ11,000 and โ‚ฌ20,000 per year.

Rome has four universities: Sapienza University of Rome, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma Tre University and Foro Italica University of Rome. The Sapienza University is the largest in Europe and with over 135,000 students enrolled it lives up to its nickname of โ€˜the city within a cityโ€™. It is also one of the oldest universities in the world (est.1303) and is ranked 202ndย on the QS World University Rankings, second only to Bologna in Italyโ€™s higher education institutions. The university is particularly noted for its faculties of engineering, natural sciences, biomedical science, and humanities.

Moving to Rome from the UK

When in Rome, do as the Romans doโ€™ is a proverb commonly attributed to St Ambrose, a 4th Century archbishop of Milan. Those moving from the UK to Rome would do well to take heed, since the Italian capital makes most British cities look like a sleepy country village. The stoic British reserve on roads and in restaurants will have to be abandoned in favour of the use of the horn, a raised voice and demonstrative gestures; plummy vowel sounds in favour of the punchy Romanesco dialect of Italian; expectations of efficient bureaucracy with a mixture of resigned shrugs and a willingness to get stuck in.

Living in Rome then is not without its difficulties – obtaining documents for ID, registering for schools, getting a driving licence, setting up a bank account and sorting accommodation can all be vexing operations, often requiring multiple attempts and the ability to spot a raw deal. (Many Italians eschew the notoriously slippery estate agency business by letting out their properties directly.)

But the chances are youโ€™ve been attracted to Rome not by promises of an easy life but by the vivid appeal of its history, cuisine and culture. Maintain your affinity for those and youโ€™ll never fall out of love with Roma.

Comparing Rome vs London

Romeโ€™s mediterranean climate is a lot warmer than Londonโ€™s with average high temperatures in the summer months of July and August averaging around 31 ยฐC, or a good eight degrees higher than in the UK capital. While Rome sees 36% more rainfall than London it almost all falls in the winter, leaving the summers both hot and dry. Roman winters are also less cold than Londonโ€™s, with average lows of around 3-4 ยฐC in December and January (compared to 2-3 ยฐC in London).

The cost of living in Rome is, on the whole, considerably lower than in London. This is largely due to property prices and rents (which are about 36% lower) but lower prices for groceries, consumer goods, utilities, public transport and entertainment also contribute.

Because of lower salaries though, the average Roman has less purchasing power than the average Londoner. They also, on average, report feeling less safe, receiving poorer healthcare, and experiencing more pollution.

Ranking against the world

The seat of the Roman Empire and credited for being the true birthplace of Western civilisation, Rome has earned its place in history as one of the most important cities in the world. Although its power and reach are diminished, Rome remains a major player on the global economic and cultural stage. It was ranked 32nd on the Global Cities Index, the highest ranking city in Italy. Rome contributes 6.9% of Italy's GDP, second only to Milan. As well has being home to Italyโ€™s central political, judicial and religious institutions, Rome is also the seat of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation, multinational corporations and global banks.

Rome also ranked in the top ten of most educational, historical, cultural and beautiful cities by the City Brands Index (2013). Indeed its ancient monuments and heritage attract millions of tourists every year and it is the 3rd most visited city in the EU. It also has the largest amount of green space among the European capitals. However, despite its unparalleled reputation for culture and history, Rome was ranked in 51stย place on the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, far below London, Sydney, Paris and Berlin, particularly in the categories of traffic, pollution and healthcare.

A day in the life

The saying goes โ€˜when in Rome do as the Romans doโ€™ which is good advice for survival in this frenetic but remarkable city. Expats will find they are in perpetual awe of Rome, where daily life offers sumptuous architecture, food and lifestyle coupled with choking traffic jams, eye-watering bureaucracy and a โ€˜what will be will beโ€™ attitude. There simply is no city on earth like Rome.

A typical day may start with joining the thousands of commuters on the Metro or those who take life in the own hands by traversing the ancient cobbled streets by bicycle. Italyโ€™s famous extended lunch hour is less common in Rome so lunch might beย paniniย and salad in a cafรฉ. After work you can shop for the freshest vegetables, cured meats, fish and cheese at the ancientย Mercato di Testaccio,ย or head to one of the rooftop terrace restaurants overlooking the Dome of St. Peter for a glass of chilledย Frascatiand a plate ofย gnocchiย . You can then party all night with the artsy crowd inย Trastevere, before watching the sun rise behind Colloseum.