愛污传媒

Lifestyle

    • 'It was a good choice': This U.S. couple say their living costs dropped by nearly US$3,000 a month when they moved to Italy

    U.S. couple Tony and Francine Smarrelli, both of Italian descent, relocated to Italy in December 2023. (Courtesy Chris Sobolev via CNN Newsource) U.S. couple Tony and Francine Smarrelli, both of Italian descent, relocated to Italy in December 2023. (Courtesy Chris Sobolev via CNN Newsource)
    Share

    As they celebrated the milestone of their 50th wedding anniversary in Venice, Italy, in June 2023, Tony Smarrelli, 74, and his wife, Francine, 75, made an important decision.

    The retired elementary teachers, originally from Syracuse, New York, resolved to leave the U.S. and move to Italy for good.

    That same year, the Smarrellis, both of Italian descent, relocated to the picturesque coastal town of Scalea, in the southern Italian region of Calabria.

    Memorable trip

    鈥淲e were in St. Mark鈥檚 Square (in Venice) when a quartet started playing (classic Italian song) 鈥淢alafemmina,鈥欌 Tony, whose father and grandfather hailed from the village of Tocco da Casauria in Abruzzo, says of the day they made the decision.

    鈥淚t brought tears to my eyes, because my father would put on his Italian records every Sunday for dinner and would sing that song to my mother.鈥

    Looking to reconnect with their Italian roots 鈥 Francine鈥檚 mother was from Naples 鈥 the couple began searching for a home, and saw an advertisement for a property posted by real estate agency Super Savvy Travelers, run by an American couple living in Calabria.

    They purchased the 1,500-square-feet property, which has three bedrooms, a dining room and a walk-in closet, for 鈧150,000 (around US$162,000) in November 2023.

    鈥淲e flew to Italy for the second time in 2023 and put an offer in for that home. We then secured our visas in the U.S. in three hours, sold our home (in the U.S.), packed up our belongings and flew back to Italy in December 2023,鈥 says Tony.

    The Smarrellis hired a lawyer to expedite their permit to stay and were able to obtain an elective residence visa, which allows people to immigrate as long as they have a passive income of at least $38,000 euros (US$40,700.)

    They say they chose to live in Scalea because of the appealing quality of life, sea views and slower-paced vibe.

    Other plus points included the superb restaurants (cheaper than in the States) and the friendliness of the people, say the couple.

    Even though their home was already livable when they bought it, the Smarrellis chose to totally renovate it, spending an extra 鈧80,000 (about US$86,500) to retile the property, and add a new plumbing and electric system, as well as two new bathrooms, an entire kitchen, doors, windows and screens.

    The couple, who rented an apartment nearby while overseeing the renovations, had an 鈥渆xceptional鈥 architect and construction company, who met their four-month completion deadline.

    They say that a similar home in the U.S. would have been near impossible for them to afford.

    鈥淚t would be easily US$1 to US$2 million to live on a coast of South California or (a place with) any coastal views on the Eastern Seaboard,鈥 says Tony.

    According to Tony, his father and grandfather migrated from Italy to the U.S. in 1938 to make a better life for themselves.

    U.S. couple Tony Smarrelli, 74, and his wife Francine, 75, moved to Italy from the U.S. in December 2023. (Courtesy Chris Sobolev via CNN Newsource)

    Now, 86 years later, he is living in Italy enjoying a better life, he says.

    Lifestyle change

    鈥淪ome of my best friends said it takes a lot of guts to pick up and move to another country at 74 years of age.

    鈥淚 tell them it took guts for my father and grandfather to come to another country on a boat for eight weeks with no home, no work, very little money, no resources to make a better life for themselves,鈥 says Tony, who was a physical education teacher and high school basketball coach in the U.S. for 30 years.

    鈥淚n our modern world, it鈥檚 just a lifestyle change and for us it was a good choice.鈥

    Italy鈥檚 sunshine, great views, food and characterful villages are all major perks when it comes to luring expats.

    But the Smarrellis hadn鈥檛 anticipated the incredibly lower cost of living in comparison to the U.S., particularly for retirees.

    They say they鈥檝e cut back nearly US$3,000 per month on expenses, which amounts to US$36,000 a year, since moving there permanently.

    The couple now spend around US$1,200 a month between the two of them.

    鈥淭he US$1,200 includes dining out two to three days a week with a bottle of wine, about US$50 to US$70 each time out, for a total of US$400 to US$500 a month,鈥 says Tony.

    Their monthly internet costs are 鈧40 (around US$43), while their mobile phone bills are less than 鈧20.

    Veterinary services for their beagle Cooper come to about 鈧20 (around US$21.64) per visit, while electricity and water costs them 鈧200 (about US$216) with gas around 鈧75 (around US$81).

    Back in the U.S., the couple鈥檚 mortgage alone was US$1,500 per month, and Tony鈥檚 golf membership, including dining at the golf club and cart fees, came to US$1,200.

    Services were also more expensive. They say that their television fees amounted to US$200, internet US$180, and they spent around US$265 for three mobile phones. Their monthly costs also included running two cars.

    Cheaper living costs

    鈥淢onthly expenses in the U.S. before leaving were between US$4,800 to US$5,000 a month. In all we are about US$3,000 less monthly living here in Italy,鈥 adds Tony.

    He鈥檇 like to apply for Italian citizenship, but the fact that his father was naturalized as an American citizen before Tony was born has complicated things.

    They paid 鈧150,000 (around US$162,000) for their three-bedroom home in coastal town Scalea, located in the region of Calabria. (Courtesy Chris Sobolev via CNN Newsource)

    Tony, however, hopes to rectify this by appealing to a local court.

    Scalea is the second destination that he and Francine have relocated to since retiring in 2006.

    Both avid golfers, the Smarrellis first moved from Syracuse to a golfing community in Pinehurst, North Carolina, later that year in search of warmer weather.

    鈥淲e loved living there, but after 18 years the quiet golfing community was exploding and no longer the quaint golfing community we loved,鈥 he adds.

    Tony, an 11-time senior club champion at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, has since given up golf.

    But he鈥檚 found other activities, such as painting and mosaic wall art, to keep himself busy while in Calabria.

    He and Francine are enjoying all that Italy has to offer, exploring nearby villages and frequently dining out together.

    Each day, they kill time by walking out on their balcony in the morning and sipping coffee, and/or enjoying a glass of wine there in the evening.

    As for useful tips for other retirees potentially looking for an expat life in Italy, the Smarrellis suggest doing some thorough online research before making the big move, and spending time in different Italian regions, weighing up the pros and cons of each.

    鈥淪outhern Italy is not as busy and commercial (as the rest of the country). It is truly the Italy of old!鈥 says Tony.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    Canada

    • A Superior Court justice in Milton has been ordered to participate in coaching from a more senior judge after the Canadian Judicial Council found that his tone was 'abusive and intimidating' during a family court hearing last September.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • Former volunteers with Eastern Ontario Cats (EOC) are working to track cats they say are either dead or missing after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records surfaced in recent months.

    • The Quebec government wants to hear Quebecers' thoughts about scrapping the twice-yearly time change, but it isn't promising to act on them.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

    • A Vancouver couple who live across the street from McBride Park on the city's west side say they repeatedly told the city a tree on the southern edge of the park posed a danger 鈥 but nothing was done.

    • The search for a man who went missing amid last weekend鈥檚 atmospheric river in Coquitlam, B.C., has entered its third day.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • TTC staff are recommending that the transit service ban lithium-ion-powered mobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes through the winter months due to the risk of fire in adverse conditions such as salty roads.

    • Police have released video footage of a recent home invasion in Richmond Hill as they search for three outstanding suspects who they say may have returned to the residence the following day to take another vehicle.

    • A multi-vehicle collision on the Toronto-bound QEW has shut down all but one lane of traffic during rush hour on Tuesday, says the OPP.

    • A new study suggests the Government of Alberta purposely pushed false narratives around public safety to scale down safe supply in the province.

    • An electrical grid alert was issued throughout Alberta on Tuesday morning as temperatures cooled.

    • Calgary police are investigating a Monday crash that sent a man to hospital in life-threatening condition.

    • Memorials and tributes are taking place across Ottawa on Tuesday to remember Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honour guard stationed at the National War Memorial, killed 10 years ago today.

    • Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • The Quebec government wants to hear Quebecers' thoughts about scrapping the twice-yearly time change, but it isn't promising to act on them.

    • A Montreal borough and Muslim leader are pushing back against the head of the Parti Qu茅b茅cois after he accused a local library of promoting a "religious invasion" by posting a photo of a young girl wearing a hijab for a storytime event.

    • Police are looking for a man and a woman who robbed an Edmonton jewelry store earlier this month.

    • A change of usual blueline sides? That's all right with Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse.

    • Epcor says it has begun treating an Edmonton stormwater pond to remove invasive goldfish.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is crossing the floor and joining the Progressive Conservatives.

    • Communities east of Alberta set record high temperatures for an Oct. 21 while Alberta itself contended with the first snowfall of the season in some areas.

    • The Manitoba government is restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio.

    • A number of Manitoba communities kicked off the week by breaking decades-old heat records.

    • Brandon police are looking to find the owners of a small litter of puppies found abandoned in the city on Tuesday.

    • Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.

    • Two holes found in the window of a Saskatchewan Party campaign office were not caused by a gun, Regina police have reported.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • No one was hurt after playground equipment went up in flames at a Kitchener, Ont. park.

    • At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    • Videos of a meteor shower seen across southwestern Ontario have been popping up across social media since Monday night.

    • A Saskatoon family is voicing concerns after paying twice as much PST as expected on a recently purchased truck.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • A city planning document for the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) sparked controversy over the weekend, with three civic election candidates alleging Confederation Mall was at risk of being demolished and replaced with dense housing.

    • Now that the jury has begun deliberating in the Sudbury murder trial of Felicity Altiman, here are some of the interesting courtroom moments they didn't get to hear.

    • After operating for 51 years, General Motors has announced it is closing the Kapuskasing Proving Ground, a facility the automaker used to test the durability of its vehicles in cold weather.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    • 鈥淲hen Stoney Creek was built 15 years ago the development hadn鈥檛 expanded out this far, but now development has reached us, and surpassed us, and therefore demand is there to increase what space we have,鈥 Galloway explained.

    • Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a serious collision in Barrie鈥檚 south end involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.

    • Police laid two dozen charges in connection with a month-long investigation into a criminal auto theft enterprise.

    • A woman who alleges a Canadian soldier sexually assaulted her while at Canadian Forces Base Borden in 2018 came under fire by the accused鈥檚 defence lawyer in a Barrie courtroom on Tuesday.

    • 鈥榁ampire Zombies鈥rom Space!鈥 and 鈥楾hundersnake鈥, two films that are showing at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), were both shot across the city and in the County of Essex.

    • Before the Town of Essex adopts it's new Master Plan for Land Use, staff will work to identify best proper use for future developments across the municipality.

    • NextStar Energy is celebrating the official start of battery module production.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday's provincial election.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • The health of honeybees will be the focus of a presentation at the University of Lethbridge on Wednesday evening.

    • Lethbridge police are advising the public of officer training on Tuesday that will happen in two different venues throughout the day.

    • Calgary scored three times in the first, and three times in the third as the Hitmen defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 6-1 Saturday at the Saddledome.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    • The owners of 73 vacant properties in the Sault have been fined for violations of the city's vacant properties bylaw, including 33 owned by a firm going through a high-profile insolvency process.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 愛污传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒