The Real Cost of Renting in Sicily: Our Home Tour

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲! In this video, we’ll give you a tour of our rental home and reveal the true cost of living here. Discover the breathtaking beauty and affordable housing options that make Sicily a dream destination.

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Sicily, Carini offers a serene and affordable lifestyle for retirees seeking a tranquil retreat. Our journey to this Mediterranean paradise began with a simple online search, where we stumbled upon a spacious three-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms.

This 1,500-square-foot haven with a spacious living room provided the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. For just €600 per month, we secured a lease that included some utilities, making it an incredibly affordable option compared to many other European cities.

Living in Carini is not just about a beautiful home. The area is a treasure trove of natural beauty, with lush greenery, breathtaking coastal views, and a plethora of outdoor activities. Whether you’re exploring ancient ruins or basking on pristine beaches, there’s always something to keep you active and engaged.

The local community in Carini is renowned for its warmth and hospitality. Whether you’re interested in joining a local club, attending a cultural event, or simply having a chat with your neighbors, you’ll find a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that will make you feel right at home.

If you’re considering a retirement move to Europe, Carini offers an exceptional quality of life at an affordable price. With affordable housing, stunning natural beauty, and a rich cultural heritage, it’s the perfect destination for retirees seeking a fulfilling and enjoyable lifestyle.

▶️Video Chapters:
00:00 The Real Cost of Renting in Sicily: Our Home Tour
00:14 Our Villa and Apartment Layout and Features
00:39 Detailed Rent and Utilities Breakdown
01:11 Bathrooms
01:20 Living Room and Dining Space
01:30 Bedroom Overview
01:44 Apartment Search Process
01:51 Rent Negotiation Advice
03:00 Our Experience

The Real Cost of Renting in Sicily: Our Home Tour

We are Carol and Croce living in Carini, Sicily in our 60s. In this video, we’ll give you a tour of our place and share how much we pay to live here.

Talk about loving the area that we live in! It’s quiet and private yet very close to everything.

Our Villa and Apartment Layout and Features

This is the villa we live in. We live on the top floor. Actually, it’s an apartment: three bedrooms, two baths, and lots of space.

It’s over 1,500 square feet. We have wonderful views.  This is what you call the parlor or salone.

Detailed Rent and Utilities Breakdown

And for this apartment, three bedrooms, two baths, fully furnished, including trash and water, we pay 600 Euros per month.

Cost of Living in Sicily

Actually, we are renting, and we paid 600 Euros for a security deposit, plus one month’s rent upfront to secure the place. We signed a one-year lease.

Bathrooms

We have a main bathroom with a soaker tub and then a smaller bathroom with a shower.

Living Room and Dining Space

This is our living room where we spend most of our time. It’s a combination living room and dining room.

Bedroom Overview

I’ll show the bedrooms another time, but we have a large master that’s very comfortable, a small guest room that’s completely set up, and another small bedroom that I’ve set up as an office space.

Apartment Search Process

We found this apartment while we were still living in Texas on a site called Idealista. This is an email I received the other day and there are a lot of affordable places but these are a lot smaller than mine.

Rent Negotiation Advice

We actually had family members and friends tell us that we are paying too much. That if we would have bargained more, they say, we could have gotten it for cheaper. But it was listed on the website for 750 Euros. And the realtor that we dealt with suggested that we ask 600, so we did, and they accepted.

There are lots of other websites to check for rentals and places for sale.

Our Experience

Definitely, there is value in the land as well. For example, we have a bay laurel tree right outside and from our veranda, we can pick bay leaves to cook with. And you know we have fruit. We have persimmon trees, beautiful fig trees, and Croce’s favorite fruit is figs. And we have all kinds of things.

We have pomegranates and olives, beautiful olives, lemon trees. And if we don’t have it, we can go to my brother-in-law’s and get oranges and tangerines from his trees.

God has us here for right now, and we are thoroughly enjoying it.

We have a little stove outside, and we love cooking outside in the fresh outdoors. And we love having people over, family and friends, to spend time.

If you missed episode one of The Sicilian Life, please check that out. And let me know if you want me to cover more in detail about the finances here. Let me know in the comments.